Mała Rycerzowa (1207 m a.s.l.) is a rewarding and peaceful summit in the Żywiec-Kysuce Beskids, part of the Wielka Racza massif — a place where open alpine meadows meet quiet forest and the crowds are blissfully absent. It sits on a lateral ridge branching off from its bigger neighbour, Wielka Rycerzowa, entirely within Polish territory.
The mountain's character changes depending on which side you approach. The north-eastern slopes open onto the wide Rycerzowa Alm (Hala Rycerzowa), which stretches all the way to the grassy Halna Pass (1165 m) — this is where the scenery really opens up, offering views toward Wielka Racza and the surrounding ridges. The rest of the peak is forested, making it pleasantly shaded in summer and atmospherically snowy in winter. Three ridges meet at the summit, and between them flow three small streams — Dziobaki, Danielka and Cicha — giving the mountain a surprisingly diverse character for its modest height.
How to reach the summitMała Rycerzowa also serves as a junction peak for the short Jaworzynka ridge, which branches off to the north-west — worth exploring if you want to extend your day.
The name of the peak dates back centuries and was already recorded in the 17th-century chronicle 'Chronografia' by Andrzej Komoniecki, who linked it to the knightly owners of the nearby villages of Rycerka Dolna and Rycerka Górna.