Karkonosze Mtn

Karkonosze MTB Adventure

We invite you for a cycling adventure in the Jizera and Karkonosze Mountains. These mountains hide many secrets. These two ranges belong to the Sudetes, one of the most interesting mountains in Poland. Karkonosze are a popular tourist destination. Jizera Mountains thanks to, among others Singltrek pod Smrkem which we will visit twice, has become a well-recognized part in great bicycle spots. This trip is addressed to mountain biking enthusiasts who are not afraid of overcoming large, daily climbs. Our excursion base is Szklarska Poręba, which lies on the border of the Jizera and Karkonosze Mountains. This region is called the Bicycle Land. During our trips, we will also visit Spindleruv Mlyn, which is the most famous place in the Karkonosze on the Czech side and we will pass the Karkonosze Pass on our way.

Our excursion base is Szklarska Poręba. We chose this place because of the possibility of reaching the start by train. You can reach it by rail with a transfer in Wrocław, but it’s best to arrive by car.  Szklarska Poręba located on the edge of two ranges of the Western Sudetes: Karkonosze and Jizera Mountains. It is these two ranges that are our goal and we plan to drive around them. This place is known among enthusiasts of active recreation by both families and athletes.  Szklarska Poręba is a favourite spot for cyclists, mainly thanks to Mr. Henryk Sytner from Polish Radio No3 . Szklarska Poręba is a great starting point for our routes. This place has over 240 km of cycling routes of various difficulties. We will cover 4 loops on varied terrain, looking for the maximum number of gravel or mountain sections. And above all, we’ll look under Smrek in the Czech Republic on the Polish side.

Itinerary

DAY 01 | meeting in Szklarska Poręba

Around 18:00, the group meets with a guide at the accommodation, by the reception. After getting acquainted, you will have a short organizational meeting. The guide will raise organizational issues and present an action plan. Around 20:00 we begin a barbecue with fine refreshments.

DAY 02 | Route 01 | 76 km | 2060 m ascent | 2060 m descent

We will start the first day of the journey with exploring the Karkonosze Mountains. We will start at Szklarska Poręba and follow cycling route no. 5, leading along gravel paths with a view of the Snowy Cauldrons. We will move in the direction of Przesieka, where we will draw away to get the Karkonosze Pass. We will overcome the asphalt road and reach a height of 1,198 m a.s.l. After 20 kilometers we will take a break in the shelter. Further on, we will go through the area towards Špindlerův Mlýn, one of the most beautiful areas in the heart of the Karkonosze Mountains. After another break, we will change direction and go to the surroundings of Harrachov and the local paths. We will conquer Videska Rock. We will be balancing at an altitude of 900 – 1200 meters above sea level to get to Jakuszyce and return to Szklarska Poręba

DAY 03 | Route 02 | 71 km | 1440 m ascent | 1425 m descent

The next day is a visit to Świeradów, where we will ride around “Zajęcznik”. We will ride through a beautiful and picturesque route, among others passing the death bend. The first 20 km leading to Świeradów Zdrój will be covered by an asphalt road and we will reach the first blue route, which we will cover as a warm-up. After conquering this route, we will go in the direction of Swieradów to defeat the red “Zajęcznik”. We will enter Stóg Izerski, from where we will return along with beautiful areas and descend to Jakuszyce to return to Szklarska, where we will memorize this unforgettable day together.

DAY 04 | Route 03 | 69 km | 1490 m ascent | 1490 m descent

After two days of riding, we will overcome another beautiful route. We will combine several interesting elements into one. First of all, we will drive around the Jizera Mountains. Secondly, we’ll conquer Smrek on the Czech side. First, we will overcome the scenic route through the Torfowiska reserve of the Jizera Valley to then take a turn towards Smrek, from where we will enter the Czech trail 3018 and go towards Pradel and follow trail no. 22; we will reach Jizerka from where we will move in the direction of Jakuszyce, then to Szklarska.

DAY 05 | Route 04 | 53 km | 1150 m ascent | 1150 m descent

This is the shortest route during your stay and the last day of the trip. We will wander around Szklarska Poręba. We will cover a piece of the Path under the firs – one episode of bicycle marathons organized in Szklarska Poręba. We will also conquer Jastrzębie and return to Szklarska to pack and set off on our way back home. The planned end of the trip at 15:00.

WoW of the tour

Szklarska Poręba | Karkonosze National Park | the Torfowiska reserve of the Jizera Valley | Świeradów Zdrój | Jizera Mountains | the Karkonosze Mountains| Špindlerův Mlýn | Harrachov | the Karkonosze Pass | Single Track Świeradów | Singletrack pod Smrekiem | Videska Rock | the Snowy Cauldrons

Tour details

Mountain bike trip for intermediate bikers. We recommend riding an MTB bike with tires with a width of min. 2”.  Where does this result from? It stems from the fact that the trail runs along very diverse terrain. We will come across the asphalt, gravel, forest paths, roots, stones, and sand. Can you ride another bike there? You can but at your own responsibility. The route leads through mountainous areas. The planned routes do not require above average technical skills. Level III difficulty. What does this mean? Click this link.

How to prepare for a tour?

Ride, ride, ride. To get the most out of this trip you must be prepared for it. Before the expedition, be sure to cover similar distances to those planned and ride through hills; if there aren’t any near you, cover longer routes. The basis is also a functional bike, meaning mandatory MAINTENANCE of the bike before the tour.