Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
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50.73600°N / 15.74000°E |
Activities:
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Hiking |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
Elevation:
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5259 ft / 1603 m |
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This page was created anew in October 2016.
Overview
Sněžka/Śnieżka (a feminine noun in both Czech and Polish, which can be translated as the Snowy One or Snow White; Schneekoppe in German) at an elevation of 1602 or – according to the latest Czech measurement – 1603m, is the highest summit in the Giant Mountains, in all of the Sudetes as well as Czechia. It has 1203m of prominence and, standing on the border between Czechia and Poland, rises nearly 200m above the main ridge of the Giant Mountains. This is due to the mountain's geologic make-up: unlike its surroundings, it is formed of hornfels, which is extremely resistant to erosion. Until the 19th century Śnieżka was also known as Rieseberg, that is the Giant Mountain. 
Sněžka's north and southwest sides are quite high and steep. They descend over 500m to the bottoms of the valleys of, respectively, Łomniczka and Úpa brooks. The gentler side is the southeast side. To the south Śnieżka sends out a lateral ridge which is named after Růžová hora (1390m), its first summit south of Sněžka. At the west foot of Śnieżka extends the undulating plateau – an ancient peneplain raised by tectonic forces - that forms what we call the main ridge of the Giant Mountains west from Sněžka. The main ridge of the Giant Mountains east of Śnieżka is much narrower and does look like a ridge. Between Sněžka and Svorová hora/Czarna Kopa at 1407m, the ridge - clad in dwarf mountain pine and talus - is called Obří hřeben (Giant Ridge)/Czarny Grzbiet (Black Ridge).
In the Ice Age, the upper parts of the valleys that begin at Sněžka cradled glaciers, which results in a couple of fine, albeit lakeless, corries sitting below Śnieżka on either side of the international border. These corries are notorious for avalanches.
 Studniční hora at 1554m across a corrie - photo by Tomas Kristofory  The north face of Śnieżka On the western trail in winter - photo by Dziku  The UFOs - photo by Dziku Chapel of St. Lawrence - photo by Dziku |
Trails
There are many options, of which the most 'obvious' are listed in the tables below. The asterisked routes are the most interesting in my opinion.
Poland
Czechia
The trail through Obří důl offers excellent views of the more jagged, south face of Sněžka as well as Studniční hora with its corries and waterfalls, whereas the trail from Špindlerův Mlýn runs up the side of Kozí hřbety, a relatively narrow ridge, exceptional for the Giant Mountains.
Maps
Nearby Huts
Getting To Nearby Resorts
Poland
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. Red Tape When To Climb & Mountain Conditions
 The wind of change - photo by rgg |
1 Routes