The Best Known Waterfalls in Poland

Poland, a captivating land of natural beauty, boasts an array of stunning waterfalls that grace its diverse landscapes, from pristine forests to rugged peaks.

Nestled in the centre of Europe, Poland’s is a landscape dominated by extensive plains, especially in its central and eastern regions. Yet, Poland’s scenery is spectacular. Indeed, from its myriad rivers and lakes to the Tatra Mountains, it’s a country filled with natural wonders. And some of the best examples of this geographical diversity are its waterfalls.

We’re on the hunt for the very best waterfalls in Poland. Whether it’s the tallest waterfall in Poland or the most unusual, it’s a journey that takes us to national parks and remote forests, to mountain slopes and nature reserves. So “water” we waiting for? Let’s go.

Wielka Siklawa, literally the “Great Waterfall”, is a fitting name for what is believed to be the highest and tallest waterfall in Poland. Located amid the jagged rocks, lush forests, and crystal-clear streams of the High Tatra mountains, it descends approximately 230 feet from a granite rock bolt that separates the Valley of Five Polish Ponds from the valley of Roztoka below. Formed by the Roztoka stream, the shape of the waterfall varies depending on the water level, falling in anything from two to four thunderous streams. As the water cascades down the rocks, it creates a fine mist of tiny droplets, generating something of a magical atmosphere around it.

With its unspoilt woodland surroundings and resemblance to a sweeping staircase of water, Wodospad Kamieńczyk could be straight out of a fairytale. This is an impression only enhanced by the legend that it was formed from the tears of fairies and by the “Golden Cave” located behind its middle cascade, which is home to clusters of pegmatite and amethysts. And so, it’s little surprise to discover that it was chosen as a filming location for the movie adaptation of CS Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”.

With an approximate drop of 88 feet, Wodospad Kamieńczyk, or Kamieńczyk Waterfall, is the tallest waterfall in Poland’s Karkonosze Mountains. It cascades down in three steps into the mossy rockiness of Kamieńczyk Gorge.

As the waters of the Szklarka waterway tip over the precipice into Szklarki Gorge, they must negotiate a rock just before the fall. As a result, Wodospad Szklarki, or Szklarki Waterfall, splits into two streams as it cascades down almost 45 feet. Combined with its location deep in the beech forests of Karkonosze National Park, this spectacular feature is one of Poland’s best waterfalls. It’s also the second tallest cataract in the Polish Karkonosze Mountains.

Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza is one of many Polish waterfalls found in the mountains of the High Tatras. Located between the valleys of Białka and Roztokathis, this series of cascades consists of three larger and several significantly smaller rapids.

The waterfall takes its name, which translates as Mickiewicz Falls, from Adam Bernard Mickiewicz. Although the Polish poet never visited the Tatra Mountains, this was done to commemorate his ashes being placed in Wawel Castle. The ‘Wodogrzmoty’ part of the name means water and thunder, alluding to its powerful roar.

Wodospad Szum or Szum Waterfall is located in the bucolic Będkowska Valley, one of the seven topographical dips forming the Krakow Valleys Landscape Park. Fed by the Będkówka River and surrounded by unspoilt forests, it’s one of the more unusually shaped waterfalls in Poland, twisting as it falls almost perpendicular to the river over the mossy limestone.

Zaskalnik Waterfall is located near Szczawnica in the Beskid Sądecki mountain range of southern Poland. It’s formed by the Sopotnicki Stream and has a vertical drop of approximately 16 feet down the side of a sandstone rock formation. One of the largest waterfalls of Poland’s Beskid Mountains, Wodospad Zaskalnik creates a narrow, curtain-like effect as the water flows over the rock surface before it hits the pool below.

And so, as we end our exploration of Poland’s best waterfalls, it seems they have a way of weaving something of a magical spell over their visitors. Whether it’s their picturesque settings or their unique formations, Polish waterfalls are a captivating sight.