Ruské sedlo (801 m a.s.l.) is one of those special Carpathian passes where a single step takes you across an international border and into a completely different landscape. Nestled between the peaks of Rypi Wierch and Okrąglik in the Western Bieszczady, this quiet crossing point rewards visitors with sweeping views over the Slovak Bukovské vrchy hills — wild, unhurried, and genuinely off the beaten track.

The terrain around the pass is gently rolling and richly forested, with the best views opening southward toward the Slovak Bieszczady. Spring brings vivid green meadows, summer offers a cool breeze even on hot days, and autumn transforms the hillsides into a tapestry of gold and amber — easily the most rewarding season for a visit. The pass sits on the watershed: the stream Roztoczka flows north from here, while tributaries of the Cirocha river head south into Slovakia.

• Majdan near Cisna (Poland) — paved road, accessible by car or bicycle, easy access
• Slovak border trail: Šipková – Rypy – Ruské sedlo – Kruhliak
• Polish trail along the ridge: Okrąglik – Rypi Wierch section crossing the pass
• Trail from Roztoki Górne via Liszna to Majdan and Cisna

• The pass is reachable by car from the Polish side via a paved road from Majdan
• From Slovakia, only an unpaved track from the former village of Ruské leads here
• No tourist facilities on site — bring your own food and water
• Best photography: morning or late afternoon, facing south toward Slovakia

This crossing has served travellers since the 16th century as a route between Lesser Poland and Hungary — and in November 1914, General Lavr Kornilov led his division through here on an unauthorised assault across the Carpathians, an ambitious gamble that ended in a decisive Russian defeat.