Broumovské stěny (Broumov Walls)
Broumovské stěny, the "Broumov Walls" is one of the major sandstone massifs in northern Bohemia that borders Poland, near the Table Mountains (trail here), and belongs to what Czechs call the Bohemian Sandstones.
How to describe Broumovské Stěny ? Imagine a small mountain, not very high (Božanovský Špičák, 773m is the tallest rock), covered with forests, and hosting countless bizarre-shaped and rounded sandstone outcrops. Fontainebleau power tenth ! Not really a mountain-biking terrain, you might think first. Error ! Thanks to an inner network of large tracks, and due to the fact it is not protected by any national park, Broumovské stěny can be visited by bike or in winter by skis, which is not often possible in the other sandstone labyrinths in the area.
The range is shaped like a long stripe from north-west to south-east, like an ocean wave ready to break, and which probably explains the word "wall" in the name. It covers a really huge terrain in some of which very few visitors are met. However, be aware that there are two distinct ways to visit the place: the pedestrian way and the bike way.
If you live nearby I advise to do them separately to enjoy fully the ride, and enjoy fully visiting the rock labyrinth that makes the top attraction in other circumstances. Otherwise you can combine them if you are not afraid of carrying the bike, or lock it near the hut. The rock labyrinth that makes the main attraction is a really amazing place to see, but even carrying it through a couple of places like tiny natural arches is a real pain...
Trail Description
A little map is better than thousand words. Just beware to do clockwise the down part of the 8-shaped loop, the descent is so steep that only this direction allows to enjoy it fully.
The same, but anti-clockwise and for similar reasons, can be stated for the upper part.
Additional information can be found on the page on SP about this area.
See the same map in Cykloserver.cz
Getting There
The place is located in a remote corner of Czech Republic protruding towards Poland.
Hlavňov is the village that needs to be reached for the ones willing to get to the main attractions (chapel and hut); it is reached via Police nad Metují.
Police nad Metují is best reached from Poland via Wałbrzych and from Prague via Náchod as follows :
View Larger Map
When to Bike
Most of the season. The trail is rather the kind with gravels, so wet after heavy rains isn't very much an issue.
