construction site

* train station/bus stop at the centre

In Poland, at the north foot of the Giant Mountains, the trailheads are in either Karpacz or Kowary. The trail from Kowary is much less frequented and has an interesting stretch along Malina brook. The trails meet at about 900m at a place called Budniki, which was once the hamlet of Forstlangwasser: Over 5km northeast of Śnieżka, in a valley at about 900m on the north slope of the Kowarski Ridge, there used to be a tiny settlement whose last extant buildings fell into ruin in the 1950s. The original name of the hamlet, founded by people hiding from the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), was Forstbauden (Forest Huts), which was later changed to Forstlangwasser. Today's Polish name of the place is a reference to its original name. Budniki was quite a unique site for a village, since – due to its location on the slopes of a deep valley – sunrays do not reach it for 113 days, from the last days of November to the middle of March. Thanks to a group of lovers of this place there is now an interpretive trail around it.

From Budniki the yellow marks climb the relatively steep north side of Kowarski Grzbiet to reach its crest at the very summit of Skalny Stół. Ascents via the main ridge are more mundane and more popular with hikers. The shortest routes, taking roughly one hour, start at Okraj pass.

• To get to Horní Malá Úpa, leave Road I/14 at the town of Mladé Buky and drive north up Road 296 for nearly ten kilometres, then turn right onto Road 252.
• Czech trains and buses

Poland

• The resort of Karpacz lies just 15km south of the centre of Jelenia Góra, a large town just north of the Giant Mountains.
• The town of Kowary lies about 17km southeast of the centre of Jelenia Góra, with which it is connected by Road 367. Buses/minibuses from Jelenia Góra to Karpacz run through Kowary.
• Jelenia Góra has good train and bus links with Wrocław, the capital of Lower Silesia. There is also a direct bus service between Wrocław and Kowary.
• Polish trains
• Polish buses 

Hiking

You must keep to the waymarked trails. Bivouacking is not permitted. You are not supposed to hike during the night. The trails above huts are closed for hikers from 1 November to 15 June.

Climbing

You must be a member of a rock climbing club. Just before your climb, you should write it into the register kept in a nearby mountain hut/your hotel. (Make sure you sign it on return too!) During the approach you must stick to the traditionally used routes described in rock climbing guidebooks. Bivouacking on the wall is only allowed in an emergency. Except for winter, you must not do a route that is easier than UIAA grade III (approx. YDS grade 5.3) unless on the descent. The funny thing is that the last rule does not apply to those hiking/scrambling with a licensed guide whom they have paid €200-300 for looking after them.