Parks and nature
the second-highest waterfall in the Polish Karkonosze, with a route accessible for wheelchairs
Places with character
two post-glacial cirques with a basalt vein from 26 million years ago, protected since 1933
Mountains
the fourth highest peak of the Sudetes with a boulder field on the summit and the ruins of an emperor's monument
Mountains
the fourth highest peak of the Polish Karkonosze, with a PTTK mountain hostel on the northern slope
Lakes and bathing areas
eight post-glacial ponds at the bottom of the Śnieżne Kotły cirque, a habitat of the Alpine newt
Mountains
Mountains
the highest summit of a massif in the Karkonosze Mountains, with a guesthouse that was once Chancellor Bismarck's residence
a granite peak of the Karkonosze Foothills with rock formations right above Sobieszów
a granite peak of the Karkonosze Foothills with rock outcrops and lower montane forest on its slopes
Mountains
a peak between Szklarska Poręba and Jagniątków, on the route of two mountain trails
a hill of gneiss and granite gneiss at the eastern end of the Kamienicki Ridge in the Izera Mountains
Mountains
a forested peak of the Karkonosze built of granite, with small rocks known as Paciorki
Mountains
a summit of the Śląski Grzbiet ridge, 1090 m above sea level, with a granite boulder field and the red trail below the top
Mountains
a 593-metre peak with cliffs above the Kamienna valley, at whose foot the Szklarka stream forms a ravine with a waterfall
Mountains
a peak of the Karkonosze Foothills made of Karkonosze granite, formerly called Trzy Jawory (Three Sycamores)
a granite summit of the Karkonosze Foothills, 604 metres, on the trail linking Piechowice with Michałowice
a granite summit above Jagniątków with closed adits from a post-war uranium mine
Piechowice attractions include a waterfall, glacial cirques and peaks from the foothills to the Silesian Ridge. See where to start.
Start with the Szklarka Waterfall. It is the second highest waterfall in the Polish Karkonosze, after Kamieńczyk. The cascade is 13.3 metres high and lies at 525 m above sea level. The water falls wide, narrows towards the bottom and twists in a spiral, forming a plunge pool at the base. On the left side you can see potholes, hollows carved in the rock by swirling water. The waterfall lies in the Karkonosze National Park and is accessible for wheelchair users too, so it is the easiest item on the list.
For a higher level, go to the Snowy Cirques (Śnieżne Kotły), two glacial cirques between Wielki Szyszak and Łabski Szczyt. They are among the best-known glacial landforms in the Sudetes and are strictly protected. On the floor lie the Snowy Tarns, eight closed-basin lakes at roughly 1,250 to 1,350 m above sea level, set in hollows between moraine ridges left by the old glacier.
Wielki Szyszak stands at 1,509 m and is the second peak of the Polish Karkonosze. The border with Czechia runs over the summit, which is also the administrative border of Piechowice. The ruins of a monument to Wilhelm I from 1888 remain on top, but no marked trail leads there. Lower on the Silesian Ridge stand Łabski Szczyt (1,471 m, with a PTTK hostel on its slope), Śmielec (1,424 m) and Ostroga (1,090 m), where the red trail passes below the summit.
Choose the peaks of the Karkonosze Foothills. Grzybowiec (751 m) is the highest point of a broad massif between Piechowice, Sobieszów, Jagniątków and Lower Szklarska Poręba, and a guesthouse called Grzybowiec-Bismarckhöhe stands on the top. Płoszczań (747 m) is covered in lower montane forest, with clearings on its north-eastern slope. On Świerczyna (665 m) you meet a blue and a black trail, and Sośnik (650 m) has a story from 1954, when uranium ore was briefly mined under the summit. The adits are closed to visitors today.
Lower hills include Łagodna (676 m), Bucznik with small rocks called Paciorki, Sobiesz, Piechowicka Góra with a road tunnel to Michałowice, and Szklarz with cliffs above the Kamienna valley. Mały Ciemniak (578 m) stands apart in the Izera Mountains, with no marked trails to the top.
For a calm day, combine the Szklarka Waterfall with one foothill peak. For a full mountain day, head towards the Snowy Cirques and Łabski Szczyt. The waterfall, the cirques and most of the peaks carry the free tag, so the whole plan needs no tickets. The full list is in free attractions in Piechowice, and the peaks are gathered on mountains in Piechowice. If you like views, move on to beautiful views. Nature is covered by nature in Piechowice, and ideas for a solo hike are in Piechowice solo.
Go further to the neighbouring towns: Szklarska Poręba is right next door, and Karpacz and Kowary round off a longer stay.
According to the listing, the waterfall is accessible for wheelchair users too. Check the details of the approach before you travel.
No, no marked trail leads to the summit itself. You will find the ruins of the Wilhelm I monument from 1888 and the border with Czechia. Plan the climb with a map and care.
The waterfall, the cirques, the tarns and all the peaks described here carry the free tag. Entry to the national park may be subject to park rules, so check them before your trip.
The easiest is the Szklarka Waterfall. Judge longer ridge routes by the strength of the youngest, and treat the gentler foothill peaks as a walk.
