Route description Polish–Czech Friendship Trail

rock formation twarożnik. border post on top of rock


from szrenica przełęcz karkonoska

the trail starts @ szrenica joining main sudeten trail, starts in Świeradów-zdrój in jizera mountains, subsequent mountain range , runs eastwards along main ridge Śnieżka, highest summit of range.

after mild descent amongst vast mountain pine shrub, traverses second highest peak of range, wielki szyszak, helmet shaped peak, derives polish name from. covered in granite rocks, elevates distinctly on other peaks of part of range, being steepest , alpine features. trail touches upper border of Śnieżne kotły, 2 glacial cirques, nature reserve. radio tower above has been distinctive landmark since moment built. sniezne kotly offer landscapes on whole lower silesia region. trail traverses Łabski szczyt hosting sources of river labe on czech side, runs along top of post-glacial cirque, wielki kocioł jagniątkowski, precedes 2 mild peaks prominent rock formations, czeskie kamienie , Śląskie kamienie (silesian rocks , czech rocks). these names entirely polish, in czech , german dubbed male rocks , female rocks . finally, trail falls mildly reach przełęcz karkonoska, dividing karkonosze western , eastern part.

from przełęcz karkonoska okraj pass

eastern part of trail

the pass junction of short distance trails ski trails; tarmac road, crossing pass 1 of steepest in poland. albeit quality of tarmac on polish side relatively poor, pass goal of mountain bikers. there 2 mountain huts on pass: czech spindlerova bouda , polish odrodzenie. in 1936, latter, being property of jew, confiscated nazis , converted boarding house members of hitlerjugend, later changed hotel nazi officers. pass accessible car , bus czech side.

from there on way Śnieżka, trail traverses mild peak smogornia and, leading through exposed grassy slope common mountain pine shrubs descends standalone rock słonecznik. on left, deep cirque appears wielki staw , maly staw @ bottom, 2 postglacial lakes, accessible means of path downhill, marked blue. near lakes, there 2 mountain huts: samotnia , strzecha akademicka. trail crosses plateau równia pod Śnieżką cirques on both sides. friendship trail intersects here several important paths remarkable towns: Špindlerův mlýn , karpacz. @ mountain hut Śląski dom, once border checkpoint, trail ascends peak of Śnieżka; fragment involves climbing steep slope. there possibility of avoiding effort, choosing droga jubileuszowa, (jubilee road), mild cobblestone road able carry car , small truck traffic. although shortcuts forbidden along whole trail, place extremely dangerous due marshy ground. having passed peak, pass runs parallel border on czech side, place when trail not stick directly borderline.

the trail finishes @ grassy okraj pass.

trail map online: link