Green Giant Mountains

Green Giant Mountains (Zielone Karkonosze)

This walking route can take all day. It covers the entire town, starting from Karpacz Dolny, laboriously climbs near Wang Church,  runs through the streets around the Wild Waterfall (Dziki Wodospad) and the ski jumping hill and  along forest paths next to KNP Information Centre and ends in the town centre. The entire route is designed for a rather skilled walker but  it can be suitable for children, too. What should you take?  Food supplies and drink are recommended.

Are you ready? Let's start. The area near Netto shop at ul. Konstytucji 3 Maja 8a may be the beginning of our trip. This is the place where you can see the first natural monument on the route, a chestnut tree.  Although we all know that the best chestnuts are on the Pigalle Square, you may enjoy these in Karpacz, too.  Now go along Netto shop to Nad Łomnicą Street and according to the map turn right, upwards, after approx. 500 metres you should reach the junction with  Nadrzeczna Street. There is a little square where plants having therapeutic use are planted. Your are by the Laborants' Gardens. The place seems to be rather modest an unremarkable but it is worthwhile to learn here more about the history of pioneers of today's pharmacy, known as laborants. 

Now, walk for a few hundred metres down Nadrzeczna Street until you reach the junction with Kolejowa Street, turn left at the junction according to the green and red trail.  Just after the bridge over the river Łomnica you will find a building Halicz, today it is a boarding house but in the past it was one of the three court taverns in the area of the former Karpacz. You may find more information on its amazing history on the information board. Catch a breath because now your walk turns into a real climbing. Next natural monument is waiting for you at Myśliwska 2a Street, a sycamore and a few metres down you may see an amazing ivy covered house. This is a private area, that's why you can admire the view from a distance but such a lovely place is worth remembering.  

Go further up Myśliwska Street, be careful, there are no pavements here. Look around, the beginning of Myśliwska Street provides you with a beautiful view to Kowary Ridge (Kowarski Grzbiet) and Rocky Table (Skalny Stół) from the East, Owl's Pass (Sowia Dolina), Black Mountain (Czarna Kopę), Black Ridge (Czarny Grzbiet) and Śnieżka which will hide in a moment behind the slope of Karpatka. This hill will accompany you for a few hundred metres on the left side, while on the right side you will be followed by afforested slopes of Strzelczyk and Strzelec. The red trail  runs right heading towards the Chapel of St. Anna  at Grabowiec, it is a next great idea for a trip from Karpacz but we will follow the green trail. We leave the buildings of the Pulmonology and Allergy Center on the left side behind us and move upwards.  In 300 metres or so we reach the forest. We may shorten our journey here and enjoy the walk in the shadows of  pine trees along Szkolna Street through the forest. Regardless of the option chosen, look for number 1. It is where a small-leaved lime has been growing for the last 370 years. After a brief rest it is time for the steepest  section of the trail: from Szkolna to Karkonoska Street through the pedestrian crossing to the other side of the street and up to Wang Church. If you haven't seen it yet, it is high time and at the same time a great opportunity to see the common ivy up close as it grows around the church.

From Wang, we will walk the streets of Lower Karpacz (Karpacz Dolny) in the direction of a Swiss pine at Zamkowa 3 Street. This part of the trail is beautiful since it offers an amazing view over the Jelenia Góra Valley (Kotlina Jeleniogórska). Now, we will make our way down along Zamkowa Street to Kammiena Street and just before the boarding house Ahava SPA turn into the forest path, which will take us to Strażacka Street. The Wild Waterfall just behind the bridge on our right is a perfect place to rest.  Near the waterfall you may find: the lower station of the chair lift to Kopa, the Winterpol lift and tourist trails (yellow, black and red) you may follow them into the higher parts of the Giant Mountains.  Stop at the Ski Jumping Hill Orlinek and visit it if you have time. You may go up to the top of the ski jumping hill to get a feel of what the ski jumpers experience during training and competition. After that follow Olimpijska, Świerkowa and Miciekwicza Street until you rich the park near D.W. Mieszko. In the park, the adults may rest on the benches next to the fountain, children can safely have fun on climbing walls, and if you want more visit the underground kingdom of the Mountain Ghost in Mysteries of the Giant Mountains (Karkonowskie Tajemnice).

It is still not the end, as you are near the promenade you may follow it and find The Court Linden next to Bachus restaurant, former court tavern. The maps show that this is the end of our trip. However, if you have some energy left, from the park go onto Piastowska Street and look out for the green trail, then follow it, first its asphalt part then along Leśna Street. Near D.W. Irena take the path to KNP Information Centre. People working there will show you the interior of the building and a small garden with healing herbs which grow wild on Karkonosze National Park. Turn left just behind the Information Centre and follow down the unmarked road which will take you to Karpacz. You will emerge at Obrońcy Pokoju Street next to the police station. You are only 500 metres from the centre of the town, from the Court Linden. That's where our trip ends.

Congratulations!

Zielone Karkonosze