Kamienna Góra (704 m a.s.l.) is a striking rocky summit in the Bystrzyckie Mountains, rising above the Sokołowska Pass near the spa town of Polanica-Zdrój in Lower Silesia. Its triangular massif, dramatic cliffs and boulder-strewn summit make it a rewarding half-day outing for hikers of all levels.

The massif drops steeply on its northern and eastern sides — up to 100 m of rocky walls — while its summit plateau is surprisingly flat, scattered with large blocks of resistant quartzite sandstone. A fenced viewpoint on the edge of a rock outcrop looks out over Polanica-Zdrój, though the vegetation has grown up somewhat over the years. Once a favourite stroll for visitors taking the spa cure, the spot still has plenty of charm. In autumn, the boulders and beech forest glow with warm colours; in winter, the steep sections can be icy, so take care.

• Polanica-Zdrój — via Sokołowska Pass, difficulty: easy to moderate
• Zieleniec — via the peat bog 'Torfowisko pod Zieleńcem', crossing Kamienna Góra towards Polanica-Zdrój, difficulty: moderate
• Szczytna — via Wolarz and 'U Huberta', difficulty: moderate

• A 19th-century forester's lodge at the foot of the mountain serves as a useful landmark when approaching the summit.
• On the western part of the massif you can explore the ruins of Fort Friedrich, a Prussian fort built in the late 18th century.
• A small plaque dated 1887 on the fort commemorates August Ponzel, a local eccentric famous for leaping from the fort walls.

The story of August Ponzel's legendary jump from Fort Friedrich is one of those wonderfully quirky local tales that makes Kamienna Góra more than just another hilltop — it is a place with personality.