Overview
Skrzyczne, 1257m, is the highest summit in the Silesian Beskids, and a very popular target for mountainbikers in quest of adventure and a bit of challenge. The mountain itself is not avaricious in possibilities and countless loops can be imagined to bag it, including longer rides that combine a visit to Barania Góra and all peaklets on the ridge between.
For those seeking the less possible elevation, the most convenient consists probably in starting from the pass Samopolska, separating the Wisła and Szczyrk valleys and going way-and back. But I was more keen in making instead a loop, which meant riding a lot on the main road, or starting lower and cumulate more elevation. My favourite map site told me about the existence of the path elevating from Hala Skrzyczeńska, which combined with the descent of Malinów, made a perfect square-loop. Almost entierely descending on ridge trails, it would also visit Malinowa Skała and its famous rocky outcrops.
Once more the weather gratified me with a thick fog, but it dissipated when I reached the top, and later on as I rode down. No panoramas with remote views but a beautiful mystic atmosphere...
Trail Description
Ascent
Ascent
Ridge
Ridge
Ridge
Ridge
Ridge
Ridge
Malinowa Skała
Malinowa Skała
Malinów
Malinów
Malinów
Malinów
Malinów
Malinów
The path that starts at the ski resort "Hala Skrzyczeńska" is the hictorical path that serves for supplying the mountain hut and antenna buildings on top, so if it is suitable for landrovers it is for mountainbikes.
You may find convenient to start where the green trail of the descent will end, and catch the ascent path at the south end of the largest lace, which costs 50m of steep bike-walk, but saves a significant and unuseful commute on the main road.
Laces are getting smaller as the path climbs, and the gradient (quite rough at the start) more and more gentle. Beware when the track merges with the ski slopes with which it can be confused: the path is cobbled one.
As we get nearer to the top we follow the ridge, and then go gradually left to elevate on the side of "Małe Skrzyczne". Then we merge the ridge trail and keeping north, we reach the main top of Skrzyczne. There is a large hut where one can drink, eat or sleep.
As we ride down, we keep going south on the ridge trail in the direction of Malinowa Skała, almost entierely a smooth downhill. Open meadows (normally) provide stunning views. Malinowa Skała, a sandstone outcrop that makes the celebrity of this area, is located on a small bump that needs to be shortly walked up. And so does the descent going west towards Malinów.
Beware when reaching the lowest point before Malinów, the trail seems to keep descending left but the largest path isn't always the ridge trail, on which you should keep an eye on the right side. Malinów is very steep and some part requires a bit of walk. But the top is a delicious ridge. The descent is made via a green-marked path that descends from the top to the north, in the direction of the ski slopes and our car park. Some parts of this downhill are technical, and dangerous in couple of spots with lots of loose stones.
See the same map in Cykloserver.cz
Malinowa Skała, named after the famous bizarre-shaped sandstone outcrops
Getting There
Hut
Hut
Despite I drove from Wisła and our headquarters, the trailhead is best reached from Szczyrk over the large town of Bielsko-Biała. After Szczyrk drive in the direction of the Samopolska pass, and park at the car park of the ski resort "Hala Skrzyczeńska", where the start of the path is. The car park is monitored during the ski season, but usually free of charge and empty during summer.
Wyświetl większą mapę
Malinowa Skała, named after the famous bizarre-shaped sandstone outcrops
When to Bike
Most of the time, the trail is quite stony so wet ground isn't an issue. The peak is quite high for the region and wind blows on the ridges, so mind bringing warm clothes.
