Sokół

Sokół is a hill in the Owl Mountains, part of the Central Sudetes, 862 metres above sea level, with steep slopes and a clearly marked, dome-shaped summit.

What the peak looks like

The mountain is built of metamorphic rocks, and its dome shape and clearly outlined summit set it apart from the flatter hills nearby. Below 750 metres the landscape turns into mountain meadows and partly cultivated fields, and higher up grows lower montane forest with an admixture of deciduous trees.

Winter on the south-eastern slope

The south-eastern slope of Sokół is developed for skiing: six lifts and marked ski runs operate here, and a GOPR (Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue) post is stationed at the foot. In the past two ski jumps also stood on the slope, now unused. A red ski route linking the Zygmuntówka shelter with the Andrzejówka shelter also runs through here.

Hiking trails

The foot of the mountain is skirted from the north-east by the red trail, a section of the Main Sudetes Trail. The blue trail links the surrounding villages, including Czarnoch, Bartnica and Sierpnica, and ends at a junction below Sokół.

Practical information

• Village: Rzeczka, Wałbrzych County
• Getting there: on hiking trails from the direction of the Main Sudetes Trail, or via the blue trail from the surrounding villages
• What to expect: a climb to the summit through forest and meadows, with ski lifts running on the slope in winter; it is worth checking the current availability of the routes before setting out