Szklarska Poręba holds many secrets, but one of them is especially enticing for families with children. The Magical Trail of the Mountain Spirit is much more than a regular mountain walk – it’s a real outdoor game, turning the youngest into explorers and allowing adults to see the Karkonosze Mountains from a completely new perspective.
If you’re planning a vacation in Szklarska Poręba in 2026 and wonder how to motivate kids to walk, this complete A to Z guide will lead you through all stages of this fascinating adventure!
What is the Magical Trail of the Mountain Spirit? (game rules)
Many tourists mistakenly assume that the Magical Trail is a classic marked path with paint on trees leading from point A to B. Nothing could be further from the truth! It’s an interactive family outdoor game with points scattered around the entire town and its charming surroundings.
Your task is to find 17 granite boulders. Each of them has a metal plate attached with a special hologram (symbol) referring to the magical attributes of the legendary Mountain Spirit. When you reach a boulder, the magic begins: you need to press a special sheet of paper against the plate and use a crayon to "rubb" the symbol using frottage technique onto the paper. This simple activity is a tremendous fun for every little one!
Source: https://turystyczna.szklarskaporeba.pl/3787-szklarskaporeba-szlak-ducha-gor
How to get the Explorer Certificate and prizes?
To take part in the fun, you first need to obtain the so-called "Treasure Book" at the Tourist Information Point. It’s a starter pack that includes a notebook for rubbing holograms, a magic crayon, a guide, and a map.
→ The goal of the game is simple: you have to find and rub all 17 symbols. Importantly, you don’t have to do this in one day! It’s best to spread collecting the signs over the whole weekend (preferably 2-3 days) or continue the game during subsequent visits to Szklarska Poręba.
When your notebook is completely filled, go to the Tourist Information Point. There, based on the collected "evidence," the participant is officially named the Explorer of Szklarska Poręba, receives a personalized Explorer Certificate sealed by the Mountain Spirit himself, and a commemorative surprise.
In short:
- Start: Buy the starter set (“Treasure Book”).
- Task: Find and rub 17 symbols
- Reward: Show the completed notebook at the Tourist Information for the Explorer Certificate and a gift.
Source: https://turystyczna.szklarskaporeba.pl/3787-szklarskaporeba-szlak-ducha-gor
Map and route: Where to start the adventure?
The 2025 season brought a refresh of the "Treasure Book" itself, making graphics and routes even more accessible. A huge advantage of the Magical Trail is that you can start the game from any point – there is no fixed mandatory order! However, most people begin their adventure by acquiring the "Treasure Book". This set can be purchased at the Tourist Information point (ul. Jedności Narodowej 1a).
Logistics tip: A great place to start the entire trip and begin the trail is Hotel Czarny Kamień Resort & SPA. Not only will you solve parking problems while staying in comfortable conditions, but right at the start of the trip, just a few steps from the exit, you will have the first point on the map "checked off"!
The most interesting points on the Trail
Although each boulder hides a different symbol, some points on the trail are especially impressive.
- Perspective "Black Stone": Starting near the Hotel Czarny Kamień, you will quickly reach the stunning Raven Rocks, perfect for the adventure start. Inside the hotel, it’s also worth checking out the Mysterious Well – an 18-meter deep former mine tunnel of the Walloons, visible through the glass floor in the lobby.
- The Golden Four of Karkonosze: Of course, the trail will take you to iconic places like the beautiful Szklarka Waterfall, the Golden Viewpoint, the famous Chybotek, and the majestic Death Curve.
- Magical Pearls: A must-visit point on the route is Leśna Huta, where you can admire traditional glassmaking. At the Walloons’ Iron Crucible you have a unique opportunity to engrave cast iron – a fantastic and lasting souvenir from the trip, unavailable anywhere else!
All points on the Magical Trail of the Mountain Spirit
Source: https://skarbiecduchagor.pl/magiczny-szlak-ducha-gor/
- Kamieńczyk Waterfall – the highest waterfall in the Polish Karkonosze (27 meters high), hidden in a picturesque, steep ravine.
- Szklarka Waterfall – a very charming waterfall with a cascade narrowing downwards, located in the Karkonosze National Park.
- Chybotek – a famous rock formation; one of the large granite blocks rests on others in such a way that it can be easily rocked.
- Golden View – a viewing platform above a several-meter cliff, offering one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Karkonosze Mountains.
- Grave of the Karkonosz – the symbolic burial place of the legendary Mountain Spirit, located near the Golden View.
- Death Curve – a cult, very sharp road curve (almost 180 degrees) on the road to Świeradów-Zdrój, an excellent viewpoint of the Karkonosze and Jelenia Góra Valley.
- Raven Rocks – an impressive, high rock formation on the bank of the Kamienna River, a traditional climbing center.
- Crooked Towers – another characteristic rock group near the city center, located right next to Raven Rocks.
- Carla and Gerhart Hauptmann’s House – biographical and artistic museum, formerly the villa of famous German Nobel Prize-winning writers, surrounded by a charming park.
- Old Walloon Hut – a place filled with Karkonosze legends, where the traditions of old mineral and gemstone seekers (Walloon people) are preserved.
- Leśna Huta – a living glassmaking open-air museum where masters melt and shape glass masterpieces by hand in front of tourists.
- Mineralogical Museum – a private facility with a vast, fascinating collection of minerals, fossils, and even meteorites and dinosaur bones.
- Karkonosze Ecological Education Center (KCEE) – a modern educational center of the Karkonosze National Park presenting the living and non-living nature of these mountains.
- Walloons’ Iron Crucible – an open-air museum recreating medieval craft techniques and old mining and metallurgical equipment.
- Dinopark – an amusement park located in the forest with life-sized reconstructions of prehistoric reptiles.
- Radiowa Trójka Square – the city’s central point (at ul. Jedności Narodowej), where you can find the characteristic sculpture of the Mountain Spirit.
- Lower lift station to Szrenica (Sudety Lift) – the main gateway to the highest parts of the Karkonosze Mountains.
💡 Worth knowing: In the past, the Magical Trail of the Mountain Spirit was an even bigger challenge – besides the 17 basic locations, it included additional points, making a total of 32 places to visit! The current refreshed version of the game has been simplified and focused on the iconic base seventeen, presented above. Below you can see an older version of the map with 32 points ⬇️
Practical information: prices, duration
The search for boulders in the field is completely free. The only expense is the purchase of the "Treasure Book" at the Tourist Information (the set costs about 15-20 PLN).
The trail is roughly several kilometers long. Collecting all stamps in one day is physically a huge challenge for adults and an impossible mission for children. The optimal time to complete the whole game, combined with a relaxed sightseeing pace, is about 3 days.
Is the Mountain Spirit Trail accessible for strollers?
This is one of the most common questions from parents. The answer is: only partially. Since the Trail of the Mountain Spirit is not a single marked path, the boulders are located in different terrains.
- You can easily reach points in the city center, urban parks, near Leśna Huta, or via a paved route to the Szklarka Waterfall with a stroller.
- An off-road stroller or carrier will be required if you want to reach boulders deeper in the forest (e.g., around the Raven Rocks). It’s worth splitting collecting signs into "stroller days" and "carrier days."
Where to eat along the way?
Meal logistics with children on the Mountain Spirit Trail are key to a successful trip. A tired little explorer quickly loses enthusiasm! When exploring points on the outskirts and looking for a moment of rest away from crowded promenades, we highly recommend a visit to the Restaurant in Szklarska Poręba at Hotel Czarny Kamień.
It offers excellent, balanced menus dedicated especially to the youngest travelers, and the spacious interiors allow for a quiet and peaceful family meal. You’ll regain energy for further hologram hunting. In the city center, of course, you can also find numerous cafes for a quick sugar boost.
Suggested routes - 3 days
Planning a full walk of the Magical Trail of the Mountain Spirit may seem like a logistical challenge, especially when hiking with the youngest. To avoid turning the family fun into a tiring marathon, it’s worth dividing the entire route into smaller, logical stages.
- Day 1: Urban-nature loop (approx. 4.5h) – Start in the center at the Tourist Information; the route leads through Szklarska Poręba Dolna (including Golden View and Chybotek) and the Szklarka Waterfall.
- Day 2: Karkonosze expedition to high mountains (approx. 5.5h) – The most demanding day, leading from the Mineralogical Museum straight to the Snowy Curls, Elbe’s source, and Szrenica, descending past Kamieńczyk Waterfall.
- Day 3: Forest rocks and panoramas (approx. 3.5h) – A shorter, balanced walk starting at Radiowa Trójka Square, passing by Raven Rocks, Wysoki Kamień, and the famous Death Curve.
Below is a detailed route breakdown from the official city leaflet.
The Mountain Spirit and Karkonosze Legends – who are we looking for on the trail?
The game wouldn’t be as fascinating without its main character. The Mountain Spirit is the mythical ruler of the Karkonosze, a powerful guardian of mountain nature, once imagined as a frightening cross of a deer, lion, and bird. Today, he is rather shown as a wise, powerful old man with a staff.
Locals often call him Liczyrzepa (Czech: Krakonoš, German: Rübezahl). This name has a funny origin in an old legend. Apparently, the Mountain Spirit kidnapped a beautiful princess to his castle. To entertain her, he magically turned turnips into members of her family. The clever princess instructed him to count all the turnips in the field carefully. Before the Spirit finished the mathematical task, the princess vanished without a trace. The nickname "Liczyrzepa" supposedly annoys him immensely, and when he hears it, he sends sudden storms and lightning to the Karkonosze. So be careful and better call him the Mountain Spirit!
Where to rest after the expedition? Base in Szklarska Poręba
Covering several kilometers in a mountain climate is quite an effort. The key to success is a suitable base. We invite you to our Hotel Czarny Kamień Resort & SPA, which we created with families visiting the Magical Trail and discovering the Karkonosze in mind.
Besides a great location (we are the perfect starting point!), our facility is fully family-friendly. With children in mind, we have prepared comfortable family rooms, plenty of attractions, and interesting animations that will be a wonderful reward for the Little Explorer after a tough hike. Of course, we don’t forget fun in our hotel pool! Meanwhile, adults can look forward to professional SPA and Wellness area – an ideal place where you, as parents, can recharge and relax before another exciting day.
FAQ – Most common questions about the Magical Trail
- From what age is the Magical Trail of the Mountain Spirit suitable for children?
The game is perfect for preschool and school-age children (around 4-5 years old). Searching for signs is a great adventure for them, and the routes aren’t too demanding if you split them into stages. For younger kids, a stroller on city sections or a carrier in the terrain will be necessary.
- Is it possible to complete the trail in one day?
Theoretically, yes, but in practice – especially with children – it’s very exhausting and strongly discouraged. The best approach is to treat the trail as a 2-3 day relaxed entertainment without haste.
- Is participation in collecting Mountain Spirit points free?
The search for stones is free and open to everyone, but to be able to "rub" stamps and receive a reward and certificate at the end, you must first buy a starter set with a notebook (cost about 20-30 PLN).
- Does the Magical Trail of the Mountain Spirit operate in winter?
Yes! The trail is open all year round. However, after heavy snowfalls in the Karkonosze, some stones may be covered with white fluff, forcing your children to be not only explorers but also "snow removers"! The winter edition also requires better clothing preparation.