Sunday in the Owl Mountains

We decided to spend the free weekend actively, in the mountains. This time we chose the Owl Mountains. We drove to Przełęcz Jugowska (Jugowska Pass), from which trails spread out in different directions. The parking lot is large, paid – 20 PLN per day.

We arrived after 1:00 PM and immediately noticed that despite the mediocre weather, it was already very crowded – many cars were parked on the roadside before the pass. The lesson is simple: it's worth coming earlier. Additionally, the parking lot was heavily iced over. Despite this, we managed to find a spot and park.

Climbing on Ice

We started the route on a wide, comfortable bike path that connects with the red trail after about 300 meters. This way we bypass the shelter, which doesn't interest us today and is probably crowded anyway. Further on, we follow the Main Sudeten Trail towards the peak of Rymarz. The ascent is quite steep at the beginning, and today there's ice on top of that. In some places, the trail was so slippery that we walked on the side, just to have the illusion of traction. At this stage, Moli and Milka are eagerly interested in every scent they encounter, which doesn't make the uphill march on ice any easier.

After a dozen or so minutes, we reach the upper station of the ski lift, from which there's a view of the area. We continue, passing Zimna Polanka (Cold Glade, 897 m above sea level) – a small glade with a tourist shelter. Here, the yellow trail from Bielawa joins, and together with the red trail, it leads to the domed peak of Słoneczna (949 m above sea level). The peak itself is overgrown, so there are no views. A bit further on, it's worth stopping at Słoneczne Skałki (Sunny Rocks) – a small rock formation that looks very picturesque in its winter coat.

Kalenica

From Słoneczna to Kalenica (964 m above sea level) it's practically flat – the height difference is only 15 meters. It is the third highest peak in the Owl Mountains. Like Słoneczna, it is forested.

At the top stands a steel observation tower from 1933. From above, a panorama of a large part of the Sudetes probably unfolds – they say that in good weather you can see the Stołowe, Bardzkie, Złote Mountains, the Śnieżnik Massif, and even the Karkonosze with Śnieżka. However, on January 18th it was cold, very windy, and the sky remained cloudy. There were already a few canine tourists on the tower, so we decided not to cause a commotion and continued on – towards Bielawska Polana (Bielawa Glade).

The Way Down

From Kalenica we descend in the opposite direction from which we came. The descent is steep in places, so we go slowly. After about 30 minutes we reach Bielawska Polana. Here we leave the red trail and turn onto the blue trail, which leads towards Przełęcz Jugowska on a wide, flat road.

This section is very pleasant – a flat road, though covered with frozen snow, with a slight incline and nice views of the surrounding ranges. Most importantly – it's less slippery than in the morning. We walked much faster, though caution was still advised.

Summary

The trail is easy and pleasant in summer. In winter, with ice, it requires caution and crampons – we definitely recommend taking them; they come in handy on the steep ascent to Rymarz and the descent from Kalenica. On the trail, we met many unprepared tourists in sports shoes with flat soles, who unfortunately pose a risk to others with their stance. Let's be responsible in the mountains, even these low and seemingly easy ones.

We also met many canine tourists. We like such encounters, but unfortunately, some owners do not follow mountain regulations and let their dogs off-leash. Let's remember that the frequent breaking of rules can lead to their change and, consequently, to a ban on hiking with dogs, as has happened in other ranges.