Zębalowa is a broad, forested peak in the Beskid Wyspowy range that surprises visitors with its wealth of local names and legends almost as much as its scenic views. Locals call it by different names — Zębolowa, Golec, or Klimas — a quirky fact that makes it stand out among the hills of the Beskids. It's a mountain worth visiting simply for the peaceful, uncrowded trails.

The Zębalowa massif forms a distinct 'island' surrounded by the valleys of three rivers: Krzczonówka, Raba, and Smugawka, giving it a sense of seclusion from the rest of the range. Its slopes are mostly covered in forest, while the foothills are dotted with fields and the villages of Krzczonów, Lubień, Krzeczów, Łętownia, and Tokarnia. In summer the trails wind through shady woods, in autumn the forest bursts into color, and in winter a peaceful silence takes over — ideal for those seeking nature without the crowds.

How to reach the summit

• Lubień – Klimas – Zębalowa – Krzeczów — hiking time: 3:40 h, return 3:30 h, moderate difficulty
• Tokarnia – Kalwaria Tokarska – Zębalowa — hiking time: 1:45 h, return 1:30 h, easier and shorter route

Practical information

• On the way up from Tokarnia, you can visit the Kalwaria Tokarska, located on the slopes of Urbania Góra
• In the 1930s, researchers found boundary stones on Zębalowa carved with crosses and initials — once mistaken by tourists for signs left by treasure hunters

Between the world wars, Lubień was a popular resort town, and hikers who discovered mysterious carved symbols on Zębalowa's rocks believed they'd stumbled upon treasure hunters' marks — today we know they were simply old boundary stones.