Żurawnica (727 m a.s.l.) is the highest peak of the Żurawnica Group in the Beskid Mały range — a peaceful forested summit that surprises visitors with open panoramas and fascinating rock formations. It is a perfect destination if you want to escape the crowds while still enjoying rewarding views.
The ridge is mostly covered in forest, but a large open meadow near the top rewards you with a sweeping view of Babia Góra, the Jałowiec Range and the Solnisk Range. Just beyond the meadow you will find a striking belt of rocks called Kozie Skały ('Goat Rocks') — local legend has it they are the ruins of a devil's castle, destroyed during a war between demons. A hiking trail runs right along these rocks, making this stretch of the route especially memorable. The summit has two tops: the western one at 707 m and the higher eastern one at 727 m, with the ridge descending eastward to the Carchel Pass (632 m).
How to reach the summitThe name 'Żurawnica' has a quirky origin — it derives from the local word for turnip ('brukiew żyrska'), which was grown on these slopes to feed pigs. The mountain was first called 'Żyrawnica' before the name gradually evolved into its present form.