Główny Szlak Sudecki

The place

hiking trail in Poland

Why go

Śnieżka (1,602 m), with views of Prague on a clear day. Błędne Skały (Errant Rocks) in the Table Mountains. Książ Castle in Wałbrzych. Karpacz and the Wang Church (relocated from Norway). The Kłodzko Valley and its spa towns (Kudowa, Duszniki).

A bit of history

Marked out by the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society (PTTK) in 1952–1953, the GSS is one of the oldest long-distance trails in Poland. The Sudetes, a border region between Poland and the Czech Republic, have a rich history: they were once part of Silesia, Bohemia and Austria before being incorporated into Poland after the Second World War.

Getting there

Świeradów-Zdrój: bus from Jelenia Góra (40 min). Prudnik: bus from Opole (1h). Jelenia Góra and Opole both have rail connections.

Recommended gear

Waterproof hiking boots. Rain jacket. Hiking map (Compass 1:50,000).

Best season

May–October. Śnieżka can still hold snow until May. Autumn, with its golden forests, is especially beautiful.