Śnieżne Kotły [Snowy Kettles] - Szklarska Poręba

These are two best formed postglacial kettles in The Karkonosze Mountains with well preserved glacial forms. They are divided by a narrow rocky perch and squeezed into northern slopes of The Karkonosze central crest, between Łabski Szczyt and Wielki Szyszak. Vertical rocky walls are about 200 m high and the altitude of Duży Kocioł [Large Kettle] top edge reaches 1490 m above sea level. Inside and at the bottom of Duży Kocioł [Large Kettle] there are two small Śnieżne Satwki [Snowy Ponds].
Duży Kocioł (east side) is 800 m long, 600 m wide and together with Mały Kocioł[Small Kettle] (west side) constitutes a strict nature reserve covering the area of 127 hectares. Kettles’ names originate from patches of snow which persist below their vertical stony edges till late Summer (in 1970 till 2nd September). Śnieżne Kotły also represent the area of very rich mountain flora, not only in The Karkonosze Mountains, but also in the whole Sudeten mountain range. Over Śnieżne Kotły there are rocks called Czarcia Ambona [The Devil’s Pulpit] – a view point overlooking kettles’ bottom, next to it there is RTV transmission station building.

Access: Główny Szlak Sudecki [Main Sudeten Trail] (red – along the crest), or from Hala Pod Łabskim Szczytem [Mountain Pasture at the bottom of Łabski Peak] along yellow trail. It is possible to reach the inside of Snowy Kettles following green trail from Hala Pod Łabskim Szczytem along the, so called, “Ścieżka nad reglami” [The path along subalpine forests] (Attention! Difficult trail, closed in winter!).

Śnieżne Kotły [Snowy Kettles] - Panorama 360