Zielony Kopiec (1152 m a.s.l.) is a distinctively shaped, cone-like summit rising from the main ridge of the Barania Góra and Skrzyczne range in the Silesian Beskids. Its neat, dome-like silhouette makes it stand out, and its forested slopes offer a peaceful escape with a surprisingly rich backstory.
The summit is covered in forest, so sweeping panoramic views from the very top are limited — but the ridge walk itself more than makes up for it. The ground beneath your boots is made of Istebna sandstone, with thick beds of quartz-feldspar conglomerates showing a characteristic rusty hue on weathered surfaces. In spring the forest comes alive quietly, summer brings welcome shade, and autumn turns the slopes into a blaze of colour. Zielony Kopiec is also a junction peak — a secondary ridge branches westward toward Cienkowa, and three streams have their sources here: Malinka, Leśnianka and Głębczański. The ridge also marks the boundary between the town of Wisła and the village of Lipowa.
How to reach the summitThe name 'Zielony Kopiec' — meaning 'Green Mound' — dates back to the times when this ridge marked the border between the Duchy of Cieszyn and the Duchy of Oświęcim, with earthen border mounds ('kopce') placed along the line. Over the centuries the mounds disappeared under forest, and the green-clad hill kept the name.