Polana: Discover Hiking Trails and History

In Polana, the routes described range from shorter walks to hikes lasting several hours. There are also places with a history of their own: a local history collection, sacred buildings, and memorial sites. When planning your trip, you can take into account both the walking times and the topics that interest you most.

Hiking trails with different time estimates

The “Jaskinia w Rosolinie” cultural and natural history trail runs from Polana to Czarna Dolna. The 9.3-kilometre route is listed as taking 3 hours and 30 minutes. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Four unmarked walking routes start in the centre of Polana. No. 1, “Przez Łazy i Rosoliniec,” is about 7 kilometres long, with an estimated walking time of approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. Route No. 4, “Potokiem Kosów,” is about 5.5 kilometres and takes around 3 hours. Route No. 5, “Na Otryt przez Wańka Dział,” covers approximately 14.5 kilometres and takes 4 hours and 30 minutes. Route No. 6, “Do dawnej kopalni ropy naftowej,” is about 12 kilometres long, with an estimated time of approximately 4 hours.

Two named routes also run from Polana towards Przełęcz pod Hulskiem: the blue PTTK hiking trail and the Szlak Papieski (Papal Trail). Both are listed as taking 2 hours from Polana to the pass. Their names distinguish the route descriptions, while the direction and estimated time are the same. A signposted walking route also leads to two shafts of the former oil mine in Polana Ostre. A horse-riding route is another option to consider when planning: section IV of the Lipie–Polana–Serednie Małe horse trail leads to the hamlet of Polana Ostre and takes about six hours on horseback.

Local history and sacred sites

The Polańskie Zbiory Historyczne is a local history collection housed in Polana’s community centre. Its curator is Maria Faran, a local resident. Its specific connection to Polana makes the collection a subject of its own for anyone interested in the history of the village.

The history of the church can also be traced through several sites. The former Greek Catholic Church of St. Nicholas served as a Roman Catholic church from 1969 to 2013. Today, it is a chapel in the parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Polana. The Kościelisko in Polana includes the foundation remains of the former Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord, the churchyard, and a bell tower.

The Krzyż Pamięci (Cross of Remembrance) is among the memorial sites. Residents of Polana erected it in 2018 to mark the centenary of Poland regaining its independence. It commemorates those who died fighting for their homeland’s freedom. The Kapliczka Poznarowa has a different historical background: the Tomasz Poznars family had it built in 1929 in gratitude for Tomasz Poznars’s safe return from Ukrainian captivity in 1919. The two sites are associated with specific memories, but different events and dates.

What sets the route choices apart

The routes described offer several points of comparison for walking times: both routes towards Przełęcz pod Hulskiem are listed as taking two hours, while the unmarked walking routes range from approximately three to four and a half hours. Anyone interested in history as well as hiking will also find a range of named sites in Polana, from the collection in the community centre to churches and memorials.

More destinations: Ustrzyki Dolne, Teleśnica Oszwarowa, Procisne, Ropienka, Brzegi Dolne, Krościenko, Smolnik, Lutowiska.

For the broader travel overview: Bieszczady.