Karkonosze National Park

Karkonosze National Park is a national park in the Sudetes in Dolnośląskie, Poland. It lies on the border with the Czech Republic. It was made in 1959 and covers an area of 5951 ha. The Karkonosze National Park is a very popular hiking destination among locals and foreigners alike.

Understand

Landscape

Karkonosze (Giant Mountains) are the tallest part of Sudetes mountain range and local landmark visible from distance. Significant parts of the mountain range are above treeline. Forests below peaks are dominated by various pine and spruce species. Peaks themselves are mostly stony and flat with sprinkles of mountain bushes, definitely not alpine. There are many waterfalls and a few mountain lakes.

Get in

By car

Park is easily accessible by car through DK3 main road which leads to gateway towns of Szklarska Poręba, and (with a little detour) Karpacz. Paid parkings are available at foot of Szrenica and Kopa mountains where park starts.

By train

You can reach Szklarska Poręba by train. You can arrive with PKP Intercity or Koleje Dolnośląskie at Szklarska Poręba Górna then pass about 2 km through town. With the latter you can also reach the closer Szklarska Poręba Huta station, however it is far from the town if you need supplies or acommodation.

By bus

Karpacz is reachable by many private bus companies. There is no bus station, bus stops in town centre and at Biały Jar station from which it is short way to the park.

Fees and permits

As of Aug 2024 one-day individual ticket to the park costs 10 zł (5 zł reduced). A three-day individual ticket costs 20 zł (10 zł reduced). Paid at park entrance or as part of entrance tickets (for example in Chojnik Castle).

Get around

Karkonosze National Park does not have any roads suitable for car traffic or rail lines. If you want to go to other part of park you will have to go around the park, usually by car as mass transit in this area is rather undeveloped.

By foot

Karkonosze National Park has paths of excellent quality that go pretty much anywhere you would want to go. It is also possible to go there in winter.

By cable car

There are two cable cars one from Szklarska Poręba to Szrenica which is at top of the Karkonosze ridge and from which other mountains are easily accessible. Or you can use cable car from Karpacz to Mała Kopa which will bring you much closer to Śnieżka mountain. Expect fare around 70 zł for adult.

By bike

Cycling is prohibited in the park except few selected paths. There are events twice a year which allow you to reach Śnieżka, these are however for professional cyclists.

See

Wielki Staw

• 1 Kamieńczyk Waterfall (Zackelfall). tallest waterfall in Sudetes at 27 metres of height, water creates small canyon after cascades 12 zł. (updated Aug 2024)
• 2 Śnieżne Kotły (Schneegruben, Sněžné jámy). Can be reached from above or below, on top side there is beautiful view of area, while below you can walk through picturesque ponds and bushes. You can ease your journey with cable car to Szrenica from which it is simple 3 km walk uphill. (updated Aug 2024)
• 3 Wielki Staw (Großer Teich). cold lake located in post-glacial cirque (deep valley) (updated Aug 2024)
• 4 Chojnik Castle, ☏ +48 757 556 394, kontakt@chojnik.pl. 10:00-16:00 daily, Apr-Oct open to 17:00, Jun-Aug from 09:00, closed on Mo during Nov-Mar. Ruins of castle built in 13th century by Silesian Piasts. Later owned by Schaffgotsch house. Since 19th century tourist shelter operates on its place 15 zł, reduced 8 zł, + fee for park entrance. (updated Aug 2024)

Do

Hike

Park offers excellent paths and all peaks are easily reachable, even by bike or with trolley. If you cannot for some reason do whole trek you can help yourself with two cable cars one to Szrenica in Szklarska Poręba and other to Mała Kopa in Karpacz. Be mindful that it is not place of soltitude. Paths in Karkonosze National Park are very crowded.

• 1 Śnieżka (Schneekoppe). Tallest mountain in Sudetes and Czech Republic at 1603 metres. Quite crowded with derelict meteorological station. You can reach Kopa Mountain first by cable car then hike just 200 metres upwards. (updated Aug 2024)
• 2 Skalny Stół (Tafelstein, Tabule). Located on the edge of the park, less accessible than other peaks, but offers epic views of Snieżka and Jelenia Góra valley. (updated Aug 2024)

Ski

While not snow-sure region you can try skiing in Karkonosze. Snow cover rarely reaches above 1 meter height (usually it is more like 20 cm) and slope operators pretty much always rely on artificial snow. Also as with hiking this is very popular ski spot, expect huge queues at entrances (100-200 people long).

• 3 Szrenica (Reifträger, Jínonoš), Turystyczna 25A. 08:30-16:00. 12 kilometres of paths with longest at about 3.5 km length. 1 day adult 160 zł. (updated Aug 2024)
• 4 Mała Kopa (Kopa, Kleine Koppe), Turystyczna 4. 09:00-17:30. longest paths at about 2.5 km (updated Aug 2024)

Sleep

Camping

There are no camping places inside the park. You may try your luck in Szklarska Poręba or Karpacz which offer such accommodation.

Backcountry

It is illegal to sleep outside designated places in the park

Go next

Krkonose right across the border on the Czech side behind the mountain ridge, arguably it has better infrastructure than Polish part (including lift to Śnieżka and parking at top of the ridge)

Towns close to park:

• Karpacz
• Kowary
• Szklarska Poręba

Further afield:

• Bolków
• Jelenia Góra
• Table Mountains National Park