Karkonosze trails
The Karkonosze trails are wonderful! Everyone, regardless of their condition and experience in mountain expeditions, will find something for themselves. Lovers of more demanding routes can choose, for example, the route from Łabski Szczyt to Śnieżne Kotły. And those who prefer less demanding mountain walks, from the Wang temple to the Samotnia shelter, to Mały Staw and with a spectacular view of the Mały Staw Cauldron. And best of all, both of them conquering the Karkonosze trails will be able to enjoy the wonderful panoramas of the mountains.
Karkonosze trails
The Karkonosze Mountains are the most interesting part of the Sudetes when it comes to spectacular views. The panoramas visible from Śnieżne Kotły, from Śnieżka, the view from Kopa nad Morena to Kocioł Małego Stawu or from the ridge of the Karkonosze Mountains to Kocioł Wielki Stawu - priceless!
When it comes to the Giant Mountains - hiking trails, we will find 4 main routes here. Of course, we don't have to conquer the entire trail at once. Anyway, some of them are expensive for a few days. But it is worth walking at least a section every day, during a few days stay in the mountains.
The red trail is the so-called Main Sudety Trail, on the ridge of the Karkonosze Mountains. It starts at Hala Szrenicka (there is a large shelter there), then goes through the Karkonoska Pass and another shelter, i.e. the Silesian House. Then it descends to the Łomniczka Cirque and continues on to Karpacz.
If we choose the yellow trail, we start from Wysoki Kamień. Then the spectacular Death Curve, Piechowice and the second highest dam in Poland, the charming Jagniątków, the holiday resort Przesieka, the tourist village of Borowice, and we come to Karpacz Górny, and then we see the Sunflower, a granite rock formation.
The green trail leads from Hala Szrenicka through Czarny Kocioł Jagniątkowski, Przełęcz Karkonoska up to the impressive boulders called Pilgrims.
A very well-known trail is also the Polish-Czech Friendship Road, to some extent overlapping with the red trail. It runs to Hala Szrenicka through the Karkonoska Pass, Śląski Dom, through Śnieżka to the Okraj Pass. Using this route, we will cross the entire ridge of the Karkonosze Mountains. The views are spectacular, worth every effort!
Karkonosze peak
The most famous peak of the Karkonosze Mountains is, of course, Śnieżka. It is the highest peak of the Karkonosze and Sudetes, also taking into account the Czech side of the mountains. Its height is 1603 m above sea level. It is visible from a distance, because it rises over 200 meters above the Plain under Śnieżką. This is the area of the Karkonosze National Park, very often visited by tourists. With good visibility from Śnieżka, we can see places as far away as 200 km!
Karkonosze Mountains
Information about the Karkonosze or even the answer to the question: where are the Karkonosze is easy to find on the Internet. The Giant Mountains are very popular mountains, often chosen by tourists due to their unique beauty. Mountain trails and a region very rich in hotels, mansions and palaces offer everything we need. There are rooms for rent all year round, attractions for tourists, there is also a place to try good cuisine. Karpacz and its surroundings are currently the best place for a holiday and a trip to the mountains.
In a word, the Giant Mountains are mountains of great opportunities. Their German and English names are Riesengebirge and Giant Moutains respectively. Loosely speaking, these are giant mountains. The Czechs, with whom we share it, use a name almost identical to ours, i.e. Krkonoše. There was a period in our history when the trails in the Karkonosze Mountains helped both nations fight the oppressive system. Smuggling tissue paper was then a patriotic activity.
Karkonosze in winter
For lovers of winter sports and those who simply like trips to the mountains in winter, the Karkonosze Mountains are a perfect place. There is full infrastructure for skiers, tobogganers and for quiet recreation. For example, in Karpacz there are ski lifts, ski slopes and toboggan slopes open all year round. Of course, there are also many cross-country trails. In the area, you can also organize a winter integration campfire or a carnival party. For example, right next to Karpacz, in Sosnówka, Dwór Korona Karkonoszy offers over 100 attractions for various events.
Also excellent cuisine, unique coffee and artisanal preserves will certainly make the Karkonosze Mountains a very nice memory for us in winter.
It is also the best place for winter holidays with children or a trip to the mountains for a long weekend.
Trails in the Karkonosze Mountains
Maps of hiking trails can be purchased in the form of a traditional paper map or downloaded to the phone in the form of a specific application. Let's not forget about them before setting out on the trail. Let us also remember that even the most beautiful trails in the Karkonosze Mountains can be dangerous in bad weather conditions. Therefore, if we want to reach the peaks in the Giant Mountains, check the weather forecast before the trip. Let's also assess our fitness abilities accordingly. Especially if it will be a trip to the mountains with children, let's take into account their capabilities. Appropriate clothing and footwear for the mountain trail is equally important. If we anticipate that the trail may be slippery, let's get crampons.
Trails in the Giant Mountains are generally not very difficult, but the views and satisfaction are enormous.
Which trails in the Giant Mountains to choose?
The most beautiful trails in the Giant Mountains are those around Śnieżne Kotły and Śnieżka. But of course, it is impossible to say whether the trail near the Kamieńczyk waterfall, the view of which is priceless in itself, is prettier than the one at the Mya Cascades. Or whether to climb Śnieżka or drive from Karpacz, or from the Okraj Pass? These are typical mountain trails in the Karkonosze Mountains, but they are also much gentler, equally beautiful, and at the same time they run next to interesting monuments. For example, the yellow trail from Karpacz to Sosnówka leads past the Temple of Wang, the Chapel of St. Anna, a priceless Rococo altar in the Church of St. Marcin and the reservoir in Sosnówka.
When considering which trails to choose, we must also take into account how long our stay in the Giant Mountains will be and where we intend to spend the night in the mountains, as well as how much strength we have.
Do the colors of trails in the Karkonosze Mountains mean anything?
The color of the hiking trail marking has nothing to do with its difficulty. In the case of ski trails, colors have a specific meaning.
What do the colors of the trails mean for skiers? Green: A - very easy route, blue: B - easy route; red: C - difficult route; black: D - very difficult route.
Sosnówka Japanese garden
Sosnówka is surrounded by beautiful, dense old forests. These are primeval beech-fir-pine forests with rich herbaceous undergrowth. Walking around them is a great way to spend time. However, there is also a Japanese-style garden near Sosnówka! With water accents characteristic of those parks, miniature trees and a small museum with the armor of Japanese warriors, samurai. The greatest impression on the guests is made by the collection of rhododendrons - about 300 shrubs of 80 different varieties of this plant.
Sosnovka ski
In Sosnówka we can go cross-country skiing. There are also classic downhill runs nearby, but the recently fashionable cross-country skis are less demanding when it comes to experience and skills. Also much safer for less experienced lovers of winter madness. Sosnówka is also a great starting point for all kinds of winter sports. It is much quieter here than in the besieged mountain resorts, and at the same time very close to ski slopes and cross-country trails.
Sosnówka Lagoon Karkonosze
The Sosnówka Reservoir is an artificial retention reservoir (the commune of Podgórzyn, Karkonosze). The lagoon has greatly changed the appearance of the town in which it is located, i.e. the historic summer resort village of the same name - Sosnówka. The lagoon stretches at the foot of the most beautiful peaks of the Karkonosze Mountains.
Its construction began in 1986, but it was opened only in 2001. The water surface of the Sosnówka lagoon is approx. 150-170 hectares, it can hold up to 14 million m3 of water. It has an oval shape, the length of the Sosnówka reservoir is 1.2 km, and the width is 1 km. Its southern border is the Karkonosze Foothills, the northern one runs along the road from Podgórzyn to Sosnówka, and the western bank is limited by an earth embankment (370 m at its highest point) and a concrete dam. It is fed by the waters of Podgórna, Czerwonka and Sośniak.
The Sosnówka Reservoir is clearly visible from the Prince Henry's Castle rising above it. The ridges of the Karkonosze Mountains are reflected in the surface. Amazing view!
Attractions near Karpacz
Karpacz, Szklarska Poręba and Jelenia Góra - they are certainly worth seeing when planning a holiday in the mountains. But there are also other, very interesting places in the Giant Mountains in their vicinity. Medieval castles, the magnificent Valley of Palaces and Gardens and historic villages, as well as the impressive Lagoon in Sosnówka. Right next to Karpacz, there is the Chapel of St. Anny and the Good Spring, as well as the Pagan Valley considered to be a magical place of ancient worship.
