Szrenica

Szrenica (pronounced shreh-NEE-tsa, 1,362 m) is the rounded granite summit that towers over the resort town of Szklarska Poręba in Poland's Karkonosze, or Giant Mountains. It is one of the easiest high viewpoints in the range to reach: a two-stage chairlift does most of the climbing, and the bare top looks out over the Jelenia Góra Valley, the Jizera Mountains and the Czech side of the ridge. If you are wondering what to do in Szklarska Poręba, start here.

Where Szrenica is

Szrenica sits on the main Karkonosze ridge in southwestern Poland, right on the Czech border, inside Karkonosze National Park. Together with the Czech national park on the other side, the area forms a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Szklarska Poręba is roughly two hours by car from Wrocław, the nearest big city and airport. Direct trains from Wrocław to Szklarska Poręba Górna take about 2.5–3 hours.

The summit dome rises about 60 m above the ridge and lies entirely on the Polish side. It is built of Karkonosze granite, broken into tors and wide boulder fields. The Polish name became official in 1949; it is linked to szron (frost), because the pale lichen on the rocks looks frosted from a distance. The German name is Reifträger.

History: the summit hut and the weather station

The hut on the summit dates from 1921–22. According to the national park, it was built with public donations for a German tenant who had been removed by the Czech authorities from the nearby Vosecká bouda. It reflects the tension between the Czech and German communities after World War I. After 1945 it was run by the Polish tourist association PTTK until a fire in 1968. It was rebuilt over many years, privatized, and reopened in 1992.

Just below the top, at about 1,331 m, a University of Wrocław weather station has operated since 1957. Records from its early years show an average annual temperature of about 1.9°C and up to 264 foggy days a year.

How to get up

• By chairlift: the lower station of Szrenica Ski Arena is at ul. Turystyczna 25a. The lift has two sections of about 20 minutes each. The top station is about 200 m north of the summit, roughly a 15-minute walk uphill to the summit hut. Dogs may ride with you, at your own responsibility.
• On foot: the classic route follows the red trail from Szklarska Poręba past Kamieńczyk Waterfall (ka-MYEN-chik) and the Hala Szrenicka meadow. The national park suggests a 14 km loop that adds the Trzy Świnki rocks and the Pod Łabskim Szczytem hut.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

Prices are in Polish złoty (PLN).

• National park entry: 11 PLN per day, 5.50 PLN reduced; children under 7 free. Buy it online or at the park booth at the middle lift station, which is open at least until October 18. Your lift ticket does not include park entry.
• Chairlift: in October it runs daily 9:00 am–4:30 pm, with the last ride up and down at 4:00 pm. Low-season fares, valid until October 25, 2026: both sections up 66 PLN (children 7–14: 39 PLN), round trip 74/55 PLN. Children under 7 ride free.
• On October 12, 2026, the first section is closed for maintenance. The lift may also stop in winds above 20 m/s or during thunderstorms.

Szrenica in winter 2026/27

In winter Szrenica is the heart of the largest ski area on the Polish side of the mountains. The operator lists winter hours of 8:30 am–4:00 pm, with the last ride for hikers at 3:30 pm. As of October 2026, the opening date and lift-pass prices for the 2026/27 season have not been published.

Expect strong wind, rime ice, fog and fast-changing weather on the ridge. Each winter the park closes some trails near the Śnieżne Kotły cirques because of avalanche risk, so check the park's daily trail bulletin before setting out. The mountain rescue number in Poland is 985.

What to see nearby

• Końskie Łby and Trzy Świnki: striking granite rock groups on the slopes.
• Kamieńczyk Waterfall: the highest waterfall in the Polish Sudetes (27 m).
• Śnieżne Kotły: dramatic glacial cirques east along the ridge.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially on a clear day. Families can take the chairlift and walk the last short stretch. Hikers can make a full day of it with Kamieńczyk Waterfall and Śnieżne Kotły. Trail signs are mainly in Polish and Czech, so download an offline map. Buying lift tickets online saves the ticket-office line, but you will still queue at the gates.