Pańska Góra (Góry Orlickie)

Pańska Góra (Czech: Panský kopec, 772 m) is a summit in the Orlické hory (Orlice Mountains) in the Central Sudetes, sitting on the range's inner Czech ridge — yet long known to Polish hikers who set out for it from the nearby Polish municipality of Lewin Kłodzki.

Where exactly is Pańska Góra?

The peak rises in the northwestern part of the Orlické hory's main ridge, known locally as the Czech Ridge, and it separates the valleys of two streams that flow down toward the Czech village of Olešnice. Lewin Kłodzki, the Polish municipality most often used as a starting point for this area, lies a few kilometres to the north. So while the summit itself sits on Czech territory, a hike up to it typically begins on the Polish side of the border.

How do you hike up to Pańska Góra?

A black-marked trail linking Kudowa-Zdrój with Duszniki-Zdrój runs directly over the summit, and a green trail from the Czech village of Olešnice v Orlických horách to the nearby hill of Čihalka passes close by. A popular option is a longer loop that crosses the border twice: starting at the Polskie Wrota pass (665 m), following a blue trail down to Lewin Kłodzki (440 m), then a green trail to the border below Kościelna Góra (600 m), continuing on the green trail through Olešnice v Orlických horách, switching to the black trail up Pańska Góra itself (772 m), and finally a yellow trail across to the neighbouring Kozia Hala (780 m) before returning to Polskie Wrota. The full loop covers roughly 18 kilometres, so it's worth setting aside a full day.

What else is nearby?

The closest higher summit is Kozia Hala (780 m), reached along the same yellow trail, which lets hikers combine both peaks in a single outing without doubling back on the same path. The area belongs to a quieter, less-visited stretch of the Orlické hory, away from the busier resorts on either side of the border.

Who is this hike suited for?

Given its moderate elevation and well-marked trails on both sides of the border, Pańska Góra suits hikers of average fitness looking for a quiet walk through Polish-Czech border country rather than a technical climb. The full loop via Polskie Wrota and Kozia Hala is demanding mainly because of its distance, not the terrain itself.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pańska Góra in Poland or the Czech Republic? The summit itself lies on the Czech side of the border, on the Czech Ridge of the Orlické hory, while the nearest Polish starting point is the municipality of Lewin Kłodzki, a few kilometres to the north.

How high is Pańska Góra? 772 metres above sea level.

Which trail leads to the summit? The black-marked trail between Kudowa-Zdrój and Duszniki-Zdrój passes directly over the top; a longer, roughly 18-kilometre loop from the Polskie Wrota pass via Lewin Kłodzki, Olešnice v Orlických horách and Kozia Hala is also popular.

What peak sits next to Pańska Góra? Kozia Hala (780 m), reachable along the same trail without retracing your steps.