Czeskie Kamienie

Czeskie Kamienie is a peak in the Karkonosze, on the Silesian Ridge, rising to 1,416 metres above sea level. It lies close to the Polish-Czech border, not far from Jelenia Góra, and is one of the more popular points on the route through the highest parts of the range.

Rock blocks on the ridge

On the summit stands a group of granite rocks which, together with the neighbouring Śląskie Kamienie, form an extensive culmination of the ridge. The rock blocks are about 11 metres high and stretch for about 50 metres, forming a distinctive formation visible from afar.

A memorial to a 1929 tragedy

On one of the boulders the date 14 January 1929 is carved. It commemorates the death of the Czech journalist Rudolf Kalman, who died on this spot during a snowstorm. The inscription remains to this day a testament to the harsh conditions that can prevail at this altitude.

Vegetation and protection

The summit area is covered with dwarf mountain pine, and lower down the slopes grow spruce forests typical of the upper forest zone. Czeskie Kamienie lies within the Karkonosze National Park, and on the Czech side of the border, in the neighbouring park, within the Krkonošský národní park.

A route along the border

The peak lies close to the Czech town of Szpindlerowy Młyn, and the state border runs along the ridge at this point. The red Main Sudetes Trail, running from Szklarska Poręba to Karpacz across the Silesian Ridge, makes it possible to combine Czeskie Kamienie with neighbouring parts of the Karkonosze as part of one longer hike.

Practical information

• Town: Jelenia Góra
• The peak lies on the Silesian Ridge, on the route of the red Main Sudetes Trail between Szklarska Poręba and Karpacz
• The approach runs through the Karkonosze National Park; it is worth checking the current rules for entering the high-mountain trails before setting out
• Also nearby are Śląskie Kamienie and Wielki Szyszak