Loop from Karpacz: Samotnia - Słonecznik - Pielgrzymy
Nearby: Jelenia Góra
wb_sunny Route in the sun
restaurant Restaurant or bar nearby
directions_car Access by car
directions_bus Can be reached by bus
wc Toilet along the route
A beautiful scenic route, with no major difficulties (except for its length). Along the way, there are two mountain huts, stunning panoramas of the Karkonosze Mountains, and interesting rock formations for climbing!
Starting point - Karpacz, Olimpijska Street
We begin our hike near the lower station of the cable car to Kopa. You can park your car in the paid parking lot here and walk from the center of Karpacz... or take the Biały Jar urban train. The first stop is Dziki Wodospad (Wild Waterfall):
Section 1: Yellow sledging trail
We will reach the main road "Na Śnieżkę" (To Śnieżka) via the sledging trail - a wide path that goes uphill, but fairly gently and without crowds.
More photos from the yellow sledging trail:
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Yellow sledding trail from Karpacz
It gets steeper towards the end, but the views become more spectacular, and soon we will reach the first mountain hut: Strzecha Akademicka.
Section 2: To the Samotnia hut and back
While at the Strzecha Akademicka hut, we must descend to Kotło Mały Staw (Little Pond Basin) and the Samotnia hut - one of the most picturesque places in the Karkonosze Mountains:
The path is steep but short. The hut has a great atmosphere! It's worth planning a longer break here:
Samotnia Shelter above Mały Staw
The most beautiful place in the Karkonosze Mountains? Many would point to Mały Staw (Small Pond), with its charming shelter above it. ...
Section 3: Burnt Strażnica - ridge above Mały Staw (Little Pond) and Wielki Staw (Big Pond)
After returning to Strzecha Akademicka, the climb continues - we ascend to the "Spalona Strażnica" (Burnt Guardhouse) intersection via a wide rocky path.
From this point, we begin the most enjoyable section of the hike along the ridge, partly on footbridges over marshy meadows:
We will enjoy views of the ponds - yes, that's where we were just a moment ago!
It's also worth turning around and taking a look at Śnieżka (Snowy Peak) behind us.
Once we reach the viewpoint at Wielki Staw (Big Pond), we are only a few steps away from Słonecznik (Sunflower).
Section 4: Słonecznik (Sunflower) and Pielgrzymy (Pilgrims)
Another picnic and attraction - the Słonecznik (Sunflower) viewpoint: a picturesque group of rocks surrounded by legends... Be sure to find the weathering pot and the old stone bench.
More about the Słonecznik (Sunflower) rock, including the legend of the Black Devil:
Słonecznik (Sunflower) Rock - viewpoint
The characteristic rock towering over the area used to mark the south for the locals - precisely at noon, the sun was above the Słonecznik. ...
From Słonecznik (Sunflower), we descend on a steep path to the next set of rocks - hidden in the Pielgrzymy (Pilgrims) forest.
Along the way, we pass through the "fairy-tale forest":
Pielgrzymy (Pilgrims) is much more friendly for little climbers - everyone will find their place to climb here!
Pilgrims Rocks near Karpacz
Surrounded by a forest, a picturesque rock formation along the yellow trail from Polana to Słonecznik. It is worth planning a longer stop here. ...
Section 5: Polana (Glade) and return via the green Bronka Czecha (Bronisław Czech) trail
From Pielgrzymy (Pilgrims), we descend to the scenic Polana (Glade). Look - we were just up there a little while ago!
There are small rocks on the glade, but they are inaccessible.
After the glade, we briefly join the main road "Na Śnieżkę" (To Śnieżka), but in a few minutes, we will turn into the forest.
For a change, we will return to the starting point via the forest trail called Droga Bronka Czecha (Bronisław Czech's Path). The path is easy, pleasant, and... empty.
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Bronek Czech's Path: Green Trail from Karpacz to Polana and Słonecznik
We will return to Olimpijska Street using this path.
Here is the map of the entire route:
Publish Date: 2021-08-10
More in the Region Sudety (The Sudetes)
Total Length 184 km
