Observation Tower on Borowa

In 2017 a 16-metre steel observation tower was erected on the summit of Borowa (853 m above sea level), the highest mountain of the Wałbrzych Mountains in the Central Sudetes. The summit is covered with dense forest, so without the structure there would be little to see — it is the tower that opens a full 360-degree panorama and is the main reason for this hike. Admission is free and the tower is accessible all year round.

A panorama of the Sudetes and beyond

From the terrace you can see Wielka Sowa with its summit tower, the Ślęża Massif, and in clear weather even the distant Śnieżka and the skyline of Wrocław. Two routes lead up from Jedlina-Zdrój: the gentler red trail from Koza Pass, about 40 minutes, and the black trail from the car park on Pokrzywianka Street, about 25 minutes — the latter, very steep from the pass, has earned a reputation among hikers as a demanding path.

The peak missing from the Crown of Polish Mountains

Borowa, also called Czarna Góra, belongs to the Crown of the Sudetes, but for years it was absent from the Crown of Polish Mountains. The reason was a measurement error concerning the neighbouring Chełmiec: the triangulation point was placed on a tower standing there, giving Chełmiec an inflated result, and it was considered the highest peak of the range. Measurements by scientists from the AGH University in Kraków showed that Chełmiec reaches 850.0 m, while Borowa is 3 metres higher.

Practical information

The most convenient base is Jedlina-Zdrój, a spa town at the foot of the Wałbrzych Mountains. Plan your ascent for the morning or sunset, when the light falls best on the panorama of the Sudetes.