Zadnia Kopka (1,333 m a.s.l.) is the highest of the three Kościeliskie Kopki summits, tucked away in the sub-alpine zone of the Western Tatra Mountains between the Kościeliska Valley and the Lejowa Valley. It carries no marked trail to its top, yet it stands out as a quiet, forest-covered peak with a surprisingly rich past.
The mountain is built from nummulitic limestone, which feeds an extensive karst water system hidden beneath the surface. Its western flank is cut by the sheer cliff of Świńska Turnia, while the deep ravine of Wściekły Żleb separates it from the neighbouring Przednia Kopka. The southern slopes descend toward Zastolański Żleb. Most of the peak is densely forested, though a storm once devastated the southern hillside — young larches now grow there, slowly reclaiming the landscape. In autumn, the contrast between the dark old forest and the bright larch growth makes for a particularly beautiful scene.
How to reach the summitIn the 19th century, a small iron ore mine known as 'Kopka' operated on these slopes — the low-grade ore was smelted in the nearby village of Stare Kościeliska. Today the mountain keeps its secrets under a thick blanket of trees, with only the name hinting at its industrial heritage.