The Rudawy Janowickie range is one of those hidden gems of the Sudetes that rewards those willing to look beyond the more famous Karkonosze next door. Granite outcrops, quiet forest trails and sweeping views over the Giant Mountains make this compact range — covering just under 90 km² — a genuinely special destination.

The main ridge runs southwest to northeast, sending side spurs down toward the Jelenia Góra and Kamienna Góra basins. The scenery shifts constantly: dense mixed forest gives way to open rocky summits, and narrow valley paths lead to sudden panoramic surprises. The highest point barely touches 945 m, which means the terrain is accessible without advanced mountain experience — but it never feels tame.

• Ostra Mała (945 m) — the highest peak in the range, part of the Skalnik massif, with fine views toward Śnieżka and the Karkonosze
• Skalnik massif — the central hub of the range, crossroads of trails and a great base for exploring surrounding ridges
• Góry Sokole (Falcon Mountains) — western granite crags popular with rock climbers and families seeking shorter scenic walks
• Zamkowy Grzbiet with Bolczów Castle ruins — a ridge walk crowned by atmospheric medieval ruins, one of the most memorable routes in the area

• Best time: May–June and September–October — lush spring greenery or spectacular autumn colours, both with fewer crowds
• Base towns: Janowice Wielkie, Karpniki, Kowary, Mysłakowice
• Trail difficulty: mostly easy to moderate — well-suited for families, beginners and leisurely hikers
• Getting there: train to Janowice Wielkie or Kowary from Jelenia Góra; by car via road 367

Curious fact: the name 'Rudawy' echoes the region's old mining past — the nearby town of Miedzianka (once called Kupferberg) was a significant copper and uranium mining centre, its story as dramatic as any legend.