ARTICLE • October 20, 2026
Góry Stołowe — a weekend in the Sudetes’ rock labyrinth
Flat summits, deep crevices and sandstone that looks like another planet. The Table Mountains resemble nothing else called a mountain in Poland — which is exactly why they deserve a weekend rather than a drive-through.
The Table Mountains are the youngest national park in the Sudetes — created in 1993 to protect something found nowhere else in Poland: table mountains. Instead of sharp ridges there are horizontal sandstone slabs cut by crevices, with stairs and ladders running through them.
Why they look different
The sandstone was laid down here millions of years ago on the sea floor, then uplifted and carved by water and wind for centuries. The effect is that walking on a summit feels like walking on a roof — flat and wide, with cliffs at the sides.
Szczeliniec Wielki — 919 m
The highest summit is reached by stairs — plenty of them, but the route is short and leads through a maze of passages between rocks. At the top there is a viewing terrace with a panorama of the Sudetes; on a clear day you can see the Karkonosze.
Go early. In season it gets crowded by afternoon, and the stairs are narrow — passing people takes patience.
Błędne Skały — a maze you can get lost in
Błędne Skały is a labyrinth of crevices and passages, some so narrow you have to take off your backpack. The route is short but slow — that is the point. It is one of those places where sightseeing means looking around, not clocking kilometres.
Mind the weather: after rain the rocks get slippery, and inside the crevices it is dark and damp.
Kudowa-Zdrój — a spa town at the foot of the mountains
Kudowa-Zdrój is the best base: a spa town with a park, a pump house and a sanatorium rhythm that feels very good after two days of walking on rocks.
If you want something less obvious, the Skull Chapel in the Czermna district is unusual and strong, and stays with you. Decide consciously: it is not an attraction of the “see it and move on” kind.
Practical
Trains reach Kudowa via Kłodzko, so you can get here without a car — though for the trails themselves a car or bike is easier. Details: Góry Stołowe, Szczeliniec Wielki and Kudowa-Zdrój.
Entry to Szczeliniec and Błędne Skały is ticketed — check seasonal hours, as routes close after dark.
When to go
The best season is May–September. Autumn is excellent: colours, fewer people and sharp light that suits the sandstone. In winter trails can be icy and some are closed.