Hiking near Prague
Are you planning to visit Prague? Do you like hiking or would you like to spend some time in the Czech countryside?
As a local, I would like to share a few tips on interesting hikes around Prague, countryside walks and backpacking opportunities, as well as some useful information about our public transport, footpath markings and some other topics.
Karlštejn Castle
Where to go – a little bit of geography
Prague is situated on the Vltava river, in the middle of the historical kingdom of Bohemia and the city roughly divides the surrounding landscape into two different parts. To the north of Prague lies the Elbe river lowland (Polabí) with flat and mostly agricultural land and with only a few hiking opportunities. But to the south the landscape starts to become more rough and with its forests, hills, rocks and beautiful river valleys, it is the perfect place for hiking and countryside walking.
The landscape to the south of Prague can be again divided into several slightly different parts:
- Bohemian Karst (Český kras) in the south-west, a protected landscape area around the Berounka river valley (between the town of Beroun and Prague-Radotín). This is one of the most beautiful parts of our country and also the place where the famous gothic castle Karlštejn is located.
- Brdy Ridge (Brdské Hřebeny) in the south, a narrow forested ridge beginning between the Berounka and the Vltava rivers and continuing to the south to the towns of Dobříš and Hořovice. Not so popular among local people, but especially good for long and tough hikes and backpacking.
- Sázava Region (Posázaví) in the south-east, a beautiful area around the romantic Sázava river valley stretching from the town Davle (where the Sázava river meets the Vltava) far away to Moravia.
In the north, there is one nice place I will mention later – Czech Middle Mountains (České středohoří), a mountain region famous for its picturesque extinct volcanoes.
There are also some really nice valleys and parks directly in Prague itself which are worth of visiting, notably Prokopské údolí and Divoká Šárka.
Divoká Šárka
Basic information
Before you’ll go on a hike near Prague, you should know two things: how to use our public transport system and how not to get lost in the woods.
Getting there – public transport
Prague public transport (PID) consists of the underground railway called Metro, trams, buses, commuter trains, one cable car and some ferries – but only the buses and trains will take you to the countryside.
The trains depart from the Main Station (Hlavní nádraží) or the Masaryk Station (Masarykovo nádraží) and they are marked with the letter “S” and a number (e.g. S2 or S80) for better orientation. They usually depart every 30 or 60 minutes, depending on the time of the day or whether it’s a weekend or not. There are also some other types of trains (express, international), but stick to the commuter trains if you don’t want to end somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
The railway network around Prague is quite dense, but there are a few interesting places you can reach only by a bus (or where the bus service is just faster). The buses usually depart from the Metro (underground) stations on the city outskirts and understanding their timetables and routes can be sometimes challenging, even for local people – so when it’s possible, I will suggest you to use a train.
Commuter train
You can find the routes and timetables at jizdnirady.idnes.cz/pid/spojeni, the fares at www.dpp.cz/en/fares-in-the-periphery-areas. The prices for the public transport are a bargain compared to western cities. Also, there is almost no need to buy return train tickets to save money (a return is only 5% cheaper than two singles), but it is advisable to buy group tickets (you will save at least 25%).
Walking around – hiking trails and tourist markings
There’s one other thing you should be familiar with before you set out on a hike: Czech hiking trails and their markings. We have really dense network of hiking trails (“public footpaths”) maintained by the Czech Tourist Club (KČT). The trails are marked with four different colours – red (long distance routes), green, blue and yellow – in the form of a coloured horizontal stripe between two white stripes. These symbols are usually found on trees, fences or lamp posts.
The navigation is very simple – you just follow the colour you have chosen and if you watch for the markings carefully, you can’t get lost. Besides that, every few kilometers you will find a signpost where you can check your direction and the distance to the place you are walking to, or switch to a different trail.
There are also other types of markings – a diagonal green stripe in a white square means an “educational trail”, coloured stripes between two yellow stripes are for cyclists, coloured dots in a white square are bridleways, etc.
Signpost + hiking trails with markings
It’s always good to have a map. The best hiking maps (with scale 1:50 000, the green ones) are published by the Czech Tourist Club and you can buy them in every bigger bookstore. Neo Palladium at the Main Station or Neo Luxor on the Wenceslaus Square, for example. (This is how the maps look like: [link]).
You can the find the hiking maps online – mapy.cz (just click on “Změnit mapu” and “Turistická” in the upper left corner and then zoom in to see the hiking trails).
Recommended walking routes
1. The best choice – Karlštejn and the Bohemian Karst
Believe me: this is the best one-day hike you can ever do near Prague. There are so many interesting things you can see there and the landscape is just beautiful and changing every mile – you cannot find anything better. And it’s not tough at all, you can even go with children and have a great time.
Bubovice waterfalls
Take a train to the Karlštejn station and follow the yellow hiking route to the east and across the Berounka river until you enter a small village and spot the famous gothic castle. Go up the street with shops and restaurants, change to the red trail at the signpost (go left) and climp up to the Karlštejn Castle, built in the 14th century. It’s huge and magnificient – you just have to see it. You can even choose from a few different guided tours a spend a lot of time in the castle itself.
After you take a look at the castle, follow the red trail to the north until it joins a narrow asphalt road. Pass through a settlement called V Hlubokém and turn left to the forest (still following the red trail) until you reach a signpost called Dub Sedmi bratří (Seven Brothers’ Oak). Turn left and stick to the red trail. Walk along a field edge and through a nice forest and just after you ford a shallow stream, you will find another signpost – Kubrychtova bouda (Kubrycht’s hut). Turn right (still the red trail).
The next section is especially beautiful. After you pass a narrow meadow with Kubrycht’s hut on your right side, the path will take you to a forest ravine with some lovely waterfalls (called Bubovické vodopády – Bubovice waterfalls) and fords. You will love this place! Take your time to enjoy it and then continue up to the hill, turn left (leaving the stream on your right side) and follow the red trail through a deep forest to a signpost at a road crossing. Cross the road, climb down a steep slope, turn left once again and follow the trail to a signpost named Propadlé vody (Caved in water).
Solvay’s quarry
Now turn right and follow an educational trail called Svatojánský okruh, marked with a diagonal green stripe in a white square. You will eventually reach a railway crossing – an old mine railway! Follow the railway to the right to see Solvayovy lomy (Solvay’s quarry), a limestone mining museum, and then return back, join the educational trail again and walk along the railway to its other end. There are some nice views to abandoned quarries.
After a half a mile, you will meet the red trail again. Go straight ahead up the hill until you reach a rock cliff with a cross, with some magnificient views to the surrounding landscape! The village with a monastery, six hundred feet below the cliff, is called Svatý Jan pod Skalou – St. John under the Rock. Enjoy it here – you are at one of the most beautiful and peaceful places of our little country.
From the cliff top, follow the red trail down to the village – which is, by the way, a good place for a few beers.
St. John under the Rock
Pass through the village and go to the south, following the yellow trail and the road to the Hostim village. Pass through Hostim and where the road enters a forest, turn right across a meadow and take a footpath to a stream. Walk along the stream to a settlement called V Kozle, turn left at the signpost and join the Berounka river. Then follow the river bank to Srbsko, where this walk ends. There are some pubs in Srbsko and the railway station is at the other side of the river, just by the footbridge.
Route: Karlštejn railway station → Karlštejn → Dub Sedmi bratří → Kubrychtova bouda → Bubovické vodopády (Bubovice waterfalls) → Propadlé vody → Solvayovy doly (Solvay’s quarry) → St. John cliff top → Svatý Jan pod Skalou (St. John under the Rock) → Hostim → V Kozle → Srbsko
Map: http://mapy.cz/s/8eti + KČT no. 36 – Okolí Prahy západ
Distance: 11 miles / 17 km
Ascent: 2600 feet / 800 m
Duration: 5 – 7 hours (without any guided tours)
Toughness: moderate
Getting there: train S7 from the Main Station to Karlštejn, the same line back from Srbsko
Eating out: Karlštejn, Svatý Jan, Srbsko
2. The long walk – Štěchovice and the Vltava river valley
Have you ever heard Vltava (The Moldau), a symphonic poem written by Bedřich Smetana? This walk will let you see the landscape which inspired him to compose such an amazing piece of music. And although the landscape has changed a little bit from the Smetana times (he probably wouldn’t like the hydropower dams), it’s still beautiful. And in some parts, wild too.
But be aware: this walk is a longer one. You’ll need one whole day for it, as well as the map and some navigation skills as the trail markings are not perfect here. And when the weather is bad, this walk can be slippery and somewhat dangerous.
Vltava river from Máj
The walk starts in the small town of Štěchovice, lying on the Vltava river. From the bus stop by the river, follow the blue trail through the town until you see a dam. Enter the forest and after a few minutes, switch to the green trail at the signpost Pod Strání. Walk a few miles by the river (there are some nice views from the rocks) until you enter a village and see another dam – Slapy. Climb up the steps on your right side to the signpost in Třebenice.
Follow the blue trail again, cross the river on the dam and turn left to a short climb through a forest. Continue over a meadow, pass the Rabyně village and climb down a field to Pexův Luh. From this signpost, follow the yellow trail to the north along a stream with some fords and eventually turn right up to the hill. Then just go ahead through the forest to Teletín.
Landscape near Teletín
In Teletín, after you pass the village green with a pond, turn left, follow the road for a while and then turn left again to a meadow. Go straight ahead until you find yourself on a cliff 600 feet above the Vltava river. The view from this outlook (vyhlídka Máj) is simply amazing!
Return back to the yellow trail and continue to the north. The navigation can be a little bit tricky here, so use the map. Follow the trail and when you see some cottages, take a sharp turn to the right and after a few hundred feet, turn left and climb down a ravine with a stream. Cross the stream and climb up the hill to a cottage settlement. Then follow the arrows pointing to Smetanova vyhlídka (Smetana’s outlook), another place with beautiful views to the Vltava river.
View from the Slapy dam
Return back to the cottages and take a narrow lane to the north. Cross a wider road and continue to the Třebšín village. From Třebšín, follow the blue trail through some small villages back to Štěchovice.
Route: Štěchovice → Pod Strání → Třebenice → Rabyně → Pexův Luh → Teletín → Máj outlook → Smetana’s outlook → Třebšín → Štěchovice
Map: http://mapy.cz/s/8etr + KČT no. 38 – Hřebeny a Slapská přehrada or KČT no. 40 – Benešovsko a Dolní Posázaví
Distance: 17 miles / 28 km
Ascent: 3600 feet / 1100 m
Duration: 8 – 10 hours
Toughness: difficult
Getting there: go to the Smíchovské nádraží Metro station and take bus 361, 338 or 390 to Štěchovice
Eating out: only in Štěchovice, rather take your own food
3. The flat walk – the baroque landscape by the Elbe river
If you don’t like hills and want to see a typical Czech countryside of the Elbe lowland, this is the walk for you. It will lead you along the Elbe river (Labe) and through a nice forest to an 18th century village Byšičky and a nice town Lysá nad Labem with a French-style park.
High seat in the Elbe lowland
Take a train to Čelákovice, a small commuter town 15 miles from Prague, and follow the yellow-blue trail through the town to the north, down to the Elbe river. Take the blue trail at a signpost called Čelákovice – jez, turn left and follow the trail (shortly along the river) to a place where a narrow panel road diverts from the street. Go ahead on the panel road (don’t use the blue trail as it’s usually flooded), pass a sewage treatment plant and join the Elbe river again. Walk along the river to the west and cross it on a footbridge (or you can continue a few more yards to see a spa village Lázně Toušeň).
Beyond the bridge, turn right and follow the yellow trail to Káraný – there are water works which look like a 19th century factory. Turn right and follow the red trail for a while, but stick to the main road when the trail diverges. The road will turn left and you will end up at a crossroad, so go straight ahead trough the village – it’s very nice. Meet the red trail again and go to the east through a beautiful riverside forest until you reach the railway line from Čelákovice to Lysá nad Labem.
Next to the railway crossing in the woods, there are some baroque statues and a sculpture symbolising the murder of St. Wenceslaus, the 10th century Duke of Bohemia, that happend in the nearby town of Stará Boleslav (also a nice place to visit).
Byšičky village
Cross the railway tracks and follow an educational trail called NS Krajinou Rudolfa II to the south and then to the east. You will eventually reach a beautiful village with a rounded village green and some lovely old houses – Byšičky. Destroyed in the Thirty Years’ War and founded again in 1717, it is said to be one of the the most well-preserved baroque villages in the Czech Republic.
Go ahead on the road through the village, continue to the east and when you reach a T-junction, turn left to the railway and cross it again. Join the red trail again and follow it along the tracks, with a horse racecourse on your left side, to Lysá nad Labem. After a mile, cross another railway line and enter the town.
There is a nice Augustinian monastery and a baroque palace (“stately home”). It now serves as a nursing home for the elderly people, but with its French-style garden full of baroque statues, it is definitely worth of seeing.
Baroque palace in Lysá nad Labem
After you take a look at the garden, go to the town square (there are some restaurants and cafés) and then to the south to the railway station and take a train back to Prague.
Route: Čelákovice → footbridge in Lázně Toušeň → Káraný → Svatý Václav (St. Wenceslaus) → Byšičky → Byšičky railway crossing → Lysá nad Labem
Map: http://mapy.cz/s/8eQW + KČT no. 17 – Dolní Pojizeří, Mladoboleslavsko a Nymbursko
Distance: 10 miles / 16 km
Ascent: 300 feet / 100 m
Duration: 4 – 5 hours
Toughness: easy
Getting there: train S2 or S20 from the Masaryk railway station to Čelákovice, the same line back from Lysá nad Labem
Eating out: Čelákovice, Lysá nad Labem
4. Up to the mountains – Lovoš and Milešovka
Unfortunately, there are no real mountains anywhere near Prague. But if you are a keen hiker and want something a little bit tougher, you can go to the region called Czech Middle Mountains (České středohoří, sometimes translated as Central Bohemian Uplands). It’s actually closer to Germany than to Prague, but there is a good rail connection to this hike. So if you like hills and nice views, you won’t regret this choice.
Milešovka mountain
Take an express (!) train to Lovosice, which departs every two hours from the Main Station. The journey takes approximately one hour. From the railway station in Lovosice, follow the blue trail through the city (which is unfortunately quite ugly) and after you pass through a subway under a big roundabout, take the green trail and follow it to the north to a railway crossing. Cross the railway, then another one and start ascending a road between some gardens and cottages. You will see a pointed mountain in front of you – Lovoš – an extinct volcano. You will eventually leave the city behind you and enter the forest on the mountain slope.
Go ahead through the forest. At one point, the footpath will start to be pretty steep and tough. But after a few sharp turns, you will meet the blue trail following a wider and a much better road. Take the road to the summit of Lovoš. If you don’t make the same mistake like me and don’t go on this hike in rainy weather, you will enjoy some nice views from the summit.
Oparno village
From Lovoš, follow the blue trail through a nice birch forest down to the village of Oparno. Go through the village and just before a railway bridge, turn left up to the hill to see some castle ruins. Follow the blue trail back to the valley and then to Velemín, a village on a busy road heading to Germany. Go north along the road and turn left with the blue trail by the end of the village. You will see another cone shaped mountain, another extinct volcano – Milešovka. With its elevation of 837 m / 2746 feet, it is the highest peak of the Czech Middle Mountains. You will have to climb up over 1600 feet to reach the summit!
Continue through a field until you reach another forest. At a signpost called Nad Velemínem turn left and enjoy your climb. It’s a little bit tough but definitely rewarding. At the summit, there is a weather observatory with a lookout tower and one 19th century Prussian geographer actually claimed that the view from Milešovka was the third best in the world!
Path to the summit of Milešovka
From Milešovka, take the red trail down to a village called Bílka. Then cross the busy road again and follow the trail to Žim and to the railway station, where this hike ends. Take a local train to Lovosice (the last one usually departs by 7 PM!) and then an express train back to Prague.
Route: Lovosice railway station → Lovosice signpost → Lovoš → Oparno žst. → Velemín → Nad Velemínem → Milešovka → Bílka → Žim
Map: http://mapy.cz/s/8f6C + KČT no. 10 – České středohoří – západ
Distance: 14 miles / 23 km
Ascent: 4000 feet / 1200 m
Duration: 7 – 9 hours
Toughness: tough
Getting there: express train to Lovosice from the Main Station (ends in Děčín), back from Žim with a change in Lovosice (the last train from Žim departs at 7 PM!)
Eating out: Lovosice, Velemín, Milešovka (beer only), rather take your own food
5. The tough challenge – Brdy Ridge
Ok, so you want something really tough. Something extreme and crazy. Or just two or three day backpacking trip in the deep woods? Anyway, this is the hike for you. The famous Brdy Ridge, Hřebeny.
View from Plešivec
Buy the maps, pack up your gear and take an express train to Hořovice. Find the red trail on the town square and then just – wait for it – just go back to Prague. After 35 miles of walking through the woods, following the red trail all the time, take a bus from Báně to Smíchovské nádraží Metro station. It was a nice walk, wasn’t it? :)
There are a few interesting places on this hike. One of them is Plešivec (roughly translated as the Bare hill) with a very nice view to the landscape. Then there is Studený vrch with a lookout tower you can visit and an abandoned military base near a hill called Stožec. Another interesting place is Skalka (Rock), a monastery with a Via Crucis. And the forest between Jíloviště and Baně is especially beautiful.
However, the best thing about this walk is that you will meet almost no one there. On weekdays or in bad weather – literally no one.
Via Crucis at the Skalka Monastery
Regarding the wild camping in the forest which is the only type of overnight accommodation available here – it’s not legal, but it’s tolerated in this area, just follow your common sense. And don’t light a fire.
Don’t try to complete the walk in one day – it would be a madness :)
Route: Hořovice railway station → Hořovice → Rpety → Na Bělidle → Lhotka rozc. → Plešivec → Křižatky → Kuchyňka → Jelení palouky → Stožec → Na Soudném → Skalka → U Šraňku → Černolické skály → Jíloviště → Báně
Map: http://mapy.cz/s/8f8x + KČT no. 34 – Brdy a Rokycansko + KČT no. 38 – Hřebeny a Slapská přehrada + KČT no. 36 – Okolí Prahy-západ (only a very short section)
Distance: 35 miles / 57 km
Ascent: 5000 feet / 1400 m
Duration: two or three days unless you are extremely fit
Toughness: extreme for one day
Getting there: express train from the Main Station to Hořovice, back from the bus stop Báně to Smíchovské nádraží Metro station
Eating out: nowhere
Just one afternoon? Prokopské údolí or Divoká Šárka
Prague is full of hidden and lovely valleys which foreign visitors hardly ever see. The two most beautiful of them are probably Prokopské údolí and Divoká Šárka. Both of them are good places to spend an afternoon when you are sick of sightseeing and the crowds in the Old Town.
Prokopské údolí
Prokopské údolí: take a tram to the Zlíchov stop, pass under a railway bridge and follow the blue hiking trail up to the hill. Then go down to the valley and walk along the railway to Řeporyje. Map: http://mapy.cz/s/8f9U – 5 miles / 9 km.
Divoká Šárka: you might have seen it from the airport express, those fantastic rocks behind a McDonnald’s restaurant, just after the bus entered the city. Take a tram to the Evropská station, go down to the valley and just enjoy it. Or you can take the red trail (a circular one) which will lead you to the rock cliff in Baba, with some nice views of the Vltava river. Map: http://mapy.cz/s/8fab.
Divoká Šárka in the winter
Other information
Other walking routes
There are many other beautiful places near Prague which are good for hiking. Unfortunately, it’s been a long time since I visited them or I’ve been there only on my bicycle, so I can’t describe the walking routes in enough detail (but I might do this in the future). Here are some tips:
- From Davle to Kamenný Přívoz by the Sázava river
- From Mníšek pod Brdy to the Skalka monastery and then to Řevnice
- Mount Říp
- From Srbsko through the Koda forest to Tetín and Beroun
- From Beroun to the Křivoklát castle
- Klánovický les, a forest between Klánovice and Úvaly
- From Čerčany to Ondřejov, Hrusice and Mnichovice
- Voděradské bučiny, a beautiful beechwood forest near Kostelec nad Černými lesy
- From Roztoky to the Okoř castle, Budeč and Zákolany
Weather
Prague has a humid continental climate, which means that the winters are usually quite cold and the summers sometimes really hot. The best time of the year to visit Prague, if you want to do some hiking, is probably June, late August and early September.
- From January to March, it’s usually cold (below 0°C) and some higher-lying parts of the countryside are more suitable for cross-country skiing than hiking.
- April and May are beautiful, but the weather is pretty much unpredictable. Be prepared for some showers.
- June is probably the best time of the year, with the most daylight and usually nice and predictable weather and moderate temperatures (up to 25°C).
- July and early August tend to be sunny, very hot (35°C is not an exception) and with heavy thunderstorms in the evenings.
- Late August and September have moderate temperatures (around 20°C) again and early autumn is especially beautiful in the countryside.
- From October to December, it starts to be quite cold with only a few sunshine hours. It can snow sometimes and these months are a bit depressive.
Backpacking in the Czech Republic
If you are more interested in multi-day backpacking trips in the Czech Republic, you might also find this information useful:
- The closest place to Prague which is good for backpacking is the Brdy Ridge, already mentioned. Then there are mountain ranges on the country borders – Šumava, Krkonoše and Hrubý Jeseník are the most beautiful ones. Some other nice places not far away from Prague are České Švýcarsko (Czech Switzerland), Kokořínsko and Český Ráj (Czech Paradise).
- Wild camping: it’s not legal. Bivouacking is legal, but no one actually knows what that means in the terms of law. However, wild camping is highly tolerated if nobody knows about you :) So – be silent, don’t start a fire, don’t leave any traces and only one night at one place. There is one big no: don’t camp above the treeline in national parks and stay out of natural reserves.
- Right of way: you can walk almost everywhere unless there is a restriction (Czech: “Zákaz vstupu” or “Vstup zakázán”). But it’s always better to stick to the official marked trails.
- If you need to buy some outdoor gear in Prague, try these shops – Hanibal or Hudy Sport.
Berounka river from Tetín
Conclusion
I hope you will enjoy your visit to the Czech Republic and Prague and hiking here as well! Please share your experiences in the comments – and don’t be afraid to ask anything you’d like to know, of course.
Cheers, Martin.
Martinův blog 
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This is fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing :)
Yeah this is quite awesome. Thanks for taking the time to write it up.
Thanks a lot for this great info! I went to Prague last week and made the day trip to Karlstejn just as you described, and with only a print of your text as a guide. That was a truly beautiful hike, and I had no problems finding my way (although, as you write, a map is always advised). Absolutely the highlight of five days in Prague. Many thanks!
Thanks many your information, I’m going to visit Prague in May
Where is the place on the background picture your blog?
Park: I change the background photo sometimes, but this one was taken in South Downs in England.
Thanks Martin, anyway much helpful for you information to planning my hiking near Prague,
Thank you for an excellent article. I am planning for a hike trip from Karlstejn to Beroun. Your article has given me a lot of good information. Thank you again.
Hi Martin
We come from Holland visiting Prague. We realy like it, but after 3 days city we wanted to visit the nature around. Your site was a good help. We did the 17 km Karlstejn hike and it was realy wonderfull. The waterfalls and the views.Thanx for sharing this with us.
Elma & Pim
Hello Martin,
Last saturday, I did the “Karlštejn and the Bohemian Karst”. I started from Karlstejn at 8:00am, I reached Dub Sedmi bratří, took a detour to visit lom Malá Amerika, lom Velká Amerika, then went back to Dub Sedmi bratří and continued your instructions. Also from Svatý Jan pod Skalou I went to Beroun, ended my hike there and took a train back to Prague, so the total distance was around 25kms. When I reached Karlstejn at 8:00am, I realized I had started too early because the castle was completely covered with fog and I couldn’t enjoy the castle (I went back to Karlstejn on Sunday to visit castle). Even though I did not know the local language I could manage everything without any difficulties, all thanks to your article. I had bought a paper map the day before, but never opened it because your instructions were very clear. It was really a wonderful experience and out of all the hiking I have done so far, this was one of the best.
Also, is there a place you can suggest me to visit on Thursday (may be a half day hike) as I am going back to US on Friday completing my 3 week work visit to Prague.
Thank you
Nithin
Hi Nithin! I would recommend the 3rd walk (Elbe river). The trip to Karlštejn is probably better, but this is something completely different and suitable just for one afternoon (and there’s a good train service). The walk is flat, there are no hills and no spectacular views, but it will be really nice now in the spring :) Or if you want some hills and views, try the 4th hike, but you’ll need whole day for it.
Thanks…really looking forward too doing some of these walks,really helpful information….cheers lorne
Thanks for this post! We just came back from our hike around Karlstejn, the first one you recommended. We also included Malá Amerika and Velká Amerika. It is a great hike and with your instructions it was very easy to follow always knowing where we were and what we were about to see. We did the whole thing in less than 8h, but because we skipped the beers there, as we wanted to watch the world cup matches.
Cheers!!
Hi! I will be for almoust a month more in Prague and im very gratefull of this blog! Tomorrow i´m going to the Karlstejn treking.
I wonder if you know any nice 2 or 3 day hikes that sort of cross-cut the typical czech country side. Doesn´t matter if there is no “sight seeing-fotogenic” places. Again, thanks for the help!
Hi Pascal, if you are looking for a nice multi-day hike, I would highly recommend the Bohemian Paradise. You can start in Jičín and walk to Turnov through Prachov Rocks (Prachovské skály), just follow the red hiking route. You can stay overnight in Hrubá Skála, or you can just wild camp somewhere in the woods if you are more into backpacking.
Martin, can you recomend a good guide for hiking ? It would be nice to go hill walking with a local that knows a little about the plants, trees and history. Thanks
Amazin info! Thanks!
We did three of the proposed hikes
(Karlštejn and the Bohemian Karst, Lovoš and Milešovka, Prokopské údolí) and we enjoyed all of them.
Indications are clears so we almost never used the map.
Thank you very much for this useful article.
Thanks for this fantastic information. I will live in Prague for a year now. I’ve never done hiking before and want to explore/try them. Considering that I’m a beginner, would there be a group based easy hiking around Prague / Czech Rep. I don’t want to do it alone as I think it could be a bit boring and also don’t want to get lost ;-). I checked KCT.cz, but the content is in Czech and not able to follow the various activities they seem to organise and whether it is for beginners? Any guidance you can offer would be of help. Thanks!
Hi Venky, I don’t know if there is a hiking group in Prague, but I sometimes organize hikes for friends, so if you’d like, you might join us :-) Regarding KČT, I don’t recommend their activities (usually called “pochod”), they are mainly for local people and not very English-friendly.
Hi Martin, I live in Prague. I’d love to join your next hike. Please keep me informed. Dekuji! Regards!
Hi Martin great article – thanks. So like skinax I would be keen to tag along if I may?.
Hi Martin
My husband and I will be visiting Prague for the first time at the end of January and would love to do the Karlstejn walk. However I realise the weather will be very cold so is there likely to be snow obliterating this trail. We are regular walkers in England but very rarely walk in snow
Hi Hilary! It’s unlikely that there will be a lot of snow, maybe a few inches, but nothing that should scare you off. Karlštejn isn’t in the mountains and if this winter is mild like the last one, this walk will just be really muddy :-)
Thank you so much this information is golden. I was looking for this kind of information. I will be travelling to Prague this Thursday and I am looking forward to it.
Hi Martin I would like to go to Krkonose from Prague. Could you advice me how to get there by train? Do you know if there are any sleepingaccomodations?
Thank you so much!
Hi Fathia, if you’d like to go to Krkonoše, there is a train service to Harrachov (you have to change in Tanvald), or you can take a bus to Pec pod Sněžkou. Unfortunately, both of this journies are quite long (approximately 4 hours).
I recommend to take a morning bus to Pec pod Sněžkou, climb the Sněžka mountain, stay overnight in some of the mountain huts on the main ridge (possibly Luční bouda) and continue to Harrachov on the other day. It’s really a fantastic two-day walk and not a difficult one. Just be aware that the days are really short now in the autumn and the weather can be quite bleak up there.
See this map: http://mapy.cz/s/e8xX
And photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinmajer/sets/72157648964679372/
Hi Martin,
Thank you so much, I decided real quick to go for a week, so your tips are so great! I will let you know how it was :)
Kind regards,
Fathia
Hi Martin,
I just came back and had a lovely time. The weather was really wild on the Snezka, so that was a challenge. Because of the thick mist I couldn’t see the signs so I ended up in Polend in the morning :). I did wonder what was on the other side of the mountain. But I loved it, thank you so much for the information.
Kind regards,
Fathia
Thank you for the wonderful information. We will be in the Czech Republic in August and plan to do some hiking with our children. The hike from Karlstejn sounds wonderful, and we do plan to visit the castle, so a hike there might make sense. But although the kids are good hikers, 5 to 7 hours/ 17 km *might* be a bit long for them – especially if we also visit Karlstejn. They are 7 and 10 years. Are we likely to find a taxi in any of the villages you mentioned – Svatý Jan pod Skalou, for example – to take us back to our car, which we will park by Karlstejn, if they just run out of energy and it is getting late?
Hi, to be honest, I don’t really know. But the last few kilometres by the Berounka river are really easy. Or if you leave your car in Prague and go by train (which is much better idea if you’re staying there overnight), then you can take a return train not from Srbsko, but from Vráž u Berouna (which is a little bit closer to Sv. Jan).
Thanks for your quick response! We won’t be staying overnight at Karlstejn, just a day trip. Perhaps when we reach the Berounka, if you say Berouna is closer, then maybe we could walk to there and take the train from there back to Karlstejn. I see the trains run every half hour. Lots to consider! Thanks again.
Hi Martin, I’ll be visiting Prague next week and will be staying for 4 days. I like nature hike and plan to do the Karlstejn hike but I am by myself. Would you have an organized group then (June 27 Sat) that I can join?
Urgent! We are going on a hike tomorrow for #5 the very difficult hike. It says to follow the red trail and that is all… unfortunately our online map says there are many trails to follow, not just the red trail. And we cannot find a real map to help us. Has the red trail been modified, or can we follow it 100% of the time, like it says in the description of hike #5??
Hi Robert, it’s the red trail going from Hořovice to the Plešivec Hill an then basically all the time north towards Prague. It should be marked as a dashed line on the online map. I think this trail has only one (red) branch going south, just after Plešivec, so ignore this one as well as the other colors. You will see signposts and red marks on the trees all the time, you can’t get lost there.
Martin! Damnit! You should really emphasize the difficulty of #5. My friend and I are not so experience, but we pushed through until the end. But we are feeling it today. However, as a note, we met probably 200 people at various points along the path. There are a lot of cyclists. Also, there are 3 or so villages that you walk through, including 3 pubs. So I’m not sure why you stated there is no where to eat and we would meet no one. Anyway! Great trip! Recommended for intermediate hikers, not beginners (unless you really want a hard challenge).
I did the Karlštejn and the Bohemian Karst hike on Monday. It is indeed quite great, especially the lookout point at Svatý Jan pod Skalou.
Here are some additions to the text, maybe they are useful to other readers:
1) Karlštejn castle and all resteraunts are closed on Mondays. I didn’t know this. No big deal for me, I came back the next day via a bike tour anyway and was able to go inside the castle yard.
2) The marker for the red trail is not always a horizontal red stripe on a white rectangle – the part that goes to the Svatý Jan pod Skalou lookout point is a red triangle on a white rectangle.
3) Turning right at the “Propadlé vody” sign was the wrong turn, it did not lead to the educational trail. Instead, I had to turn right one signpost earlier. Maybe the signs were changed since this was originally written? For things like these I recommend everyone to take a map and compass (or GPS), that helped me quickly realize the mistake.
Martin, thanks a lot for taking the time to write this fantastic blog entry and for creating the track on the map. Your effort made a great hiking day possible for me.
Hi guys,
I’m terribly sad to tell you that the author of this blog, my brother Martin, passed away a week ago. However, I (and I hope he too) would be glad if you continue reading his blog and if it provides you with useful information. Martin did a great job writing all this down. If you have comments or questions about the suggested trails, just ask, I will do my best to help you.
That’s terrible news :(
So sad to hear that. I’m attempting to get all hikes on this page completed by the end of the summer, so on the next hike I’ll leave a momento on the trail to remember him. Even though I didn’t know him, this blog has turned me into an avid hiker. I owe it to him. RIP.
Dear Martin,
I’ve just returned from the Karlštejn and the Bohemian Karst hike, and meant to thank you.
Wherever you are hiking right now, I hope you are taking down some good notes cause we will all need them sooner or later.
Thank you, I was touched by how much passion and dedication you put into this blog. RIP.
I’m also sorry to hear about your brother. May he rest in peace. This is an inspiring, kind and useful blog which I’ve viewed several times when I needed information about hiking near Prague. I’m a long term foreign resident of Prague and one of the joys of life in this country (and any country!) is hiking. In the last two weeks I’ve hiked from Beroun to Karlstejn twice. Both lovely hikes – one along the Berounka river to Srbsko and the other via Svaty Jan pod Skalou today – a gloriously sunny autumn day after a week of dampness and rain. Although I never met your brother I couldn’t help but think of him today as I read his blog before I left especially as we passed the little cemetery at Sv. Jan pod Skalou. In the midst of life there is death and I couldn’t but appreciate, reflect upon and be grateful for all that life and nature has to offer on this peaceful walk through the sun dappled forest full of autumn colour with my daughter and my dog.
I am sorry to hear about your brother too. I made the hike from Karlstejn yesterday, I just made a detour by mala and velka amerika to take again the road of the trail. I finished in Sedlec as the night is falling early these days.
It was a really really nice hike, I really enjoyed my day there, and I ll probably do the others from this website ;)
This blog is really helpful, he did an amazing job in here, may he rest in peace !
Hi Karel, I am so sorry to hear about Martin passing. My partner and I did the Karlstejn last weekend and were so grateful for your brother’s clear directions and helpful hints. He is bringing joy to people even now. Thank you.
Hi there! Thanks to author for this wonderful article. Me and my husband did the first route that was suggested: Karlštejn and the Bohemian Karst. It was awesome experience! Such beautiful views and precise directions. I am sorry to hear that we didn’t have a chance to tell personal thanks for Martin, but it is amazing that his work keeps inspiring and guiding people in the beautiful routes of Czech Republic
Hello! Do you have any recommendations for a day hike in Cesky Raj? :D
Hi, the best tips are probably Hrubá Skála or Prachovské skály, both are sandstone “rock towns”. If you’ve never been in Český Ráj, one of them is a must.
To get to Hrubá Skála, take a train to Sedmihorky, Hrubá Skála, Borek pod Troskami or Ktová (all on the same railroad, just choose the distance you’d like to walk). The famous Trosky castle ruin is very near, but it is closed this time of year. I recommend going to Hrubá Skála castle and from there you can choose from several marked paths through the rock town. Head towards Valdštejn castle. Take the red path from Valdštejn to Turnov. There is an observation point called Hlavatice on the path. Turnov is a good ending point, there is good bus and train connection back to Prague.
I’m not that familiar with Prachovské skály, although I’ve been there. Take a train to Libuň or Jinolice, then a marked path to Prachovské skály. There is a small entrance fee to the rock town. There are two sightseeing circuits, the large one is about 5 km. To make this a day hike, you could take a longer route to the rock town, maybe via the Pařez castle ruin. Or you could afterwards walk to Jičín, which is a nice historical town, and end your trip there.
Have fun!
Hi,
Thank you very much for the description; and I am very sorry cannot say thank you directly to Martin. – So thank you Karel for continuing. – Did the walk from Karlstejn to (almost) the Jan monastery – very nice, that was the first walk have done in CR, and all hints are very useful, including where to buy a map and how it would look like! Next time will try to come to the cliff and walk down (could not make the entire walk within a day). Thank you and have a good day!
B.
Any advice appreciated, thank you. Mountain biking from Prague to Venice. Anybody know of some good off road routes in the CR?
So sorry, I missed author had passed on. My thoughts are with his family.
Hi, thank you. Anyway, I’d like to help you find some routes, but I really have no experience in mountain biking. But it might interest you that a former military area called Brdy has been opened to public recently. Brdy is a mountain range south of Prague and as far as I know there are very few marked trails up to now in the former military zone. It may be worth riding through there, but I’m sorry I can’t give you more concrete info.
Thanks for that Karel. >
This is epic. Thanks a lot!!!
Not hiking, we are touring on a MTB. We have limited time in Prague. I have plotted a route on http://www.routeyou.com from Prague – Mirovice, then we have section I haven’t mapped yet which will be from Mirovice to Sumava and from there I think we will cycle from Srni to Nova Pec and thats where we will head for Germany or Austria. >
If you’re into some sightseeing along the way, there are some places worth stopping by on your journey from Mirovice to Šumava. First, there is castle Blatná and then ruins Rabí and Kašperk are also in the direction. I’d recommend climbing up Kašperk at least. Also, you may try following hiking trails (marked by red, blue, green or yellow) instead of cycling trails. The hiking trails often use forest paths and the terrain is more difficult, so I imagine they are more enjoyable on MTB.
That is a great help Karel, thank you. >
The castle looked amazing but sadly we cant do everything. We are in Karovice now and will be in Cesky Krumlov in two days. Now sure from there, maybe Passau in Germany, have you been? >
Hi, Český Krumlov is a great choice, the town is very beautiful. I have seen Passau only from the highway, but it looked also nice. I think it’s worth visiting. I presume you’d like to cross the Šumava mountains. Most of it is a National Park area with severe restrictions of movement. You may use only marked cycle-paths there, fortunately there’s a number of them. If you’d like to stay overnight in the mountains, there temporary overnight places where it is legal to do so. They are situated along the red hiking trail, but the cycle-paths go with the trail in some places. Maybe it would be a good idea finding an infocentre in Český Krumlov, they should be able to help you plan the journey across the mountains.
Todays ride was hilly and mountainous in parts, not sure my wife wants too much more. I think passing through the Sumava could be too much for her. Do the trails cut through the centre or are there large climbs? >
Sorry, I’m not very familiar with the terrain. Once you get up the mountains the trails shouldn’t be to steep, they tend to follow valleys. Still, there’s the matter of climbing up. If you’d like to avoid high mountains, you have basically two options: either go from Český Krumlov to Vyšší Brod (also a nice place) and cross borders somewhere south of Lipno water reservoir, or take direction to Volary and cross Šumava in the pass near Strážný. The mountains are not that high there and there’s main road to Passau going through the pass. Just don’t go on the road as there are many cars. According to a map, there are cycle-path following the road. I think I’d recommend the second option, you will be in fact in Šumava and you’ll get the chance to see the mountains.
We are on The Danube now, about 30km passed Linz. We’ve completed our tour of the Czech Republic and managed some of the Sumava. The small villages and hamlets are quite amazing and Cesky Krumlov was beautiful. Now I am a massive fan of the C.R as a whole. Its a country I could set up home in. Thank you Karel and the C.R as a whole. :-) >
Hi, that’s nice to hear :) I was glad to help.
Thank-you for the detailed trip maps. It was very beautiful scenery and a fun hike. St. John under the rock was a a lovely town.
Hi Martin! Thank you SO MUCH for this wonderful info!
I have a small question on the Prachov Rocks hike from Jičín to Turnov –
if we leave the car in Jičín, what would be the best way to get back there after we reach Turnov?
Also, would you recommend us to stay overnight in Jičín?
And is it possible to do some short cycling around there? :)
Thanks a lot!
Oh God, only after posting my questions I scrolled up and realized that Martin had passed away… I am terribly sorry. May he rest in peace… It is amazing how he keeps on helping people and bringing light and love to the nature and to his country’s beautiful landscapes, even now.
Karel, my thoughts are with your family…
Hi Libby,
thank you. I’m very glad that this memory of Martin is still alive and people come here for advice.
The best way to get from Turnov to Jičín is direct train connection, once per 2 hours at weekends. It takes about an hour. The last train leaves Turnov at 19:34 (previous 17:34), which is also the last reasonable connection.
Jičín is definitely worth seeing, so yes, stay there overnight if you can. I think you’ll enjoy the town more in the morning than after a whole-day hike :)
The landscape there is good for cycling if you enjoy your way a bit hilly :) There’s a number of cycling routes around and most of the hiking routes could be ok for a bike as well, especially where they follow roads.
Enjoy your trip!
We are two Canadian friends and avid hikers staying in Prague who did Martin’s first walk starting in Karstejn today We are very sorry to read a moment ago that you lost him. His memory lives on and he brought much happiness to us today by discovering through him the Czech country side. We had a beer where he suggested in St. John’s under the Rock and the waiter insisted on driving us back to Prague as soon as he finished his work at six.
This is only my fourth day in your country and my first visit but I will be back!!
This is amazing, thanks so much for this hiking guide. I was looking for tours in my native tongue (german) but nothing I found can compete with your site. Thanks so much again. Now I have to convince my girlfriend that she can do the 23km / 1200 Höhenmeter tour!
Hi, my name orly and i’m planning to travel to Prague 12-20.9.16. I want to hike with local hiking group for one or two days. Please can you advice how can i connect? for me it is much fun to hike with local people then to buy a hiking tour.
Thanks
orly kozinsky
Martin, 3 years after this blog posted it is still very relevant. I am a trail runner from the US living in Germany. I was visiting Prague with my wife and sons and wanted to get a good run in. So I took the 0615 train out of Prague and got my run started in the early morning.
I wanted to see if you have GPX files for each of the hikes you recommend. That would help out people like me. I love to have the maps downloaded onto my watch so I don’t get lost.
You can download my GPX file from my run, I did the whole Karlstejn route. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1395885570
Thank you again. I am excited to try some of your other recommend routes next time I’m in Prague.
I did the Karlštejn and the Bohemian Karst hike last month when I was visiting Prague. I wanted a bit more info so I checked wandermap.net and saw this very same hike contributed by a Martin, not sure if it’s the same person. It was one of the best experience I had in this Europe trip. I even saw a small deer near Kubrychtova bouda just after the stream. I really needed this hike after the very crowded Prague old town experience.
I forgot about the hike ending in Srbsko and did not check the train schedules and getting the return ticket from Srbsko and there was no staff in Srbsko train station so I walked back to karlstejn station from Srbsko. Reminder for future hikers!
A very big Thank you to Martin, RIP, and Karel for carrying on this very generous sharing of information. You guys rock!!
I am going to visit Prague this weekend and my husband loves hiking. I was looking into a trail as I am quite new to the hiking world. This article seems very helpful!! Thank you for writing it! Planning for the Karlštejn and the Bohemian Karst this Sunday!
Me and my girlfriend visited Prague in September this year, and followed Martin’s advice about the Karlštejn track. Even tough she has almost no hiking experience and it wasn’t easy for her, she enjoyed it very much, we both think the trail is very beautiful and recommend it as well.
We have kind of lost our way early in the beginning and had to ask a local where the trail begins (was just before the signpost called Dub Sedmi bratří). If it happens to you in that area, you can follow the (green I think) arrows on the paved road, till you recognize the trail-markings. Other than that, and once you realize how the trail-markers look, it’s quite easy to follow.
One issue is, I don’t think children (below 12) can do this trek, as been mentioned here. The trek has few steep climbing, and takes full day to walk.
RIP Martin. I’m sorry for your loss, Karel and the rest of the family.
Thank you. I’m really happy that Martin’s article still helps people find their way around Prague and enjoy local landscape.
I agree that the whole trek may be demanding for small children, but I think it just depends on how used to walking they are. Anyway, it’s possible to divide the trek into two parts which are easier to make. There’s a short path connecting Kubrychtova bouda and Srbsko (yellow I believe, but I’m not sure), so you can walk just from Karlštejn to Srbsko (with possible detour to Bubovice waterfalls), or start in Srbsko, make it to Svatý Jan pod Skalou via Kubrychtova bouda and get back along the riverbank.
Took the trip on November 29 and had a great time. The description was perfect, the air was crisp and the sky clear. An ideal day in your country!
My thanks as a posthumous tribute to Martin and gratitude to Karel for keeping the site up.
PS. Just a little comment. The black interrupted line after Hostim shows a different path than the description:
– In the description the path follows the Kozelska stream to V Kozle and then the Berounka river.
– On the map, the black interrupted line is continuing up above the road and on the road and around a Lom and then descends through the village to the river.
I followed the description and not the map and was very happy with it :)
Thank you again!!!
Hey, I’m glad you enjoyed the trip. I have to ask out of curiosity: what kind of map did you use? When I look at the map (if you don’t have paper maps, I recommend hiking mode of mapy.cz), I see marked yellow path following the description here and the road is unmarked. I’m also unfamiliar with marking by black line, not sure what it should be.
Hi. Ive just recently heard the news of your brother’s passing and I’m very sorry to hear that. I’ve been reading his blog to find some good walks around the Czech Republic and he has helped me a lot. Bless him. I’m really happy to find that you are continuing on what he has left behind. Bless you. You are an amazing woman.
I was wondering if you could possibly help me with some recommendations? I’ve been to Prague in the past but I’ve never done walks there. I hiked up Klet in Cesky Krumlov two years ago in mid April and it was absolutely spectacular! The weather was great too! My boyfriend and I will be coming to Prague in February and we only have four days to enjoy the winter holiday. I’m currently looking for a decent and short walk somewhere just near Prague and the countryside during the winter. I thought about doing your brother’s suggested route in Cesky Kras but my boyfriend would like a more gentle stroll. Do you happen to know a place that can be easily accessible by public transport in Feb? We like forested and woody walks. :) Thank you!
Hi Marjorie, I would still go for the Bohemian Karst route, as I think it’s the most beautiful one. If you feel it’s too long, I can suggest a few alterations to reduce the distance (by a half approximately):
1) Skip Svatý Jan pod Skalou. Follow the describe trail until Kubrychtova bouda, but there take a yellow marked trail to Srbsko (about 2 km) instead of continuing to Bubovické vodopády. You will end in Srbsko, leaving out the whole St. John branch of the trail. If you haven’t seen Karlštejn before, I would recommend this, as I think that the castle is a must for a foreigner. But as a local I would prefer the second option:
2) Skip Karlštejn castle. When you come by train from Prague, leave in Srbsko station (right after Karlštejn). From there, follow a yellow marked trail to Kubrychtova bouda. There take the path to Bubovické vodopády and follow the rest of the described trail through Svatý Jan pod Skalou back to Srbsko.
3) Karlštejn and the Amerika limestone quarries. This may be actually the best option, as you will see Karlštejn and have some compensation for missing Svatý Jan pod Skalou. Leave the train in Karlštejn and follow the described trail until you reach the Dub Sedmi bratří singpost, which is a hiking trail crossroad. From there follow a yellow trail, the yellow sign probably says Malá Amerika or Velká Amerika. I’m not completely sure, but there should be only one yellow trail. The trail will take you near abandoned limestone quarries with magnificent views. Especially the Velká Amerika quarry is amazing and worth seeing. The yellow trail ends in Mořina village. There take a blue marked trail back to Dub Sedmi bratří and then return to Karlštejn. The only drawback is the return path from Mořina which follows a road all the time. It can be unpleasant, but I think seeing the quarries is worth it.
Hope you’ll enjoy your time in Prague!
I just happened to enter this wonderful blog, just what I need to learn about beautiful trekkings near Prague, the town where I was born a very long time ago… and now often visit (from Sweden). Karlstejn is already my favourite but could not do the walk you mark as walk no. I because had no discription, now I have! Thanks a lot for your blog, so informative and nice.
Nice Article. Went to Karlstejn after reading this. Article was really helpful
We just did the hike from Karlstejn to Srbsko via Svaty Jan pod Skalou and it was beautiful. We did run into a problem returning from Srbsko because the trains are not stopping there. We waited at the station for a while, and finally realized that they weren’t coming. We asked some people in town and they pointed us to a bus that took us back to Karlstejn, where we got the train back to Prague.
Hi everyone – I am going to Prague this week and staying at the Hilton at the following address: Pobrezal 1; 18600 Prague. I am planning on doing the 1st hike (Karlstejn – Srbsko) – any idea on where I have to go to catch the train to Srbsko? I’m probably going alone – get into Prague around noon so I’m guessing I’ll have enough time to get done with the hike before dark – do you think that’s feasible? Thank you so much!
I meant where to get the train to Karlstejn from Prague for above comment!
Hi Eric, the trains to Karlštejn leave from the main railway station – best to get there is by the red metro line, station Hlavní nádraží. The final destination of most of the trains is Beroun and they are labeled as S7. You can buy the ticket either at the railway station, or you can buy a metro ticket for 7 zones for 54 Kč in ticket machines (you’d need a second one for the return journey). If you’re used to hiking, you’ll have no problem to finish it before dark this time of the year. Enjoy your stay!
I will likely be traveling on my own in the Czech Republic the last week of September and am wondering if there is a group or any small informal tours that would take me on one of the beautiful hikes you described.
My friend and I followed these directions for the Karlstejn Castle hike on Sept 4, and they were perfect! Great hike. We skipped the scenic lookout and railyard, and the hike clocked in at five hours. FYI @Ann K (and anyone else reading), we took the train back from Srbsko station with no issues. Used cd.cz for timetable and to buy tickets that are emailed directly to you.
Big thank you for the blog. Did the walk from the castle. A great route, with very beautiful scenery and views.Only disappointment was that the waterfall was dry and it was mid October! But even then it was still very pretty.
The route was very detailed and very easy to follow. The walk realy added to our holiday and it was good to get away from the crowds of prague
Keep up the good work
Hi, I’m looking to do the Brdy Ridge hike next week and was wondering about the availability of water along the trail (streams, etc). Thanks!
Hi, there are a few springs on the trail, but I have no info on the amount and quality of water and wouldn’t rely on them. You’re not going to meet many streams along the crest trail and I strongly discourage you from drinking from streams in the inhabited areas.
We did Karlstejn and the Bohemian Karst today and it was fabulous. The directions are excellent but we also had a map from Neo Luxor that came in handy. Thanks for a great post!
Thanks for very good directions, we did the karlstejn Tour and everybody was happy with the trip.
Such great advice you give. I did a simpler version of your Karlstejn hike, staying on the red trail all the way to Beroun via Svaty Jon pod Skalou. Next time, I’ll take your information with me and explore a little more!
good stuff! thank you for putting the trails and maps together.
Sharing my work with you guys and wishing I could have met Martin…
https://dogwalksprague.blog/category/walks-eng/
RIP Martin. Had a great weekend’s hiking thanks to you. Cheers.
I do see if there is any bears or wolves in this area? I am planning the hike but a bit concern about bear attack.
Hi Azi, there are no bears in this area. Wolves are very scarce and afraid of people, you will not meet them.
Thanks Martin! The Karlštejn walk is really beautiful, thank you for taking the time of writing such a detailed blogpost
Karel, I am sorry for your loss. This blog got me started with trail running near Prague when I moved here in 2019 and it has been an invaluable guide ever since. Without it, I would have had nowhere near as awesome of an adventure every weekend. Thanks for letting us know what happened.
All the best to you and your family,
Chris