PradědPraděd (Pradziad in Polish, Altvatergebirge in German, which all mean "Old Man's moutain, see also SP), is the highest top in the Hrubý Jeseník, the Eastern part of the Sudetes and second massif in size after Karkonosze.
There is a big antenna on the top which is not very photogenic, but the montain itself is very beautiful. You reach the altitude where forest stops and the landscape is covered with pastures and dwarf pine.
After a winter trip with my friend to Keprník, the region charmed me, and encouraged me to cycle to the top of Praděd, served with an asphalted road. Edward and me did this circuit, not only going to Praděd but doing a whole long loop, via the pass Červenohorské Sedlo.
Trails Description
My map shows the few asphalted parts of the circuit and the "track" parts in lighter purple. The circuit is best made starting with the ascent to
Praděd on the asphalt road from Karlova Studánka (beautiful thermal spa), since the other side, via Chata Švýcárna (fine mountain-hut where you can have a beer) is a rocky track, quite steep, and surely hard to cycle up.
This circuit is extremely nice, maybe the best cycling trail I can recommend so far in the whole Sudetes.
The network of trails for bicycles is extremely well marked in Czech republic, this is something I can really underline. The bike marks differ from the "hiking" ones since they are bordered with yellow stripes, instead of white. The ski-touring marks use the same system with orange stripes, not to mix.
Getting There
Driving from Poland, Karlova Studánka doesn't have to be necessarily the starting point (it is quite long to reach by car), the circuit can be started at the pass Videlské sedlo or the other one at the point "6029" (under "Lyra"), which also have the advantage to have free car parks. It's also possible to park and start at Červenohorské sedlo, but Praded is quite far from this point, and if you want to avoid the crowds starting visiting Praděd in the late morning, maybe it's not the best... LinksPraděd National Nature Reserve Images |
