Skiing in Szklarska Poręba

 

Szklarska Poręba is a town in Jelenia Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. An important regional and national centre for mountain hiking, cycling and skiing, Szklarska Poręba is situated in the beautiful valley of the Kamienna, between the Karkonosze Mountains in the south and Izera Mountains in the west, at 440-886 metres above sea level, 26 kilometres (16 miles) south-west of Jelenia Góra. The ski resorts in this area are growing in popularity as a budget alternative to the Alps, thanks to wide range of both Alpine and Nordic skiing facilities.

The town is a fantastic place for every tourist looking for adventure, peace and quiet, or who simply wants to spend time close to nature in whatever way. It offers great spots and facilities for both relaxation and active leisure: breathtaking landscapes, crystal clear waterfalls and cascades, surrounded by granite rocks. With the population of around 7,000, it covers a relatively wide area of 75.44 square kilometres, 84 per cent of which are forests.

Szklarska Poręba offers very attractive weather conditions, similar to those observable in Alpine resorts above 2,000 metres, with natural snow for approximately 110 days a year, which makes it paradise for ski lovers. It is the biggest winter sport resort in the Polish Sudetes, Szrenica being the ski centre with its five ski routes, whose total length is around 12 kilometres, of different difficulty levels, and with numerous ski lifts of all types. One of the most interesting ones is Karkonosz Express, a chairlift with ?couches? for six people, and is the longest and the most modern ski lift of this type in Poland.

Although the place is usually associated with downhill and cross-country skiing, the infrastructure and natural conditions allow tourists to enjoy other activities, like ski touring, dog sleds, rock climbing, Nordic walking, and cycling, with over 400 kilometres of bike routes.

Szklarska Poręba is a perfect place for both individual tourists and families, for extreme sports and more relaxing activities, at any time of year. Come and see for yourself!