Łabski Szczyt (1,472 m a.s.l.) is the fourth highest peak in the Polish part of the Karkonosze — a rugged granite summit sitting at the heart of the main ridge, where the borders of Poland and the Czech Republic run just below the top. It is a place with a genuine alpine feel and a quietly remarkable claim to fame: the Elbe River begins its long journey to the North Sea right at its foot.

Positioned between Szrenica to the west and the Śnieżne Kotły glacial cirques to the east, the summit offers open, sweeping views along the entire main ridge. The landscape is shaped by granite boulders, dwarf mountain pines and rolling sub-alpine moorland. Summer brings clear skies and easy ridge-walking; autumn turns the hillsides golden; and in winter the slopes above Szklarska Poręba transform into one of the busiest ski areas in the Sudetes. At the very top you will find a striking pile of fractured granite rocks — the natural summit cairn of the mountain.

How to reach the summit

• Szklarska Poręba — several marked trails lead up to the main ridge, from where the summit is accessible on foot; the cable car to nearby Szrenica shortens the ascent considerably.
• From Szrenica — follow the main ridge trail (Droga Przyjaźni Polsko-Czeskiej) eastward toward Przełęcz Karkonoska; Łabski Szczyt lies along this route.

Practical information

• The summit lies within Karkonoski Park Narodowy (Karkonosze National Park) — stay on marked trails at all times.
• The Polish-Czech border crosses the upper slopes; the actual summit is on the Polish side.
• The PTTK mountain hut Pod Łabskim Szczytem is located on the northern slope near Łabski Kocioł — a convenient rest stop.
• Łabski Szczyt is part of the Korona Gór Dolnego Śląska (Crown of Lower Silesian Mountains) list.

The Elbe — one of Central Europe's great rivers — springs to life on the Czech side of the slope below this summit, which is exactly how the peak got its name: 'Łabski' comes from 'Łaba', the Polish name for the Elbe.