Stolowe Mountains National Park

Table Mountains National Park (Park Narodowy Gór Stołowych; "GOOR stoh-WOH-vikh") protects Poland's only table mountains: a flat-topped sandstone plateau on the Czech border, carved by erosion into rock mazes, deep crevices and mushroom-shaped boulders. Its two signature trails, Szczeliniec Wielki and Błędne Skały ("Errant Rocks"), are among the most visited spots in any Polish national park — easy, fun walks through stone labyrinths with wide views over the Sudetes. It is a top pick for families.

Where it is and how to get there

The park lies in Lower Silesia, in the Kłodzko region, right on the Czech border near the spa town of Kudowa-Zdrój. The main hub is the village of Karłów on the scenic "Road of a Hundred Bends" (route 387) between Kudowa and Radków. From Wrocław it is about 120 km (75 miles), roughly 2 hours by car. Prague is around 3 hours away. Parking is available in Karłów and, for a fee, at the upper lot by Błędne Skały.

A seabed turned into a maze

The plateau is built of sandstone laid down on the floor of a Late Cretaceous sea about 100 million years ago. Nearly horizontal rock layers, cut by vertical cracks, were sculpted over millions of years by water, frost and wind into table-topped ridges, towers and narrow passages. The national park was established on September 16, 1993 and covers about 63 km² (24 sq mi); across the border, the same landscape continues in the Czech Broumov region. In its record year, 2023, the park drew about 1.3 million visitors.

Top things to do

• Szczeliniec Wielki (919 m / 3,015 ft) — the highest point of the range. Several hundred stone steps (about 665) lead up from Karłów to a mountain hut with a terrace, viewpoints over the plateau and the Czech side, and a one-way route through chilly rock crevices with names like Hell (Piekło).
• Błędne Skały — a short maze of sandstone corridors, some so narrow you must turn sideways or duck. Scenes for "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" were filmed here.
• Skalne Grzyby ("Rock Mushrooms") — odd sandstone formations in the forests between Karłów and Pasterka; some trail sections in this area are currently closed.

How long to stay and tips

Allow 1.5–2 hours for Szczeliniec from Karłów and about an hour for Błędne Skały; both fit easily into one day. Entry is capped per hour (400 people on Szczeliniec, 350 at Błędne Skały), so in summer and on weekends buy a timed ticket online in advance. The road to the upper Błędne Skały parking lot runs on an alternating one-way system: cars go up on the hour and come down 30–45 minutes past the hour.

The trails are not technical but have lots of steps and tight squeezes, so they are not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Pets are not allowed on either paid trail.

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings outside the summer holidays are calmest; in spring and September it is easier to get a time slot of your choice. On hot days the crevices are pleasantly cool, but after rain the sandstone gets slippery, so wear shoes with good grip.

Winter 2026/27

The paid-trail season ends on November 11. In winter the steps and crevices can be icy — take special care in the Piekiełko section of Szczeliniec — and the road to Błędne Skały may close. The park has not yet published winter opening rules, so check its website before you go.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026 (prices may change):

• Hours: Szczeliniec Wielki and Błędne Skały — daily 9 a.m.–4 p.m. in October and from November 1 to 11. Upper Błędne Skały parking: entries 9 a.m.–2 p.m., last descent 3:30 p.m.
• Tickets: 16 PLN per trail (reduced 8 PLN); children under 7 free, but they still need a zero-price online ticket. No refunds.
• Parking at Błędne Skały: 40 PLN per car.
• Contact: ul. Słoneczna 31, 57-350 Kudowa-Zdrój; phone +48 74 866 14 36; email pngs@pngs.com.pl.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes — it is one of the most kid-friendly national parks in Poland and genuinely unique. Combine it with the eerie Chapel of Skulls in Kudowa-Czermna, the spa towns of Kudowa, Duszniki and Polanica, and the pilgrimage basilica at Wambierzyce.