Polana – Trails and Local History

• The “Jaskinia w Rosolinie” cultural and natural history trail is 9.3 km long and runs from Polana to Czarna Dolna; the stated walking time is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
• Four unmarked walking trails are described, ranging from about 5.5 to about 14.5 km.
• The blue PTTK hiking trail and the Szlak Papieski each have a stated duration of 2 hours from Polana towards Przełęcz pod Hulskiem.
• Local history is represented by a local history collection, a chapel, and evidence of former oil production.

The “Jaskinia w Rosolinie” trail connects Polana and Czarna Dolna. Its length of 9.3 km and stated walking time of 3 hours and 30 minutes refer to this cultural and natural history trail. When planning your trip, you can consider these two details together without equating them with the figures for other trails.

The unmarked walking trails have different stated distances and times. Trail No. 1, “Przez Łazy i Rosoliniec,” is about 7 km long, with a walking time of about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Trail No. 4, “Potokiem Kosów,” covers about 5.5 km, with a stated walking time of about 3 hours. These are two shorter routes, each with its own stated time.

Trail No. 5, “Na Otryt przez Wańka Dział,” is listed as about 14.5 km and 4 hours and 30 minutes. Trail No. 6, “Do dawnej kopalni ropy naftowej,” is about 12 km long, with a walking time of about 4 hours. Some distances are explicitly approximate, while walking times are listed separately for each trail. So when comparing routes, keep distance and time in mind as separate details.

The blue PTTK hiking trail also runs from Polana towards Przełęcz pod Hulskiem; the section from Polana to there is listed as taking 2 hours. The Szlak Papieski follows the same direction, also with a stated duration of 2 hours from Polana to there.

The Polańskie Zbiory Historyczne is a local history collection housed in Polana’s community center. It is curated by Maria Faran, a resident of Polana. The collection connects local history to the community and one of its residents. The history of the church adds a story of changing religious uses: 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.

Kościelisko includes the foundation remains of the former Roman Catholic Church under the patronage of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the churchyard, and a bell tower. These are distinct features of a place whose ecclesiastical history is also visible in the surviving foundations and churchyard. Another memorial is the Krzyż Pamięci: residents of Polana erected it in 2018 to mark the centenary of Poland regaining its independence. It commemorates those who died fighting for the freedom of their homeland.

Kapliczka Poznarowa adds a family story to these historical landmarks. The family of Tomasz Poznar built it in 1929 to give thanks for Tomasz Poznar’s safe return from Ukrainian captivity in 1919. The two dates refer to different events: 1919 marks his return, and 1929 the construction of the Kapliczka.

There are former oil mines in Polana Ostre. A designated walking trail leads to two shafts of the former mine. Trail No. 6 is called “Do dawnej kopalni ropy naftowej” and is described as approximately 12 km long, with a walking time of about 4 hours. The trail name also refers to former oil production; the description of the designated walking trail specifically mentions two shafts.

The Lipie–Polana–Serednie Małe horse-riding trail also relates to this topic: its section IV leads to the hamlet of Polana Ostre and takes about six hours on horseback. The walking times for the walking trails and the stated duration of the riding trail section refer to different activities and should be considered separately.

To compare other local destination pages, you can also visit Zatwarnica, Dwernik, Stuposiany, Smolnik, Procisne, Muczne, Ustrzyki Dolne and Lutowiska.

How long is the “Jaskinia w Rosolinie” trail?

The cultural and natural history trail from Polana to Czarna Dolna is 9.3 km long. The stated walking time is 3 hours and 30 minutes.

What walking time is listed for Trail No. 4?

The unmarked “Potokiem Kosów” walking trail is about 5.5 km long; its stated walking time is about 3 hours.

What is included in Kościelisko in Polana?

Kościelisko consists of the foundation remains of the former Roman Catholic Church under the patronage of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the churchyard, and a bell tower.

Does a walking trail lead to shafts of the former oil mine?

Yes. A designated walking trail leads to two shafts of the former oil mine in Polana Ostre.

For the broader travel overview: Bieszczady.