Chybotek Rocking Stone, Szklarska Poręba

On top of a granite rock group in the forest above Szklarska Poręba lies a boulder about 4 metres across that rests on just two points. That is why it can be gently set rocking – hence the name Chybotek, roughly "the wobbler". The rock has been known to tourists since the 19th century, and the walk from the Złoty Widok viewpoint takes only a quarter of an hour.

What Chybotek is

Chybotek sits on the border between the Średnia and Dolna districts of Szklarska Poręba, on the south-eastern slopes of the High Ridge of the Jizera Mountains. Although it is often listed among the sights of the Karkonosze (Giant Mountains), it technically belongs to the Jizera range. The rock group is several metres high and made of Karkonosze granite. The topmost block is the wobbling boulder itself – a type of formation geologists call a rocking stone, where the upper block rests on a small contact area and moves when pushed.

Until 1945 the rock had the German name Zuckerschale, the "sugar bowl", after its shape. The town's tourist portal still mentions it in its Polish form, Misa cukru.

Legends

According to the tales of the Walloons – the treasure and ore seekers who once roamed the Sudetes – the boulder sealed the entrance to an underground cave holding a treasure trove. Chybotek is also linked to stories of the Spirit of the Mountains, the legendary lord of the Karkonosze, known in German as Rübezahl. On the same trail, between Złoty Widok and Chybotek, lies a stone slab inscribed "Rübezahl" – according to legend, the symbolic grave of the mountain spirit.

How to get there

The easiest route is the blue trail linking Szklarska Poręba Górna with Szklarska Poręba Dolna railway station. The black circular trail around Szklarska Poręba and the Juliusz Naumowicz trail also pass nearby. From the Złoty Widok viewing terraces it is a gentle walk of about 10 minutes, passing the Spirit's grave on the way. You can leave the car at the car park on ul. Piastowska below the church; from ul. Jeleniogórska the approach is shorter but steep, over roots and stones.

Tripto tip

Chybotek lies outside Karkonosze National Park, so entry is free and there are no opening hours. The last stretch is a forest path that is unsuitable for pushchairs – with a buggy you will only get as far as Złoty Widok. Allow about an hour for the Złoty Widok–Chybotek loop with photo stops. If you rock the boulder, don't climb on it after rain or in winter, when the granite is slippery. Złoty Widok is one of the best viewpoints over the Karkonosze, so go on a clear day; when the main ridge is lost in cloud, this short walk is a good alternative to heading higher into the mountains.