Orlica Mountain Hut – Dunajec River in Szczawnica loop from Pieniny

Hiking trails & Routes

Poland

Lesser Poland Voivodeship

powiat nowotarski

gmina Krościenko nad Dunajcem

Orlica Mountain Hut – Dunajec River in Szczawnica loop from Pieniny

Moderate

5.0

(10)

174

hikers

Orlica Mountain Hut – Dunajec River in Szczawnica loop from Pieniny

02:28

6.53km

400m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The route includes a crossing by ferry.

Last updated: September 26, 2026

This route includes a ferry crossing

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions.

After 1.78 km for 57 m

Open: • April 15-June 30: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM • July-August: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM • September: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM • October: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM (otherwise closed)

After 4.70 km for 57 m

Open: • April 15-June 30: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM • July-August: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM • September: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM • October: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM (otherwise closed)

Waypoints

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2.38 km

Orlica Mountain Hut

Highlight • Mountain Hut

Beautiful shelter near the Dunajec, with accommodation and meals, with great views of the Three Crowns. A good place to stop during trips along the Dunajec. Everywhere beautiful, green, and generally better than at the computer.

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2.88 km

Memorial to Pope John Paul II in Szczawnica

Highlight • Monument

The marina in Szczawnica

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3.24 km

Kotunka near Legi

Highlight • Natural Monument

Kotuńka - a prominent rock in the middle of the Dunajec creek just before entering Szczawnica. The rock, made of Czorsztyn limestone, is clearly visible from the road and is a characteristic element of the landscape in this area. The Grajcarek flows into the Dunajec directly above it. Above the Grajcarek there is a bridge behind which begins Pienińska Street leading to the border crossing.

In the vicinity of Kotuńka, the current of the Dunajec is particularly fast, creating whirlpools that bounce off the water. This is used by mountain canoeists, who often train here (there are gates on the left side of Kotuńka). Like many Pieniny rocks, there is also a legend about Kotuńka. According to this, the devil carried a huge boulder that he wanted to throw at the Pieniny Castle on Zamkowa Góra, where St. Kinga was hiding from the Tatars. However, his plan was foiled by the crowing of a rooster, and all the devil's strength left him. The stone left by the devil fell into the river without hurting anyone. This is a motif used in numerous legends.

Kotuńka is 9.5 m high and its peak is 438 m above sea level. In the years 1875-1912 a sculpture of a mountaineer greeting guests arriving in Štiavnica stood on it, and in 1997 a similar sculpture was placed (which is sometimes dismantled). The origin of the rock's name is unclear. Jadwiga Łuszczewska wrote in 1869 that: "He is called Kotunia because he looks out of the water with a mischievous movement, as if a cat were lurking for him..." (Translated from Wikipedia).

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3.30 km

Kotuńka Rock

Highlight • Natural Monument

The Kotuńka Rock is a characteristic limestone rock formation located in the Dunajec River just before entering Szczawnica. It is perfectly visible from the road and is one of the recognizable points in the area. Nearby, the Grajcarek River flows into the Dunajec River, and behind the rock begins the Pienińska Road leading to the border crossing. There is a legend associated with Kotuńka, according to which the devil carried a boulder to the castle in the Pieniny Mountains, but lost it when a rooster suddenly crowed. In the years 1875-1912, a sculpture of a highlander greeting visitors stood on it, which was re-erected in 1997. The name of the rock comes from its shape - according to a description from 1869, "it emerges from the water like a cunning cat on the lookout".

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