Main Sudeten Trail

Why visit?

The Main Sudeten Trail (Główny Szlak Sudecki) named after Mieczysław Orłowicz is the longest mountain trail in Poland: 440 kilometres of red markers running from Świeradów-Zdrój to Prudnik and crossing every Sudeten range in turn — from the Izera Mountains through the Karkonosze, the Rudawy Janowickie, the Stone, Owl and Table Mountains to the Śnieżnik Massif and the Opawskie Mountains. The idea was born in 1947 at a meeting of the Polish Tatra Society in Jelenia Góra, and the trail received Orłowicz's name in 1973. Curiously, despite the legend the GSS climbs neither Śnieżka nor Śnieżnik: in communist times it ran through border zones guarded by the army, so it was routed over passes beside the highest summits. Its highest point lies in the Karkonosze near Słonecznik (1420 m). The total ascent exceeds 14 thousand metres, the record for the full traverse stands at 82 hours 12 minutes (Łukasz Wróbel, 2024), and ordinary hikers need 10–14 days. Stages are most conveniently planned around the main towns and mountain shelters (there are about 25 along the way): Świeradów-Zdrój → Szklarska Poręba with the Kamieńczyk Waterfall → Karpacz → Sokołowsko → Wielka Sowa → Srebrna Góra → Wambierzyce and the Errant Rocks → Kudowa-Zdrój → Duszniki-Zdrój → Jagodna → Hala pod Śnieżnikiem → Złoty Stok → Głuchołazy → Prudnik. En route you pass the Krzeszów sanctuary, spa towns and Paczków, called the "Polish Carcassonne". Practical tips: the season runs from May to October; in the Karkonosze and Table Mountains national park entry fees apply. Walking west to east is best — the sun stays behind you and the Sudetes open up range after range.

What you’ll see

• 440 km przez wszystkie pasma Sudetów — najdłuższy szlak górski Polski
• Szlak im. Mieczysława Orłowicza (koncepcja z 1947 r.)
• Wodospad Kamieńczyka, Błędne Skały i Wielka Sowa po drodze
• Około 25 schronisk na trasie, od Andrzejówki po Pod Kopą Biskupią
• Suma podejść ponad 14 000 m; rekord trasy 82 godz. 12 min (2024)

Map