The trail to Samotnia from Karpacz is probably one of our favorite and quite peaceful trails that can be completed in the Karkonosze National Park. It is very popular among tourists because it is not demanding, and leads through really nice areas, so you can complete an active vacation in Karpacz without much effort or preparation. Since we were staying near the Wang Temple, at the Karkonoski*** Spa Hotel, it was from here that we decided to set out on the blue trail towards Samotnia and make a loop through the Strzecha Akademicka.
We’ve chosen this trail because it was going to be the first more serious trail that Leoś (4 years old) was going to walk 100% on his own. The entire loop measures about 9 kilometers, which on the little hiker’s legs translated into practically a 4.5 hour hike. So in this post we will describe what the trail to Samotnia from Karpacz looks like from the perspective of a parent of young children. Here you will find tips and answers to the most frequently asked questions about this trail.
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We started the trail at the Wang temple, which in itself is one of the most interesting attractions of Karpacz. It is a small church that was built at the turn of the 12th / 13th century in Norway by the Vang Lake (that’s where its name comes from). But why did the Nordic temple find its way to Karkonosze?
Well, the church was sold for the construction of a new temple, and the new owner of the building was King Frederick William IV of Prussia himself, who initially wanted to put it on Peacock Island near Berlin. Eventually, it was earmarked as an Evangelical building and placed on the slope of Czarna Góra in Karpacz. If you are curious about the history of this building and would like to know more details about it than the telegraphic abbreviation we presented, please visit the official website of the Wang temple.
The entrance to the site itself (the square) costs PLN 2, but to go inside the church you need to buy a ticket at the ticket office located at the entrance. The cost of a ticket for May 2023 is PLN 12 for adults, and PLN 7 for children. You can find the current price list on the page above.
After visiting the Wang temple, you enter the Karkonosze National Park, to which you must purchase a ticket at the ticket office. The cost of an adult ticket is 9 PLN, while a discounted ticket is 4.50 PLN. If you want to bypass the lines, it can be purchased online at the KPN website – Karkonosze National Park website. It is worth mentioning that children under the age of 7 are admitted for free, and that there is no charge for admission with a pet. At the ticket office, the possibility to pay by card is available, but when going to the hostel it is worthwhile to have cash with you, since in the mountains with the coverage sometimes varies.
Keep in mind that dogs in the Karkonosze National Park must walk on a leash, and owners must show extreme responsibility for their pet. It is important to remember that the areas of the National Parks are areas of special protection, and we must behave there as guests – that is, do not mess, do not destroy and generally behave in such a way that no distaste is left behind 🙂
Not all trails in the National Park are accessible to four-legged dogs, so if you plan to modify the loop we are describing, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the excluded sections for dogs.
Sections of trails excluded for dogs
- On the green from the Glade to the red trail at Sunflower,
- On the green from the Pilgrims to the Rebirth Hostel
- On the green from the Karkonoska Pass (from the Petrova Bouda shelter), to the Shelter Pod Labskim Szczytem and further along the Wet Road through the slopes of Szrenica up to Jakuszyce (the whole Path over the Reglami is forbidden)
- On the black from Jaworowa Meadow in the Black Jagniątkowski Basin to the Coral Path;
- On black, on Petrówka from Jagniątkow, from Droga pod Reglami to the red trail at Petrova bouda,
- By the Kamienczyk waterfall,
- On the red trail through Lomniczka Kotel from the hostel Dom Slaski to the refurbished hostel Nad Lomniczką,
- On the section of the red trail from the intersection with the black trail from Michalowice to the intersection with the blue trail leading to Pod Smielec Pass.
- On the yellow from the Concrete Bridge to the refurbished hostel Nad Lomniczką.
- On the blue from Skalny Stol to Okraj Pass.
You can always find up-to-date information on the website of the Karkonoski National Park – where to go on the trail with your dog.
The blue trail leading to the PTTK Samotnia mountain hostel measures about 4.2 kilometers and leads along a paved (cobblestone), wide path. It should take about 1.5 hours to complete it at a normal pace, but walking at a leisurely pace it took us about 2.5 hours. We wanted to complete this trail at a peaceful pace, as our goal was for Leoś to complete the entire route on his own two feet. Besides us, we met many families with children who bravely covered meter after meter.
The blue trail to Samotnia leads mostly between trees giving a lot of shade and making it a pleasant hike even in summer. During the hike, you will also come across several streams where you can cool off or let your four-legged friend drink cold mountain water.
Is it possible to take the trail to Samotnia from Karpacz with a stroller?
Although we did not attempt to climb Samotnia with a stroller, we saw one couple along the way who wanted to accomplish this feat. In our opinion, it is possible, only you should have an all-terrain stroller with large enough wheels and good cushioning. Other types of strollers (especially those with small, stiff tires) can cause a lot of trouble. The whole road goes over a cobblestone, so the bearings in the wheels can easily break down, while the comfort of carrying a child over bumps can be highly questionable. You also need to remember that pushing a stroller uphill is not such a simple matter at all, and you need to have sufficient strength in both your arms and legs. So if you do not have a suitable stroller, we strongly recommend a sling or baby carrier.
PTTK “Samotnia” tourist hostel and the fabulous Mały Staw (Little Pond)
The Samotnia Hostel, located by the Little Pond, is probably the most beautifully located tourist hostel in all of Poland (and certainly in Lower Silesia). The Little Pond and the surrounding Little Pond’s Cauldron make for a magical atmosphere. No wonder many of the tourists make an extended stop right here taking the opportunity to eat something warm or refill fluids. Despite the fact that there was plenty of room to sit inside, most people decide to eat outside because of the beautiful views. We, after a longer rest, continued along the blue trail to Strzecha Akademicka, located about half a kilometer from Samotnia.
Yellow trail from Strzecha Akademicka to Karpacz
From Strzecha Akademicka to Karpacz there is a yellow trail, which at some point turns into a wide gravel road. If one plans to return to the Wang temple, one can continue along the paved cobblestone trail and you will return to the blue trail. We, however, opted for the yellow trail, as it is always more interesting for us to take a new trail than to retrace the same route.
As we mentioned, the yellow trail is in the form of a wide gravel path, so when going down you have to be careful not to slip on the gravel. Young children are especially prone to accidents, as they may have trouble slowing down when descending. The route itself from Strzecha Akademicka to Karpacz is a distance of 3.2 kilometers, which at an ordinary pace should be covered in about 50 minutes.
