Easy Mountain Escapes: Enjoy Scenic Hikes Without the Sweat

Taking a cable car to Krakonoš

The Giant Mountains are lovely all year round, but during the Indian summer, the conditions become particularly favorable. The weather tends to be stable and great for outdoor walks. Since some areas of these highest mountains can get very crowded, we will provide you with recommendations for quieter spots – and you’ll discover that your experience will be much more enjoyable away from the throngs of other hikers.

Consider going for a “cable car” ride from Špindlerův Mlýn – you can ascend to Pláně or Medvedin – and trust me, there’s no easier way to reach the sources of the Elbe River! Gorgeous views also await you at Devil’s Mountain (1,021 m), where a cable car will take you up from Harrachov. Remember, the Žalý lookout tower will only be open in summer mode until the end of September, and you’ll reach it via the cable car from Herlíkovice. From this lookout tower, which was established in 1892 by Count Harrach, you can take in an amazing view of the vast area – on clear days, you might even see Hradec Králové, Turnov, and even Prague, along with the prominent peaks of the Giant Mountains like Kotel, Sněžka, Luční, and Černá Hora, among others.

<imgalt=”” src=”https://cdn.kudyznudy.cz/services/webpmedia.ashx?file=/31973715-4402-46ff-bdd2-dfb6bc864253/Krkonose_cestou-Cernohorskym-raseliniste.jpg.aspx&width=300&height=199″ style=”width: 300px; height: 199px; float: right; margin: 5px;”/>Easy access In addition to the long distances and significant elevation changes, the Krkonoše Mountains have other hills that serve as starting points for many ridge hikes. The Černohorský express cable car will transport you from Janské Lázně to Černá Hora (1,299 m), from which you can cycle or hike to destinations like the Černohorské peat bog, Kolínská bouda, or even to Pec pod Sněžkou.

Don’t forget about the Horní Domky cable car in Rokytnice nad Jizerou, which can take you near Ručičky (note that the cable car to the Krkonoše Lysá hora operates only in winter).

To Praděd: Cable car or hike?

In the Jeseníky Mountains, you have the option to take a cable car from Ramzovský sedlo to Šerák (1,351 m) with a stop at the intermediate station Černava. Close to the top station at Šerák, you’ll find Jiří’s tourist hut, which offers a nice perspective on the surrounding hills and the valley featuring the town of Jeseník, along with the well-known Priessnitz Spa. Marked hiking paths spread out in all directions – to Jeseník, up to Upper Linden, around Giant Rocks, back to Ramzovský saddle, or further via Twill (1,423 m) and The Three Frontiers to reach Červenohorské sedlo (1,013 m).

Another cable car in Kouty leads you to a lookout tower on Bear Mountain, which stands at 1,095 meters. From there, you can cycle or hike along the red-marked trail to the upper round reservoir of the Dlouhé stráně pumped storage power station. You’ll get a stunning view of Praděd (1,491 m), but you cannot reach it from this spot. The simplest way to access the highest mountain in Moravia is through shuttle buses from the Hvězda saddle. They will take you to the Ovčárna hut, and from there you’ll need to walk; it’s under 8 km round trip, with an elevation gain of about 200 meters. While that is not exactly right next door, it is still one of the more easily reachable thousanders in the Czech Republic.

Cable cars in Šumava, Ore Mountains, and beyond

During the summer in the Šumava region, there’s a special cableway in Zadov; you can enhance your views by climbing up to an interesting lookout tower at the old ski jump in Churáňov. Another cable car takes you to the lookout tower at the peak of Špičák (1,202 m) near Železná Ruda. Conveniently, you can also take the cable car to the adjacent hill Pancíř (1,214 m). In Lipno nad Vltavou, you have the option of taking the summer cable car to the top of Kramolín, where the Treetop Trail is located.

The route to Klet’, the tallest peak in Blanský les (1,084 m) with the oldest stone lookout tower in the Czech Republic, is made easier by a chairlift with a lower station in Holubov. On clear days, you may even catch a glimpse of the snow-covered peaks of the Alps from here.

The Ore Mountains can be easily accessed by car, but they also feature a more than 2 km long cable car from Jáchymov to Klinovec. If you choose to hike, remember that the lower station is almost three kilometers from Jáchymov. The longest chairlift without intermediate stations in the Czech Republic stretches from Krupka to Mosquito Tower, leading to a mountain hotel with a panoramic restaurant that spans 2,348 meters.

Although the cable car does not operate from Horní Hanychov, a district of Liberec, you can reach it just below Ještěd using the Skalka cable car in the Ještěd Ski Resort. The upper station of the Skalka cable car is located at an elevation of 892 m.a.s.l. During your journey up the Bike Park track, you will be treated to an exceptional view of the Ještěd transmitter from a completely unique angle. On the descent, you can admire the sights of the town of Liberec, Bedřichov, and the Krkonoše Mountains.

Almost touching the sky by cable car

Fantastic views await you on the Trail in the Clouds above Dolní Morava; this experience can be found at the top station of the Sněžník cable car, which sits at an altitude of 1,116 meters. The wooden structure, designed by the renowned Brno architect and university teacher Zdeněk Fránek, provides not just entertainment but also educational insights for visitors. The information boards here reveal more about the building itself and the surrounding area of Králický Sněžník.

A comfortable ride to Pustevny (1,018 m) is made possible by a chairlift, whose boarding station is conveniently located near the Ráztoka Hotel in Trojanovice. If the weather permits, you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the foothills of the Beskydy Mountains almost as if you were flying. From Pustevny, you can embark on the ridge Radhošt’ and take in breathtaking sights of the Beskydy Mountains. You will also have a spectacular circular view from the sightseeing trail Wallachia, which stretches between the treetops. Besides the gorgeous views, the trail entices visitors with two unique technical features: a suspended walkway, which is the first of its kind in the country, and a glass lookout that creates the sensation of floating in mid-air.