Chełmiec Mały (776 m a.s.l.) is a quiet, forested peak in the Wałbrzych Mountains of the Central Sudetes in south-western Poland — a perfect escape for anyone looking for a peaceful hike close to the city of Wałbrzych. Its rounded, dome-like summit and steep wooded slopes give it a distinctive character.

The peak rises from the south-western flank of its taller neighbour, Chełmiec, forming a small ridge that ends at Mniszek. The entire hill is covered in mixed lower-montane forest, wonderfully shady in summer and ablaze with colour in autumn. There are no open panoramic views from the summit itself, but the trail atmosphere is calm and immersive. Beneath your feet lies fascinating geology — Carboniferous sandstones, conglomerates and mudstones cut through by numerous veins of Permian rhyolites and melaphyres of volcanic origin.

• From Marciszów — green trail, passing through Chełmiec Mały towards Boguszów-Gorce.
• From Szczawno-Zdrój — blue trail, passing through the summit towards Kamienna Góra.

The peak sits in the central part of the Chełmiec Massif, just west of Wałbrzych city centre, making it easily accessible by car or public transport to the trailheads.

The volcanic rock veins running through the Carboniferous bedrock make this hill geologically unique in the Central Sudetes — a small but fascinating detail for anyone with a curiosity for mountain geology.