Skoruśniak, also known as Miętusi Skoruśniak, is a long, forested ridge in the sub-alpine belt of the Western Tatras, separating the lower part of the Mała Łąka Valley from the Miętusia Valley. It's a place for those seeking quiet trails away from the crowds, wrapped in forest and traces of old mining history.

The ridge rises gradually from the Przysłop Miętusi saddle (1187 m) through successive summits (1355 m, 1369 m, 1503 m), ending to the south in a rocky band called Niedźwiedź. The western slopes descend to the Niżnia and Wyżnia Miętusia Równia clearings, where iron ore mines operated until 1860. The steep eastern slopes drop to the Wielka Polana Małołącka. Once grazed and eroded by overgrazing, the slopes have since reforested after being incorporated into the Tatra National Park, and after a 1968 windstorm damaged the forest, it has since regenerated — creating a dense, quiet sub-alpine landscape, especially atmospheric in misty autumn or under winter snow.

How to reach the summit

• From the Mała Łąka Valley via Przysłop Miętusi to the Kościeliska Valley — black trail (Ścieżka nad Reglami), 15 min from Polana Małołącka to the saddle, then 40 min to Kościeliska Valley (50 min uphill), easy route
• From the mouth of the Mała Łąka Valley via Przysłop Miętusi and Kobylarzowy Żleb to Małołączniak — blue trail running along the western slopes of Skoruśniak, 1 h from Gronik to the saddle (45 min down), then 3 h to Małołączniak (2:15 h down), moderate route

Practical information

• The old mining track to the former Miętusie Banie iron ore mine is now used as the hiking trail toward Małołączniak
• The area lies within Tatra National Park — hikers must stay on marked trails

Interesting fact: the rare ghost orchid (storzan bezlistny) was once recorded here, though the species has since gone extinct at this particular site.