Śnieżne Kotły (Snow Cirques) — how to get there from Szklarska Poręba
Śnieżne Kotły (Snow Cirques) are two glacial cirques with sheer walls on the main Karkonosze (Giant Mountains) ridge, between Wielki Szyszak (1,509 m) and Łabski Szczyt (1,471 m), above Szklarska Poręba in Karkonosze National Park. The shortest route is about 4.9 km along the ridge from the top of the Szrenica cable car (about 1 h 40 min one way), and a park ticket is required (11 PLN, as of September 2026).
What are Śnieżne Kotły?
Two cirques carved by glaciers into the northern slope of the ridge, with steep walls more than 100 metres high. The upper edge lies at about 1,490 m, and the cirque floors are a strict nature reserve. The building on the edge is a former mountain hut closed in 1961 — today it is a technical facility, not a hut. The nearest open hut is the Pod Łabskim Szczytem hut below.
Which route?
- With the cable car (shortest): ride the Szrenica cable car, then take the green trail to the Trzy Świnki rocks and the red ridge trail over Twarożnik and Łabski Szczyt — about 4.9 km and 1 h 40 min one way according to trail descriptions.
- Yellow trail via the Pod Łabskim Szczytem hut: from ul. Urocza in Szklarska Poręba to the hut about 4.3 km and 480 m of ascent, then a demanding traverse below Łabski Szczyt and the red trail to the cirques.
- Full-day loop Szklarska Poręba – Szrenica – Śnieżne Kotły – Łabski Szczyt – Szklarska Poręba: 6–8 hours.
Are the trails open?
In winter the national park closes sections depending on conditions — typically the green trail along the cirque floor (avalanche risk) and the yellow trail from the Pod Łabskim Szczytem hut. In spring 2026 (from 15 March until at least the end of May) green and yellow sections to the cirques were closed to protect black grouse and peregrine falcons. Check the park’s trail bulletin (opens in a new tab) (in Polish) before you go.
Safety, children and dogs
- Stay on the trail and keep away from the cirque edge; keep children close. Weather on the ridge changes fast — fog and strong wind are common.
- No pushchairs. With children, only the cable car route is realistic.
- Dogs must be on a lead and are banned on the whole green Ścieżka nad Reglami trail.
