Kłodzka Góra

For decades Kłodzka Góra (757 m) was thought to be the highest peak of the Bardzkie Mountains, which earned it a place in the Crown of Polish Mountains, a popular list of the highest summit in each range, even though newer surveys showed that neighbouring Szeroka Góra is higher. The summit is wooded, so until 2020 there was no view at all. That changed with a steel lookout tower 34.5 m tall, from which you can see half the Sudetes on a clear day.

The tower and the panorama

The tower was built on the summit in 2020. 166 winding steps lead to the top deck at 30.5 m. According to the Polish Tourist Society PTTK, the view takes in the Śnieżnik Massif, the Krowiarki, the Bystrzyckie, Orlickie, Stołowe, Sowie and Bardzkie Mountains, the Sudeten Foreland, the Złote Mountains and the Jeseníky in the Czech Republic. How far you see depends on air clarity, so pick a cool, dry day.

The mountain that lost its title

In the 19th century, when tourism in the Kłodzko region was booming, the summit was not popular, and nearby Ostra Góra was long considered the range's highest point. When the Crown of Polish Mountains was drawn up, Kłodzka Góra was taken as the top of the Bardzkie Mountains and kept the title, although Szeroka Góra reaches 766 m according to PTTK. The mountain is a junction point from which four ridges radiate; its German name is Glatsenkoppe. It also belongs to the Crown of Lower Silesian Mountains.

Trails to the top

Two marked trails meet a few dozen metres from the summit:

• the yellow trail from Kłodzko via Szyndzielnia, Kostra, Obszerna and Jedlak,
• the blue trail from Bardo to Lądek-Zdrój, part of the European long-distance path E3.

There are car parks at both ends of the blue section. From Łaszczowa Pass the climb takes about 1 h 15 min with 237 m of ascent and is the easiest option for families. From Kłodzka Pass, crossed by national road 46 from Kłodzko to Złoty Stok, it takes about 1 h 20 min but is steeper (332 m up). The longest approach, about 1 h 50 min, is the yellow trail from Dom Krawca on the slope of Kostra. The nearest bus stops are in Podzamek and at the pass itself.

Tripto tip

Allow 2.5–3 hours for the whole trip including the tower. The route follows forest tracks, so bring comfortable shoes, water and some spare time. Take care on the tower in strong wind or icy conditions. Every year on the shortest night of the year the PTTK branch in Kłodzko organises a night hike from Kłodzko to the summit and back, and weekend afternoons can be busy with Crown of Polish Mountains collectors.