Szczebel (977 m a.s.l.) is one of the most distinctive peaks in the Beskid Wyspowy range — its pyramid-like silhouette is visible from as far as Myślenice, catching the eye of everyone driving the busy Kraków–Zakopane road. This is a mountain with real character: steep ascents, dense spruce forest, and a genuine sense of achievement at the top.
The peak rises above the villages of Lubień, Kasinka Mała and Mszana Dolna, nestled in the fork of the Raba and Lubieńka rivers. The eastern slope drops sharply towards the Raba valley — locals call the route from Kasinka Mała side 'the ladder', and it earns that name. At the summit you will find a monument dedicated to Pope John Paul II, who visited twice, along with picnic tables, benches and a regional map. The best views — towards Lubomir, Lubogoszcz and the Raba valley — open up from a small clearing just before the top. On the slopes of Mały Szczebel, a cave called Zimna Dziura ('Cold Hole') can hold ice well into summer.
How to reach the summitLocal legend says that enchanted treasures guarded by a rooster lie hidden in the rocky crevices below the summit — the earliest written record of this tale dates back to 1838. Old chronicles also mention a gold mine that supposedly once operated on the mountain.