Three Crowns in the Pieniny Mountains. Yellow trail from Krościenko, wonderful views from the platform at the top and the ruins of the Pieniny castle

Name: Three Crowns
Rating: 4.8

Three Crowns is the second highest peak of the Pieniny and the highest peak of the Central Pieniny, the so-called Proper Pieniny
The highest peaks of the massif are: Okrąglica, Płaska Skała and Panska Skała
A metal viewing platform awaits in Okrąglica, available for a fee during the season
The views from the terrace are wonderful, they take your breath away, some also because of the fear of heights
On warm weekends it is crowded here and you have to wait in line to enter the platform
We recommend the yellow trail from Krościenko, which we described below
We stood in the car park paid at the host's, near the chapel of St. Roch (Three Crowns Street)

Three Crowns (982 m above sea level) is the second highest peak of the Pieniny Mountains and the highest peak of the Pieniny Proper. Its beauty delights, both when admired from below, and even more so when you stand on top of it. The views from the Three Crowns are unimaginably beautiful. No wonder that the peak is very popular, loved by tourists and on warm weekends it is simply crowded here. The very top with the platform is reached by a metal footbridge, for which you have to buy a ticket (in the tourist season). Queues are easy to create here.

Routes to the Three Crowns

- Yellow trail from Krościenko, then blue, about 2.5 h (described in detail below)
- Yellow trail from Sromowiec Niżne, then blue, about 2 h
- Blue trail from Szczawnica, about 3.5 hours, starts at Główna Street

Yellow trail from Krościenko to Three Crowns

The yellow trail from Krościenko nad Dunajcem to the top of the Three Crowns is one of the most popular tourist routes in the Pieniny Mountains. It offers fantastic views, but it's not difficult. The biggest difficulty is the platform itself at the top, which arouses fear of heights in some people, because you have to walk up the stairs quite steeply, and on the platform itself we are welcomed by unlimited space with a beautiful panorama of the Tatras straight ahead!

General information about the route along the yellow trail and further along the blue trail

The length of the route: about 9.7 km (at the top we made a loop by approaching the ruins of the Pieniny castle)
Time of passing the loop: about 4 hours, it took us and a 6-year-old child 4.5 hours
Total approaches: approx. 700 m
Starting point: Parking in Krościenko, at Trzech Koron Street, at the chapel of St. Roch

Description of the route to the top of the Three Crowns

The yellow trail starts at the Market Square in Krościenko or at nearby car parks. We parked at the host's place on Trzech Koron Street. The first section leads (along the yellow and green trail) along the buildings of Krościenko and after a while enters the forest. Don't be discouraged, the initial steep fragment quickly becomes more gentle. Initially, the path is wide and well maintained. It is also easy, ideal for walking even with children or for less experienced tourists.

Trail intersections and stopping places:

After about 1 km, we come to a place where the green trail turns left to Czertezik (and from there you can follow the blue trail to Sokolica). At this crossroads, the Pieniny National Park begins. There are no benches here
Bajków Groń (Bańków Gronik, 678 m above sea level) - a crossroads where benches are waiting for rest. Here, the yellow trail connects with the blue one, leading from Szczawnica to Sokolica (it reaches Czertezik and further leads to the famous pine peak)
Pieniński Potok (678 m above sea level) - a place with benches
Polana Wyrobek - a place with benches, where the yellow trail leads to the Nativity Pass, and the blue trail to the Pieniny Castle reflects to the left. We went yellow further, and blue we came back, it's a more convenient solution
Nativity scene pass (779 m above sea level) - the main vantage point from which the panorama of the High Tatras stretches. This is where tourists often stay longer to enjoy the views. There are a lot of benches waiting here to rest. The pass is also called Glory to God. This is because there was once a trade route here and the crossing was so difficult that when they got here, they said Glory to God (that it was over)
After passing the Nativity Pass, the blue trail leads to the ticket office under the platform on the Three Crowns. The last section is a bit steeper, but still accessible to most tourists

Viewing platform on the Three Crowns

On the yellow trail from Krościenko nad Dunajcem, although it is nice and picturesque, you will not experience many extensive views. But from the top you will see a panorama, at the sight of which the knees soften. On the highest peak, Okrąglica, a paid observation gallery was created, consisting of a metal path with stairs and a small platform at the very top. Admission is payable here in high season (the ticket office is located at the beginning of the terrace). There's a stamp here, too.

Maybe it's strange that you have to pay to get to the top. But first, without the platform, it would be very difficult, because it is steep and the rock is narrow. And in addition, traffic is regulated in this way, because there is no shortage of people willing to visit these landscapes and queues are simply created. An employee of the Park was at the top and nicely encouraged to move evenly. In addition, he took photos together willingly, a very cool thing. You also have a moment to admire the beauty in its pure form!

Panorama from the Three Crowns

And from the platform you will see a 360-degree panorama undisturbed, because it is the highest mountain in the vicinity. The mighty Tatras rise straight ahead, the Dunajec River flows down the river with its picturesque ribbon, meandering among the rocks. Nearby there is Sokolica, and a little further the highest in the High rangein the Małe Pieniny Mountains, and the peaks of the Beskid Sądecki with the Radziejowa, Magura Spiska and Gorce ranges, and even Babia Góra in the Żywiec Beskids or Góra Żar in the Mały Beskids. From here, you will also look at Lake Czorsztyn, over which mists float in the morning.

You can't take your eyes off these views. I would be happy to stand here again when there are not so many tourists around and I will be able to absorb this landscape for a long time. It is good that it is now so easy to take photos and at any time you can return to them and relive these blissful moments in your memory!

Return to Krościenko. Loop through the Pieniny Castle

We didn't go back exactly the same way. We made a small loop through the Kosarzyska Glade (824 m above sea level) to see the ruins of the medieval Pieniny castle. You have to approach it with a blue trail, sometimes steep, but very picturesque, to Zamkowa Góra. It is the highest castle in Poland! It is located at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level. Today it is only ruins and not very impressive, but it was once a large castle. Interestingly, the oldest brick castle in Małopolska and one of the first in Poland. The oldest is Wleń Castle in Lower Silesia.

The Pieniny Castle is associated with the figure of St. Kinga, who founded it in the Middle Ages, to protect her and the Poor Clare sisters from Stary Sącz. As a child, Kinga survived the Mongol invasion twice and, taught by bad experiences, protected herself against this threat. This is why this stronghold was created and during the next invasion, the nuns took shelter in the Pieniny castle and survived. However, the building has not survived to the present time, but its picturesque foundations can be visited free of charge.

From below the castle, along the blue trail, in places in this area quite narrow over a steep slope, we reached Polana Wyrobek and from here we returned to Krościenko on a familiar route. However, we passed the parking lot and went to eat in the center of Krościenko. We chose the Przełom Restaurant near the Market Square. It was a good choice, prices a little high, but the place is nice, comfortable, spacious, and the dishes are tasty. We tasted, among others, potato pancakes in local flavors, e.g. with oscypek.

Map with a route to the Three Crowns

Below on the map you will find our route marked in yellow and blue with the Three Crowns trail. It will certainly make it easier for you to plan your hike to this peak. It is an excellent offer for families with children as well as for more experienced tourists. Thanks to its moderate difficulty and beautiful views, it is the perfect place for a weekend trip to the Pieniny Mountains.

Name of the mountain with 5 vertices

Did you know that the peak was once called Pieniny? It was not until the 19th century that it was first called the Crown, and then the Three Crowns. Although, in fact, the massif of the summit consists of five vertices. The highest of them is Okrąglica, where we stood. Other trails do not lead to

Rafting on the Dunajec River in the Pieniny National Park

The Three Crowns are perfectly visible during the popular rafting down the Dunajec River and from the picturesque Pieniny Road. It runs along the river ribbon. Both rafting and walking along the Road take place in the heart of the Pieniny National Park. It is the second smallest national park in Poland, which, despite its small size, captivates with its beauty!

Accommodation in Krościenko

Wandering around the Pieniny Mountains, we slept in Krościenko, in the Crosna Spa Pension. It is beautifully located on the Dunajec River, offers free private parking and has many advantages. Breakfast is probably the most important thing.They are delicious. In general, when traveling around the world, we increasingly appreciate Polish breakfasts and the level of our native accommodation in this area.

In Crośnia, in addition to the standard cold plate, scrambled eggs and hot sausages, there are very tasty salads available, and we were also captivated by freshly squeezed pancakes and sweet pastries. They were delicious. The morning meal is important for us because it gives us strength for a quite demanding sightseeing, which we usually plan.

And in the evening, we recommend relaxing in the form of a swimming pool and jacuzzi, as well as saunas, which are available as part of the accommodation. In addition, there is a play area for the youngest, a play corner combined with a rest area for adults. Cleverly planned. We highly recommend this place. Three Crowns or Sokolica can be reached on foot from the accommodation, saving money in the parking lot. Then you just catch up with about 1 km. Other attractive places in the Pieniny Mountains are also not far away.

Three Crowns Shelter in Sromowce Niżne

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

PTTK Trzy Korony is one of the nicest shelters in Poland. It is located at an altitude of 470 m above sea level, at the foot of the Three Crowns, with a beautiful view of the characteristic rocks on the top, which decided its name. The hostel offers cheap accommodation. And nearby there is the outlet of the Szopczański Gorge, through which one of the most interesting hiking trails of the Pieniny Proper runs. The famous Red Monastery is also not far from here.

When to go for the Three Crowns

Three Crowns is the highest peak in the Central Pieniny. It lies in the heart of this range, in the Pieniny National Park. In addition, it offers magnificent views. Although it does not belong to the Crown of the Polish Mountains, the Three Crowns is an ideal place for tourists. Therefore, the mountain is very eagerly chosen as a hiking destination. Hence, on warm weekends, queues are formed here. I advise against holiday weekends, the days of the week will be definitely better, and it is best in autumn, when the area will turn beautifully golden. The landscapes are stunning then. And if you can't afford a day of the week, go here early in the morning, when others won't get here in such large quantities.

We were hiking with the children in the autumn, but because of school we could not afford a day other than the weekend, and additionally we did not want to tear the toddler out of bed in the morning. But we left quite early and the queue was not as big as when we came back from the top. Cracks also must look Pieniny in winter, but we have not yet been. However, remember that the Three Crowns is a peak on which there is rarely windless weather. It is worth taking something that will protect you from the wind and cold. We had wonderful weather in mid-October, with sun and no wind!

Our video

We invite you to our film from the Pieniny Mountains illuminated by the autumn sun. We earn three Crowns after passing the High.

Practical information

Admission to the PPN is free
Three Crowns Lookout Gallery: payable from April 20 to November 15
Children up to 7 years old free of charge
Price list at:
https://piepn.gov.pl/trzy-korony-i-sokolica Parking in Krościenko, on Trzech Koron Street, at the chapel of St. Roch (PLN 10 for the whole day, 2024)

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What's worth seeing in the area?

If you have already visited this attraction, it is also worth visiting several other interesting ones places nearby. Within a radius of 100 kilometers you will find many interesting places places that can diversify your stay in this part of Poland.

Rysy, distance: 35.2 km
Wieliczka Salt Mine, distance: 68.3 km
Kazimierz in Kraków, distance: 78.6 km
Wawel Castle in Kraków, distance: 79.1 km
St. Mary's Church in Krakow, distance: 79.7 km
Market Square in Krakow, distance: 79.8 km
Castle in Żywiec, distance: 92.8 km
Ojców National Park, distance: 96.7 km
Energylandia, distance: 97.2 km
Krakowskie valleys, distance: 97.3 km