Szczeliniec Wielki with kids - up the stairs to the top of the Table Mountains

How many stairs lead up Szczeliniec Wielki? From Karlow it is about 680 stone steps to the top, and the climb takes about 40 minutes. Szczeliniec Wielki is 919 m high and is the highest peak of the Table Mountains. At the top there is a mountain hut and a rock maze with viewpoints. We climbed it with four kids in August 2020.

Before that we spent two days on the Czech side, in Teplice Rocks and in Adrspach. The plan of the whole holiday is in the post Summer holidays in Poland with kids 2020.

Moving to the campsite in Radkow

On Thursday 6 August in the morning we packed the tent at Kamenec campsite and drove 32 km to the Polish side, to the Stolowogorski campsite no. 26 in Radkow. Our Ford was packed as always with boxes and a wooden cabinet, and the kids liked to sit in the open boot between them.

From Karlow to Szczeliniec Wielki

It is only 8 km from Radkow to Karlow. We started the hike at the map of the national park, and then set off up the stone steps. The only debate among the kids was who would lead. On the way we noticed that the forest smelled strongly of mushrooms.

At the top there is a mountain hut. The kids spotted tourist badges there, and then we talked about how supplies are pulled up to the top on a rope. From the hut we went on to the main trail around the summit.

The rock maze and viewpoints

The trail around the summit leads between rock blocks, through crevices and up and down stairs. On the viewing terraces there is a telescope, and on a clear day you can see a wide valley and the surrounding ranges. The kids hung on the railing at one of the terraces, and we took a family photo with the panorama in the background.

There are also named places on the trail, for example Rubezahl's Throne (Tron Liczyrzepy), and a deep crevice called Piekielko (Little Hell), where snow sometimes lies until June.

The climb to Szczeliniec is in our video from the Table Mountains:

Evening at the campsite

We went back to the campsite for lunch. In the evening the kids played boules on the grass, and then we went for a walk to the water, where ducks were swimming.

Fun fact

The mountain hut on Szczeliniec Wielki was built in 1845. It stands before the paid part of the trail, so you can go in without a ticket.

The next day

The next day, from the same campsite, we went to Bledne Skaly: Bledne Skaly with kids.

Practical info

We checked in November 2026.

• Tickets: adult 16 PLN, reduced 8 PLN. Children up to 7 years old go in free, but they need to download a free "zero" ticket online.
• Limit: 400 people per hour can enter the trail, so in the holidays it is worth buying tickets in advance.
• Trail: from Karlow the loop is about 3.6 km, and with the trail around the summit plan 3-4 hours.
• Pushchair: a pushchair is not suitable for the stairs and the trail around the summit, a carrier is better.
• Food: in the mountain hut at the top and in Karlow.
• Accommodation: Stolowogorski campsite no. 26 in Radkow, open from the end of April to 30 September. It is 8 km to Karlow.