Pieniny: Szczawnica -> Limierz Pass -> Dunajec River

A little over a year ago, we were captivated by the views in the Pieniny Mountains. I remember coming home back then, opening up a tourist map, and with the look of a strategist, drawing up plans to conquer more trails. And what came of it? For a whole year, absolutely nothing! Sometimes life writes the strangest scenarios, where the mountains are just a short car ride away, but for some reason, you can't go there for over a dozen months. And yet, since that time, I'd often thought about those scenic clearings—you know, the kind that are perfect for stopping during a walk, just to gaze, pull out your camera, and pretend you're the world's best photographer. The Pieniny mountains have some kind of magnet in them that attracts a camera lens like crazy.

But finally, the day came. I charged my batteries—the ones in my camera, and my own internal ones. I packed my backpack and set off. Alright, I'll come clean—I took a little shortcut at the start. Instead of huffing and puffing from the very bottom, with a smile worthy of a sloth, I used the chairlift to Palenica. Hey, no judgments! The trail still had over 700 meters of elevation gain, and that's a result my legs can appreciate and respect.

Right at the top, just as I got off the chairlift, the Pieniny decided to welcome me with a bang. The view of the Tatra Mountains, emerging majestically from between two hills, completely floored me. Seriously, it was one of those moments when you just stand there with your mouth open and forget your own name. And after that? It only got better! Descending, only to climb back up again. The view of the Three Crowns massif. A walk through a charming Slovak village where you can have a beer and pay in Polish zlotys. And those beloved, sun-drenched clearings that appeared exactly when I needed them most. And for dessert—a relaxing walk along the Dunajec River, which shimmered in the sun like a million diamonds.

This trail is landing on my TOP 3 list of routes for a golden, Polish-Slovak autumn. Now, only one, incredibly difficult task remains: to hit that one, perfect, warm, sunny weekend when the leaves decide to perform in their full palette of colors. Fingers crossed!

Here is a map of this beautiful route..