Mały Staw lake and the Samotnia hut — trail from Karpacz
Mały Staw is a glacial lake in a cirque above Karpacz, inside Karkonosze National Park, with the Samotnia mountain hut on its shore. From Wang Temple in Karpacz it takes about 1.5–2 hours on the blue trail via Polana (approx. 4–4.5 km).
How long does it take to walk to Samotnia?
From Wang Temple to Samotnia it is about 1.5–2 hours uphill on the blue trail, a little over 4 km. Wang to Polana takes about an hour, Polana to Samotnia about 45 minutes. The Strzecha Akademicka hut is a further 15 minutes. A popular loop (Wang – Polana – Samotnia – Strzecha Akademicka – Karpacz) is about 8.3 km and 2.5 hours of walking, or around 3.5 hours with breaks.
What will you see?
The lake lies in a cirque carved by a glacier beneath the steep walls of the main ridge. Its surroundings are strictly protected, so enjoy the view from the trail — leaving the path to reach the shore is not allowed.
Is it a good walk with children?
Yes — it is a popular family walk without very steep sections, mostly on a wide cobbled path. With a pushchair it is hard going: the surface is very uneven in places and the path climbs all the way. A baby carrier is more practical; several places in Karpacz rent them out — ask at your hotel or the tourist information office.
Do you need a ticket?
Yes, the trail runs through Karkonosze National Park: 11 PLN standard or 5.50 PLN reduced for one day (as of September 2026), sold at the WANG ticket office by the temple, seasonally at POLANA, or online. See tickets and fees.
Can you get there in winter?
Yes, via Polana from Wang Temple. The section of the blue trail along the floor of the cirque (Domek Myśliwski – Samotnia) is closed in winter due to avalanche risk and in spring to protect black grouse; there is a detour via the service road or via Strzecha Akademicka. Check the current notice on kpn.gov.pl (opens in a new tab).
Samotnia and Mount Śnieżka
Samotnia lies on the classic route from Wang to Mount Śnieżka: under 1.5 hours to the Dom Śląski hut, then 35–45 minutes to the summit. For the hut’s current services and contact details, see the national park’s list of huts (opens in a new tab) (in Polish).