The Owl Mountains, despite the fact that they are neither too extensive nor too high, are a great place to rest surrounded by nature. Somewhat mysterious, with a rich history attract lovers of both hiking and cycling. What are the Owl Mountains? What is worth seeing when you are in their area? Find out the most important information about this Sudeten strand!
Owl Mountains — a handful of information
The Owl Mountains are located in the Central Sudetes, of which they constitute the highest range. They are located between the Wałbrzych Mountains and the Walbrzych Foothills and the Bardzkie Mountains, occupying an area of about 200 km 2. The middle part of the range along with the highest peak Wielka Sowa (1015 m above sea level) and the Włodarz Massif (811 m above sea level) are protected as the Landscape Park of the Owl Mountains.
The Sowie Mountains are located entirely within Poland. Moreover, this range is the oldest part of the Sudetenland in general, which already makes them worth a visit in itself.
Explore other Sudeten ranges: Orlickie Mountains — the most interesting trails and attractions for 1 day.
How to get to the Owl Mountains?
The Sowie Mountains lie about 80 km from Wrocław and 30 km from Wałbrzych. Their location also provides convenient access from the south and east — Kłodzko, Dusznik-Zdrój and Zieleniec.
If you are looking for a friendly accommodation nearby, check out Vital & SPA Resort Szarotka. Our rooms and apartments in Zieleniec provide convenient communication with various places in Poland and the Czech Republic, and the close surroundings of the mountains make our facility also an excellent starting point. Read: “Mountains and peaks around the Kłodzko Basin. A guide for tourists”.
Where to go in the Owl Mountains?
When it comes to the Owl Mountains, the attractions that await you there are practically at your fingertips, and their diversity can be surprising. There are not only castles and palaces, but also fortresses, remnants of fortifications and underground cities created during Nazi Germany.
What is worth exploring when visiting the Owl Mountains? Here are the attractions that cannot be missed:
Srebrna Góra is one of the most characteristic structures of the Kłodzko land. It was built in the 18th century as a military security for Silesia, which had passed into Prussia a little earlier. Standing on two elevations, it clearly towers over the surrounding area, which is now an interesting tourist attraction.
- Complex “Riese” — Underground City of Osówka, Complex Wlodarz, Complex Walim — Rzeczka
Underground corridors, bunkers and adits are some of the most mysterious places you can come across when visiting the Owl Mountains. The underground trails that can be visited today are a remnant of World War II and the then but never completed Nazi project “Riese”. Individual complexes consist of kilometers of corridors, adits and huge halls. Now some of them are under water.
Lake Bystrzyckie was created in an artificial way at the beginning of the 20th century. Nowadays you can bathe in it, and the footbridge located on it is a great place for walking and admiring the views.
Sowie Mountains — hiking and cycling trails
The trails in the Owl Mountains constitute an extremely dense network, which is conducive to hiking and cycling. Well-marked and with varying levels of difficulty are suitable for virtually everyone, including families with children or less physically fit people.
What distinguishes the Sowie Mountains in terms of mountain tourism? The peaks of the range are not particularly high — the tallest of them, the Great Owl, towers over the surroundings by only 485 meters. It can be obtained by leaving, among others, from the Sokolej pass, Kamionek, Walim, or the Walimska Pass.
Other notable elevations are: Little Owl (972 m above sea level), Kalenica (964 m above sea level), Słoneczna (949 m above sea level), or Grabina (943 m above sea level). Moreover, when it comes to the Owl Mountains, routes can also be arranged to include shelters. On the trails there are 4: Zygmuntówka, Orzeł, Sowa and Bacówka.
Where to stay in the Owl Mountains?
Do you want to visit the Owl Mountains? You can plan your accommodation virtually anywhere in the Kłodzko Valley! Their location means that even stopping a few dozen kilometers away, you can easily reach your destination point.
Vital & SPA Resort Szarotka is an ideal starting point in Sowie Mountains. Accommodation takes place in very comfortable conditions, and additional amenities — pool complex, saunas, SPA — allow you to combine lazy relaxation with active rest. Check out our entire offer now! Discover with us the Owl Mountains and the attractions that await you there.
