The Karkonosze National Park is a national park located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship with an area of 5,951.42 ha. The park was created to protect the extraordinary natural values of the Sudetes and Karkonosze Mountains. It partially covers the area belonging to the Czech Republic. A protection zone has been designated around the park, the so-called buffer zone covering the upper and lower spheres of forests.
KPN covers the northern slopes of the Karkonosze Mountains, Góra Chojnik and Szklarki Waterfall. The national park on both the Polish and Czech sides is covered by the international UNESCO nature conservation program. A biosphere reserve of global importance has been established there. And it's no wonder - the Karkonosze park is extraordinary. The local nature takes everyone's breath away.
Karkonosze National Park – a treat for nature fans
There are numerous waterfalls in the park, the most popular is the aforementioned Szklarki Waterfall, located at an altitude of 520 m above sea level and 13.3 meters high. Many tourists can also be found at Kamieńczyk waterfall. This 27-meter-high waterfall is the highest in the entire Sudetes. The Karkonosze National Park also offers other numerous natural attractions.
Extremely fairy-tale views are guaranteed by Śnieżne Kotły, i.e. post-glacial rock formations with falling rocks, which make the Karkonosze National Park the only such place in Poland. It is also worth going to Śnieżka, which belongs to the Crown of Polish Mountains, with a characteristic observatory at the top. The Karkonosze National Park is undoubtedly an extraordinary place.
Karkonosze National Park – sightseeing
Karkonosze National Park in numbers: Annually, the Karkonosze National Park is visited by 1.5 million tourists
can use:
- 112 walking paths,
- 10 ski lifts with a total length of 17 km of ski slopes,
- 12 guesthouses.
You can also take a cable car ride that enriches the Karkonosze Mountains. Admission to the park
is paid.
Extremely valuable plant cover
Due to the characteristic climate, the Karkonosze Mountains are clearly layered. The highest floor, i.e. the alpine one, is made up of vegetation dominated by typical mountain species, often protected. There are rock bentgrass, low fescue and moss moss here. Below, in the mountain pine floor, we will meet mountain pines and unusual herbaceous plants. The upper limit of the forest is dominated by dwarf spruces accompanied by Carpathian birches. The lowest floor is occupied by meadows.
In the Karkonosze National Park there are over a thousand species of plants, 40 species of mammals, 16 species of bats and over 90 species of various birds. Mouflons can also be found in the park.
Directions from Dwór Korona Karkonosze:
Is it possible to enter the KPN area by car?
Only employees of the Park and owners of shelters can drive cars in the KPN. However, even they are subject to restrictions as to the number and/or time of entries during the day.
On what days is admission to the Karkonosze National Park free of charge?
There are three days a year when admission to the KPN is free. It is January 16 (the day of the creation of the Karkonosze National Park), May 24 (European National Parks Day) and August 10 (St. Lawrence Day). However, it should be remembered that this does not apply to the Kamieńczyk Waterfall, where access fees also apply on these days.