Waligóra, Stone Mountains

Waligóra (German: Heidelberg, 936 m) is the highest peak of the Stone Mountains (Góry Kamienne) and of their Dry Mountains (Góry Suche) section, and one of the summits on the Crown of Polish Mountains list. It rises so steeply above the Three Valleys Pass that from the Andrzejówka mountain hut it looks much higher than it is. The wooded summit has no tower or sweeping panorama today; it is a goal for peak-baggers and anyone who likes a short but serious climb.

A mountain of porphyry

The Waligóra massif forms a north–south ridge a few hundred metres long, with a gentle southern slope and very steep slopes on the other sides. This is clearest from Andrzejówka: the north face drops sharply to the Three Valleys Pass, making the mountain dominate its surroundings. It is built of Permian volcanic rock, quartz porphyry belonging to the Intra-Sudetic Basin. The slopes are covered in beech and spruce forest, thinned in the past by environmental damage. Sources give a height of 934–936 m, depending on the survey.

A history of hiking

The summit was a popular excursion as early as the 19th century, when it was bare of trees and offered good views. Until 1945 a wooden observation tower stood here, and after the war a triangulation and viewing tower, which fell into ruin and was taken down. Today you will find limited views lower down, for example near the ruins of an old sheepfold. The heart of the area is the Andrzejówka hut at about 796 m, opened on 21 October 1933 on the initiative of Andreas Bock, chairman of the Waldenburg Mountain Club, after whom it is named. Since 1945 it has been run by PTTK, the Polish hiking association.

Trails

From the Three Valleys Pass a trail runs over the summit towards Sokołowsko, passing the ruins of Radosno Castle, and there is also a branch of a mountain bike trail from Głuszyca. The shortest climb from Andrzejówka is about 2.3 km and 50 minutes, with roughly 400 m of ascent: short but steep. A longer loop around the massif and back to the pass is about 9 km and takes nearly 3 hours.

Tripto tip

It is best to park in Rybnica Leśna, below Andrzejówka, where the tarmac more or less ends. Bring trekking poles: the climb is steep, and after rain the roots and stones get slippery, so take care on the way down. If you want views, combine Waligóra with the observation tower on Dzikowiec Wielki near Boguszów-Gorce or the tower on Góra Parkowa in Mieroszów. In winter the area around the pass is used by cross-country and downhill skiers, so bring microspikes for the climb.