The first noted climb on Śnieżka peak took place in 1465. The person who did it was a Czech townsman from Benatki nad Jizerou. When we look at this achievement now, having in mind all those people who visit the peak every year, it seems so slight. But in those days organizing the expedition like that needed long time preparation and a difficulty of climbing through thick woods overgrowing the slopes and uninterrupted dwarf mountain pine line. A century has passed and in 1564-69 first scientific - cognific researches to define Śnieżka peak's height were initiated. According to those measurements the mount rose 2000 meters above sea level.

In the next centuries Śnieżka became a popular hiking place, especially for heath resort visitors from nearby health resorts. In 18th century the place was one of the most frequently visited peaks in Europe. A huge number of visitors was attracted by, among other things, a Saint Wawrzyniec chapel built on the peak in 1681 by Count Leopold von Schaffgotsch. From 1708 legions of tourists were joined by pilgrims who claimed the peak to attend masses celebrated regularly in the chapel. Among people who visited Śnieżka peak at that time was for example Goethe and one of the subsequent USA presidents (J.Q.Adams). In 1812 the masses stopped being celebrated in the chapel and the building became empty for 12 years. After that time a leather dealer Karol Siebenhaar decided to use it as a shelter for tourists. During summer time, until 1840, he gave wanderers meal and shelter. The following host of the hotel-chapel ran it until 1847. In 1850 the first real hostel was erected by a next host, but in1857 it was burnt. Five years later another hostel came into being and it prospered until 1967. From 1872 it was the building in which the highest situated post agency in Prussia was situated. A first postcard in the world (printed in 1873) is connected with this very place.

The first systematic meteorological observations on Śnieżka peak were initiated in 1880 in the hostel. In 1900 an observatory was erected to continue the observations, which was the most expensive investment in the then Europe. In 1905 a first road on Śnieżka peak was built. It was created to celebrate 25th anniversary of Karkonoskie Society (Towarzystwo Karkonoskie). During the war the Germans had an air radio station on the peak. After 1945 Śnieżka became a border Mount between Poland and Czechoslovakia.

In 1949 on Czechoslovakia's side a chair lift leading to the Śnieżka peak was built. It is now the oldest and still working lift of that type in Europe. A project of erecting a similar lift over Łomniczka appeared but it was never realized.

A bad technical condition of the observatory was a reason why just after war plans of erecting a new one appeared. But the execution of those plans started only in 1969. W. Lipiński and W. Wawrzyniak were the authors of three connected plates. To prepare the works, earlier actions were necessary: the whole access road reconstructing and disassembling the hostel built in 1857. The works were completed in 1974. The old, abandoned observatory existed for next 15 years becoming gradually ruined. In Karpacz a project of its refurbishment appeared but was never realised. In the 80's a hostel on Czechoslovakia's side was closed and in 2004 it was dismantled because of its bad technical condition.