Carving out a valley running through the Izera Foothills and woven into the lively urban landscape of Świeradów-Zdrój, the River Kwisa is an inseparable part of the Izera scenery. And it is precisely on this river that one of the more impressive waterfalls in Lower Silesia is found. It is a place truly worth visiting. It is popular both in summer and in winter. In the latter case, you may come across fans of winter bathing in the area. So how do you reach the waterfall on the Kwisa?
The River Kwisa in the Izera Mountains – the key facts
The River Kwisa flows with a swift current, forming the Kwisa Valley between two ridges of the Izera Mountains – the Kamienicki Ridge to the north-east and the High Ridge to the south-west. It rises on the western slopes of the Izerskie Garby; its source is at an altitude of 1,020 m above sea level.
The Kwisa is the axis around which Świeradów-Zdrój and the neighbouring towns lie, such as Mirsk, Gryfów Śląski, Leśna, Lubań and Nowogrodziec. Along its course – between Gryfów Śląski and Leśna – two dams have been built, thanks to which the Kwisa forms two picturesque lakes – Lake Złotnickie and Lake Leśniańskie. The Kwisa is a left-bank tributary of the Bóbr. It is 126.8 kilometres long.
The waterfall on the Kwisa is an artificially created cascade, whose height is estimated at about 4 metres. The bed of the Kwisa is quite wide at this point, which creates a unique atmosphere. It is the largest cascade on the Kwisa, reducing the steep gradient that characterised the river along this stretch. Its creation made it possible to slow the violence of the current.
The waterfall on the Kwisa – calm, nature and rest
The Izera Mountains have their own exceptional atmosphere, perfect for recreation and rest in the bosom of nature. The Kwisa Waterfall is one of those more beautiful places where you can take a deeper breath and give yourself over to the pleasure of being in an extraordinarily soothing natural setting. Despite the fact that the cascade on the Kwisa is quite a well-known point on the tourist map of Świeradów-Zdrój, the route to the waterfall itself is not precisely marked. This gives the feeling of moving through wild terrain, which will appeal to lovers of natural landscapes. The dense vegetation and the prevailing atmosphere give a sense of intimacy, which can be surprising given that it is quite a popular place.
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The cascade on the Kwisa – a great attraction in summer and winter
In summer, the beauty of the waterfall on the Kwisa is brought out by the emerald green of the surrounding grasses and the rather strong sunbeams breaking through, which – combined with the majestic forest – make a spectacular impression. It is not without reason that the Kwisa Waterfall is very keenly photographed.
In winter it is equally beautiful, which is noticed and appreciated not only by lovers of hiking but also by fans of winter bathing. The Kwisa Waterfall is, in fact, a popular spot for cold-water swimming. Once we have overcome the steep descent down to the waterfall itself, getting into and out of the river near the waterfall is very simple. The water is crystal-clear and transparent.
The Kwisa Waterfall – a point on the "Trail of Izera Secrets"
The Trail of Izera Secrets (Szlak Śladem Izerskich Tajemnic) is a great form of active fun that makes exploring the Izera Mountains even more interesting. It is a trail covering 22 attractions of Świeradów-Zdrój, at which special boulders have been placed with large reliefs reproducing pictograms. The game consists of taking a rubbing of each pictogram discovered at a given attraction onto a sheet of paper. You simply place the sheet against the pictogram and, using a crayon, transfer the pattern onto it.
After collecting at least 15 rubbings, you can report to the Municipal Centre of Culture and Promotion "Stacja Kultury" and receive a commemorative Explorer's Certificate. The Kwisa Waterfall is also on the route, so it is worth paying attention to the boulder located beside it and taking part in the game. Not far from the Kwisa Waterfall there is another boulder – on Sępia Góra, which is a great viewpoint.
The waterfall on the Kwisa – how to get there
Getting to the Kwisa Waterfall is fairly simple. The river runs along the main road (ul. Nadbrzeżna) leading from Świeradów-Zdrój to Szklarska Poręba. The entrance to the trail leading to the Kwisa Waterfall is just beyond the last buildings. The landmark is the sawmill of the Świeradów Timber Industry Plant. Moving towards Szklarska Poręba, you simply turn off towards the forest at the second turning roughly level with the sawmill – turning left. There is a forest car park there, from which it is only about 200 metres to the cascade. The descent to the waterfall itself is somewhat steep and demanding, but the spectacular views below are worth it.
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You can also walk to the Kwisa Waterfall from the Spa House, covering a distance of about 5 kilometres. The Kamieniecki Ridge, spread above the Kwisa, also offers a range of interesting viewpoints and mysterious nooks. There are admittedly few marked tourist trails on it, but there are many attractive places, such as Kozia Szyja, Kamienne Wały, the peaks of Kamienica, Jastrzębiec, Czepiec, Niedźwiednik and Sępia Góra (which lie on the blue trail to Świeradów-Zdrój), and the Witches' Clearing (Polana Czarownic) at the Babia Pass.
Get in touch with the Proxin team: sprzedaz@proxin.pl / +48 603 711 805 / izerapark.pl
