Podgórna Waterfall is one of those places that stops you in your tracks the moment you see it. The waters of the Podgórna stream plunge over a 10-metre rocky ledge in two cascades into a deep plunge pool, flanked on both sides by granite cliffs rising up to 15 metres. It is the third highest waterfall in the Polish part of the Karkonosze Mountains and the undisputed highlight of the village of Przesieka.
The spot has a special atmosphere in every season. In summer, the roar of the water and the cool mist drifting above the pool offer a welcome escape from the heat; in autumn, falling leaves paint a golden backdrop behind the silver cascades; and in winter the waterfall transforms into a dramatic ice sculpture, drawing cold-water enthusiasts who take icy dips in the pool below. The surrounding area is protected under the Natura 2000 network, keeping the landscape wild and unspoiled.
How to get thereAn interesting historical footnote: in 2007 a private investor proposed building a small hydroelectric plant that would have diverted 70% of the waterfall's water. Fortunately, the permit was overturned and the waterfall was saved in its full natural glory.