Waterfalls in Poland

The tripto catalogue lists 14 waterfalls and cascades – in the Tatras, the Karkonosze, the Śnieżnik Massif, the Beskids and the Bieszczady. The highest are in the mountains in the south of the country.

Siklawa in the Roztoka Valley, about 65–70 metres high, is the highest waterfall in Poland; the walk up from Wodogrzmoty takes about two hours. Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza are the largest waterfalls in the Polish Tatras – three cascades on the Roztoka stream right by the road to Morskie Oko. Kamieńczyk Waterfall (27 m) is the highest in the Polish Sudetes; you descend into the gorge wearing a helmet, along walkways. Szklarka Waterfall (about 13 m) is 375 metres from the car park, on a path suitable for pushchairs. In Międzygórze, Wilczka Waterfall is 22 metres high with a footbridge over the drop, and the Rodła Cascades in Wisła are about 25 natural steps on an easy, free walk.

Most waterfalls in the catalogue are in Lower Silesia (6, mainly in the Karkonosze), the Silesian region (4, in the Beskids) and Lesser Poland (3, in the Tatras).

In practice: waterfalls are at their most impressive in spring after the thaw and after heavy rain; in a dry summer they can shrink a lot. National parks charge entry (Tatra and Karkonosze 11 zł), and the Kamieńczyk gorge costs an extra 16 zł. In winter, paths can be icy – bring microspikes. With children, choose short approaches: Szklarka, Siklawica in the Strążyska Valley or the Rodła Cascades.