Walking with children doesn’t have to be tiring for either the kids or the parents!
Walking with children can be different for everyone… “Are we there yet?” or “Why are we going there?”… Which parent doesn’t know this feeling, right?
In the Land of Extinct Volcanoes, we make sure that the first mountain adventures leave great memories for both children and parents!
Why is the Land of Extinct Volcanoes a good choice for a hike with kids?
- the distances from car parks to the mountain peaks are not large, and the elevations are not too high (so not very steep and not very far),
- the weather is stable, you are unlikely to be surprised by sudden rain, significant cooling, or strong winds,
- there are no crowds, queues, cramped spaces, or plastic souvenirs on every corner,
- there are plenty of villages where you can shop and family-run guesthouses to use as a base,
- apart from hiking in the area, there are plenty of opportunities for creative and workshop-based leisure activities,
- a free Explorer’s Passport for every kid! Collecting stickers for it from hiking trips will be a great incentive and souvenir!
Below, we have prepared a few suggestions for walks with kids. You’ll be able to get a bit tired, enjoy beautiful views, and not discourage your kids from further hiking. Some of the places mentioned are quite popular (but still not as crowded as the neighboring Karkonosze Mountains!), while in others you won’t encounter a soul, except for the wildlife in the forests and fields.
Other suggestions for longer hikes can be found here.
1. Ostrzyca
It’s, in a sense, a must-visit point for hikes in the Land of Extinct Volcanoes. Ostrzyca, the queen of the Kaczawskie Foothills (and also its highest peak), resembles the shape of a volcanic cone (which it once was). It’s an iconic element in photographic panoramas. Access, parking, and the entrance are well organized and marked, and for most beginner hikers, the ascent should not be a problem.
start:from the forest car park (access to it is via a gravel road just behind the church in Proboszczów)
the total walking time from the car park: 45 minutes uphill to the summit, with a similar time for the descent.
benefits: stunning view from the summit, a sticker to the Explorer’s Passport, the peak of the Kaczawska Crown, and the pride of conquering a former volcano!
difficulties: the last 10 minutes of the hike involve climbing stairs to the summit, which can be slippery after rain. Pay special attention when descending.
can you go there with a stroller? no, it’s necessary to take a carrier or a sling
2. Okole
Okole has become a destination not only for hikers but also for cyclists visiting the local single track. The trail to the summit is well-marked and doesn’t pose any difficulties. For those who want to take a longer walk, there’s also the “Wokół Okola” trail, and you can easily find its signposts in the area. The view and excellent new infrastructure at the summit will reward you for the effort of the hike.
start:from the forest car park near Lubiechowa (access to it is from the side of the county road Jelenia Góra-Legnica)
the total walking time from the car park: 45 minutes to the summit, with a similar amount of time for the descent.
benefits: a magnificent view from the summit (to the Karkonosze Mountains and the Jelenia Góra Valley), a sticker to the Explorer’s Passport, a summit of the Kaczawska Crown, an on-site excellent viewing platform, and a covered shelter with benches and a table.
difficulties: very easy
can you go there with a stroller? with an all-terrain stroller, yes, but a carrier or baby sling is better.
3. Myślibórz Gorge
This place has become very popular, and it’s unlikely that you will be there alone. Especially on weekends with good weather, many walkers visit the gorge. It is, however, a beautiful natural place, well-developed with facilities like car park and educational signs, and you can even take a stroll through the gorge with a pram equipped with off-road wheels. In many places, there are also short side trails that provide access to the rock formations that make up the walls of the gorge. In the high season, there’s a fee for parking.
start:from the car park near the Gorge
the total walking time from the car park: you can choose between two variants. Variant 1 – A walk along the bottom of the gorge to its end and back – approx. 50 min. Variant 2 – a walk along the bottom of the gorge to its end and return via the nature trail, which involves ascending the hillside of the gorge and walking through the forest in a loop – approx. 1,5 h.
benefits: experiencing the unique nature of the gorge, coolness on a hot day, educational boards, a convenient car park
difficulties: only in variant 2 – short uphill section on the way back
can you go there with a stroller? variant 1 – certainly yes, variant 2 – only a baby carrier or sling
4. Rataj – Small Myślibórz Organ
If you have the strength, you can combine this walk with walk no. 3 – Myślibórz Gorge. From the car park at the entrance to the gorge, you should head towards the Salamander Environmental Education Centre, then follow the red trail up to Rataj Hill. There are significantly fewer people who venture there compared to the Myślibórz Gorge. The rock formations formed from the cooling lava inside the chimney of the former volcano are very picturesque. On the way back, you’ll have a nice view to Myślibórz and the surrounding meadows and fields.
start:from the car park near the Gorge
the total walking time from the car park: 30 minutes to the summit, with a similar amount of time for the descent
benefits: a sticker to the Explorer’s Passport, a peak of the Kaczawska Crown, a possibility to have a closer look at the inside of a former volcano
difficulties: very easy
can you go there with a stroller? no, only a carrier or a sling
5. Tower on the Zawadna Hill in Gozdno
This is a relatively new destination for the walks of both residents and tourists. On the top of the Zawadna Hill in 2018, a wooden observation tower was built. It offers a beautiful panoramic view to the area. The walk is short and very easy, with only the climb up the tower stairs requiring basic fitness. There is also a single track that leads to the top, so you may encounter cyclists along the way. Signs lead from the car park to the summit. We recommend the walk at the end of the day, just before sunset.
start:from the car park near the playground in Gozdno (Note – don’t park in the field as soon as you see the tower from a distance. Drive into the village and find the car park!)
the total walking time from the car park: 20 minutes to the summit, with a similar amount of time for the descent (plus climbing the tower)
benefits: a beautiful view to the Kaczawskie Mountains and Footlhills, a peak of the Kaczawska Crown,
difficulties: very easy
can you go there with a stroller? with an all-terrain stroller, yes, but you’ll need to climb to the tower on foot (stairs).
6. Krzyżowa Mountain in Podgórki
It’s a beautiful and very little-known place! With a high probability, you won’t meet anyone on the way or at the top, and the view is truly beautiful, with Podgórki themselves being extremely picturesque. This is a relatively short walk, and we recommend doing it, for example, at the end of the day, just before sunset.
start:from the car park near ruins of an old church adapted for the observation tower
the total walking time from the car park: 20 minutes to the summit, with a similar amount of time for the descent
benefits: a beautiful panorama to the Kaczawskie Mountains and Foothills, a viewing platform at the top, a peak of the Kaczawska Crown,
difficulties: easy, although slightly steep climb to the summit
can you go there with a stroller? no, only a carrier or a sling
7. Tower on Radogost
Very well-marked access from the well-maintained car park, and it’s not a very popular destination for other hikers. This might convince you to choose this less obvious attraction for a morning hike. At the top of Radogost, there is a historic observation tower, initially accessed through a monumental alley of Douglas firs (they might resemble spruces a bit, but just look at the cones at your feet and you’ll see they’re entirely different!).
start:from the car park in Kłonice
the total walking time from the car park: 40 minutes to the summit, with a similar amount of time for the descent
benefits: a 360-degree stunning panorama of the Silesian Lowland and the Sudetes, a beautiful Douglas fir alley, a sticker to the Explorer’s Passport, a peak of the Kaczawska Crown,
difficulties: An easy but slightly steep ascent to the summit, and there are also many extreme mountain biking trails on the hill, so stay on the marked trail and be cautious of fast-moving cyclists.
can you go there with a stroller? no, only a carrier or a sling
8. “Nad Groblą” Gorge
A very rarely visited and probably the least popular of the five gorges in the Kaczawskie Mountains (others are Myślibórz Gorge, Lipa Gorge, Siedmica Gorge, Nowa Wieś Gorge). In our opinion, it’s beautiful, easily accessible, and captivating with its landscapes. Unfortunately, there are no informational signs along the way, but the path is comfortable, and the rocks forming the walls of the gorge and the winding river with its meanders are captivating!
start:from Siedmica, along the green trail in the opposite direction from Siedmica Gorge
the total walking time from the car park: approx. 1,5 h to 2 h. You can walk deep into the gorge and return the same way, turning around halfway to the village of Grobla, or near the buildings of the Kamienica hamlet, cross the ford (an adventure, you have to take off your shoes when the water level is high!) and return via a beautiful field path to Siedmica. Another variant is about 4,5 km long.
benefits: experiencing nature and solitude on the trail (a very rarely visited place), a picturesque gorge and river.
difficulties: the trail does not present any technical difficulties or significant elevation changes. The entire loop is quite long, approximately 4.5 kilometers.
can you go there with a stroller? no, only a baby carrier or a sling
9. Czartowska Rock
It’s a popular, but poorly developed place. Good for a short walk on the way between Świerzawa and Jawor. The most disappointing aspect is the lack of car park (you have to park right by the road), but the care for this place by the local community is commendable. At the top, you can see the rocks exposed by the former quarry, which were once a volcanic chimney. You can climb to the top and admire the panorama of the Kaczawskie Foothills, the Kaczawskie Mountains, and on a clear day, even the Karkonosze Mountains.
start: by the road Świerzawa-Jawor, near Muchów
the total walking time from the car park: approx. 15 minutes to the summit, with a similar amount of time for the descent
benefits: a panorama to the Western Sudetes, a sticker to the Explorer’s Passport, a peak of the Kaczawska Crown,
difficulties: the path does not present any technical difficulties, but it can be somewhat overgrown at times
can you go there with a stroller? no, only a baby carrier or a sling
10. Lipa Gorge
One of the five gorges in the Kaczawskie Mountains, which deserves recognition, although it is relatively undeveloped. The advantage is solitude and the experience of nature that it will provide you. In spring, during damp weather, it’s easy to spot salamanders there (remember not to touch or disturb them, but taking photos is relatively easy as they don’t run away quickly). Look for them near the stream’s bank. It’s worth leaving your car near the Storczykowe Wzgórze guesthouse and stud farm in Nowa Wieś Wielka. From the direction of Lipa, there is no car park along the road, and you may need to leave your car in a less secure place by the road.
start: it’s best to start from Nowa Wieś Wielka
the total walking time from the car park: approx. 40 to the gorge, with a similar amount of time for the way back
benefits: beautiful nature and rock formations that make up the walls of the gorge, the opportunity to spot salamanders.
difficulties: the trail is narrow and rocky, and at times, you may need to hop over fallen trees, which adds to the adventure
can you go there with a stroller? no, only a baby carrier or a sling
11. “Las Świniec” didactic path – Mszana
start:from Muchów
the total walking time from the car park: approx. 1 h (in a loop)
benefits: beautiful forests, volcanic rocks, a mysterious stone tower on the hilltop that you can climb
difficulties: the trail is narrow and rocky, and after heavy rainfall or in spring, it can be slightly muddy, but it shouldn’t pose any serious difficulties.
can you go there with a stroller? no, only a baby carrier or a sling
The path leads through the “Mszana i Obłoga” nature reserve. Along the way, you’ll climb to the summit of Mszana (475 metres above sea level), which is the highest peak in the Chełmy Landscape Park and one of the peaks of the Kaczawska Crown badge. Near the village of Muchów, you can admire the picturesque and valuable natural area known as Muchów Meadows.
