Śnieżnicki Landscape Park is one of the most rewarding corners of the Eastern Sudetes in south-west Poland — wild, richly varied and full of surprises. Spread across nearly 29,000 hectares, it offers deep river valleys, roaring waterfalls, ancient Sudetic forest and the windswept summit of Śnieżnik at 1,425 m above sea level.
The landscape here is all about contrasts. The western slopes of the Śnieżnik massif are steep and carved by numerous narrow valleys, with rocky ledges and cascading waterfalls adding drama to every walk. Lower down, peaceful basins and old river valleys invite a slower pace. Forests cover around 60% of the park — spruce mixed with beech and larch in the lower belt, giving way to denser spruce stands higher up. Above the treeline on Śnieżnik itself, mountain pine takes over. Spring brings a carpet of protected wildflowers including martagon lily, spurge laurel and several orchid species. In winter, snow-covered ridges and frozen waterfalls create a truly magical scene.
How to get thereThe park holds a remarkable botanical secret: the military orchid, unseen in the Sudetes for over 30 years, was rediscovered here in 2010 — a single flowering specimen, unique in the entire mountain range.
Source: Wikipedia (license CC BY-SA 4.0)