Located on a wooded plateau, the Izera Mountains give the lie to claims that the mountains are primarily a hiking zone.
Due to its relatively flat terrain, the area around Polana Jakuszycka and Hala Izerska is ideal for moderately demanding mountain bike trips. There are many more challenging MTB trails in the area, but we recommend you start with this one, a 30-kilometer loop where you will see some of the most interesting attractions of the “Izera”.
Length: 35 kilometers
Riding time: 4-5 hours
Difficulty level: medium
We start in the town of Szklarska Poręba, which is one of the tourist centers of the region.
The town owes its name to the numerous glassworks that once operated in the area. After years of uncontrolled logging and reforestation of the surrounding mountains with spruce, today it is primarily a base for excursions to the Karkonosze Mountains and Izera Mountains. We head up the valley on a side asphalt road going through the forest along the railroad. After about 7 kilometers of not difficult climb, we reach the main road leading from Szklarska Poręba to the border crossing with the Czech Republic.
We head up the road to turn right after about a kilometer, following the red trail to a forest path used by cross-country skiers in the winter.
The place known as Polana Jakuszycka is the largest cross-country skiing center in Poland – at the end of February and the beginning of March the Bieg Piastów, included in the prestigious Worldloppet series, takes place here. After reaching the highest point, the route descends gently and straight down to lead us to the “Orle” Tourist Station. These remains of a former glassworks were turned into an intimate shelter where we can eat and drink well.
From the Orle Station we continue to follow the red trail, entering a flat forest road leading north.
Along the way we will pass stone statues with the names of successive planets of the solar system, set at intervals proportional to the real ones. The model of the solar system suggests the excellent conditions for stargazing in the Izera Mountains. After a few kilometers, the forest ends with a charming place called Kobyla Łąka, where the road adjoins right to the Izera stream. The following Hala Izerska is a vast, scenic meadow after the village of Gross-Iser, which was depopulated under mysterious circumstances, and a place distinguished by its unique, cool microclimate. At its end, behind a wooden bridge, there is a mountain shelter called Chatka Górzystów.
At the crossroads we turn right, changing the trail to blue, and head back into the forest. For a couple of kilometers the road rises to reach the edge of the slope of Złote Jamy mountain, along which it will continue to follow a flat, sloping duct. Along the way we will see former gold mining pits, the oldest of which dates back to the 12th century!
For a further 4 kilometers we will ride up to the top of Izerskie Garby mountain, spectacularly cut by a massive mining cleft.
The “Stanisław” quartz mine is the highest located quarry in Europe and a place that stirs the imagination. The mine has been closed for 20 years.
At the top of the excavation site we will find abandoned farm buildings and rusty mining machinery.
The return to Szklarska Poręba will be a pleasant, long descent down a straight, paved road. On the final stretch we will pass the resort villas of the town. Until the very finish line we need to stick to the blue markings.
Bike routes in the Karkonosze Mountains and Izera Mountains – A map of the route described here is at number 8.
EXPLORE THE REGION – SUDETES
Unter Wysoki Grzbiet | mittel | Ausgangspunkt: Szklarska Poręba
Art der Strecke:
SIEHE ANDERE ATTRAKTIONEN IN DER GLEICHEN KATEGORIE
Izera Mountains
see
Trekking – The Izera Mountains
see
Canoeing on the Bóbr River
see
Karkonosze
see
