⚠️ Warning! Winter conditions in the mountains do not ease even in May. There is 10–30 cm of snow on the ridges.
You can arrive at the beginning of the route by bus, at the Kouty nad Desnou - most stop, or you can leave your car in the free parking lot. If the parking spaces are very busy, you can leave your car in the paid parking lot of the Areal Kouty complex and walk along the blue/green tourist route, about 2 kilometers.
Then follow the blue tourist sign, which will lead you along the road, along the Desna River, to the Lower Reservoir of Dlouhe strane. The path is not difficult, you will simply walk along the road, and in a slight incline.
About a kilometer behind the lower reservoir, at the U Kamenne chaty signpost, turn left. The path will take you over a short bridge, behind which you will turn right, into the forest, where the most challenging part of this route begins - Divoky dul (Wild Valley).
It is a deeply cut gorge valley with natural obstacles and traverses, which has a steep climb, about 500 meters. The magical, but challenging, trail is complemented by beautiful rock formations, spruce forest and streams.
Behind the bridge, there is a viewpoint where you can rest, as there will be a challenging climb full of roots and stones. Beautiful surrounding nature awaits you.
After a steep and tiring climb, you will appear on the main road towards Praded, at the signpost Pod Pradedem. There is only 30 minutes of gentle climbing, following the green tourist sign, and along the road, to the highest mountain of the Hruby Jesenik Mountains.
At Praded you can take a picture with Praded, or with the mystical spirit of the mountains, visit the lookout tower or restaurant. It is the highest peak of the mountain range and at the same time it is the fifth highest mountain in the Czech Republic.
Praded, the righteous spirit of the local peaks, who rewards the good and punishes the evil deeds of all who go to the Hruby Jesenik Mountains. In the oldest depictions, Praded used to be a giant in a miner's blouse with a burner. It protected plants, animals and the wealth that was hidden in the bowels of the Jeseniky underground.
The mythical spirit Praded also had power over people who harmed the living creatures of his realm. Such disturbers of the peace he cursed into the form of an abused animal. Since then, it has been said that many animals in the Jeseniky Mountains have a human soul.
The upper plateau of Praded, or rather the television transmitter with a lookout tower, is the highest, albeit artificial, point in the Czech Republic, with a height of 1637.5 m above sea level.
The path then continues back along the road, to the Pod Pradedem signpost, where you will follow the red tourist sign, leading slightly downhill, towards Svycarna.
Svycarna, is a tourist cottage in the Jeseniky Mountains. The cottage was originally a shepherd's hut, which was inhabited by a Swiss shepherd (hence the name of the cottage).
The path continues along the green tourist sign to the Slate signpost, across the wooden walkway. Continue past the peak of Velky Jezernik (1309 m above sea level) and downhill, along a rocky path, to the Kamzik signpost.
The route is no longer so demanding, basically you will go downhill all the time - but without roots, sharp stones and more. Interestingly, three types of roads will change in one kilometer.
From the Kamzik signpost, the route leads through Petrovka. The route is a forest path and includes a 600-meter steep descent. There are several viewpoints to see here, especially the lower reservoir of Dlouhe strane - you can beautifully compare where you went up the hill from and where you are now.
From Petrovka, there is a 3-kilometer road, quite steep, mainly through the forest. Then you will appear at the bridge in Kouty nad Desnou, where your car is parked - or - you will continue along the route back to the parking lot in the Arela Kouty Complex.
