Dziki Wodospad, or the 'Wild Waterfall', is one of the most popular walking destinations in Karpacz — a spot where the rushing Łomnica river foams and tumbles over stone steps, creating a dramatic cascading gorge. It's not a natural waterfall, but the visual effect is just as impressive.

The setting is a steep, deep forested valley, giving the walk a different character with every season. In spring and after heavy rain, the water roars with force, carrying stones and branches downstream. In summer, the spot offers welcome shade and cool air, while in autumn colorful foliage reflects in the rushing current. In winter, the frozen cascades form striking icy formations.

How to get there

• Karpacz, lower part of town (parking near the road to Podgórna Waterfall) — easy trail, approx. 20-30 minutes on foot
• Path from Karpacz town center along the Łomnica river — suitable for families, flat terrain, well marked

Practical information

• A debris-retention dam built between 1910 and 1915 on the Łomnica river
• Constructed after the devastating 1897 flood that destroyed many houses, roads and bridges in the region
• Proved its worth by limiting damage during the major flood of 1997

Despite its name suggesting a natural wonder, Dziki Wodospad is actually a century-old engineering structure — a testament to the ongoing struggle between the Karkonosze villagers and the wild waters of the Łomnica.