Szlak Jelonków route – suggested walks

Szlak Jelonków is not a waymarked trail – it is a set of 29 sculptures on the city map that you visit in any order. Below are several suggested variants, from a short walk around the Market Square to a full-day trip with Chojnik Castle. Distances and times are computed by OSRM (real walking paths).

Full day – all 29 little deer

Distance: ~26 km Time: ~5h 15min

The shortest walking route through all 29 little deer of Szlak Jelonków. Computed by a TSP algorithm (nearest-neighbor + 2-opt) on OSRM walking distances. Start: Kubuś in Jagniątków (~570 m a.s.l.), end: Skejtek in Zabobrze (~340 m a.s.l.) – about 230 m of elevation drop, so 5h 15min on foot is realistic. The reverse direction (city uphill) adds about 1h.

Stops:

3 days – comfortably by district

Distance: ~26 km (3 etapy) Time: Dzień 1: ~13 km · Dzień 2: ~8 km · Dzień 3: ~5 km

The same 29 little deer spread over 3 days, by district. Each day a different area – Zabobrze and the centre, then Cieplice, finally Sobieszów (Chojnik) and Jagniątków. Comfort + time for attractions along the way.

Day 1 – Zabobrze + the centre (21 deer)

Distance: ~13 km Time: ~2h 30min spaceru

Stops:

Day 2 – Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój (6 deer)

Distance: ~8 km Time: ~1h 40min spaceru

Stops:

Day 3 – Sobieszów + Jagniątków (2 deer + Chojnik)

Distance: ~5 km Time: ~1h 20min + Chojnik 40–60 min

Stops:

Family 2h – Market Square area

Distance: ~1 km Time: ~2h z przerwami

A short loop around the centre for families with kids or visitors with just one day. All figures around the Market Square – 1 km of walking, 2h with ice-cream and photo breaks.

Stops:

With kids – with ice-cream stops

Distance: ~2.5 km Time: ~2h z lodami i fotkami

A variant focused on Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój – a spa district ideal for families with kids. Norwidek in front of the Norwid High School, Ciepliczanka and Zdrój in front of Schaffgotsch Palace, Lalkarz at the Animation Theatre, Rzemiosław (deer-painter next to the ZSRA school) and Szóstek with his camera in front of Primary School No. 6. Spa Park, fountains and lots to look at along the way.

Stops:

Premium – Cieplice + Chojnik + Jagniątków

Distance: ~6 km + Chojnik Time: Cały dzień

A full-day trip combining little deer with the main attractions of Jelenia Góra: the Spa Park with hot springs and Schaffgotsch Palace in Cieplice, the ruins of Chojnik Castle above Sobieszów, the Hauptmann villa in Jagniątków. For one-day tourists with a car – the deer as a pretext to explore the region.

Stops:

Szlak Jelonków route – frequently asked questions

Is Szlak Jelonków waymarked?

No. Szlak Jelonków is a set of 29 sculptures on the Jelenia Góra city map, not a waymarked tourist trail. You plan the route yourself – on the map above, in the free app, or following one of the suggested variants below.

How many days do I need for the whole trail?

The shortest walking route through all 29 little deer is about 26 km / 5h 15min on foot. You can do it in one energetic day (~7h with breaks) or comfortably split it across 2–3 days by district.

Which variant with kids?

The best is „With kids” – about 2.5 km, 2h with breaks for ice cream and photos. It focuses on Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój: Norwidek in front of the Norwid High School, the loving couple Ciepliczanka and Zdrój in front of Schaffgotsch Palace, Lalkarz at the Animation Theatre, Rzemiosław next to the school that creates the deer, and Szóstek with his camera in front of Primary School No. 6.

Where do the distances and times come from?

Computed by OSRM (Open Source Routing Machine, walking profile) based on real pavements and crossings in Jelenia Góra. The „full day” variant is the output of a TSP algorithm (nearest-neighbor + 2-opt) – the shortest possible order through all 29 points.