Mountain Pradziad in the Czech Jeseníky Mountains. Trails, Observation Tower and High Waterfall

• Pradziad is 1492 m above sea level, it is the highest peak of the Jeseníky and Eastern Sudetes
• There is an asphalt cycling route, which turns into a cross-country skiing route in winter
• The most beautiful, but long and difficult trail is the yellow trail through the White Opava Valley from the village of Karlova Studanka
• At the top there is an observation tower with a buffet and an observation terrace (elevator access to the terrace 150 kc)
• In winter, it is worth taking crampons, and regardless of the season, buy insurance
• In the Czech Republic, it is not possible to pay with a card everywhere, it is worth having Czech crowns with you

Pradziad (Praděd) with a height of 1492 m above sea level is the highest peak of the Jeseníky Mountains and the Eastern Sudetes. It lies in the High Jeseník mountain range (part Hrubý Jeseník), in the north-east of the Czech Republic, within the municipality of Malá Morávka. It is the fifth highest peak in the Czech Republic. Interestingly, it is also the highest peak in Upper Silesia, so we have reached the climax of our region!

On the Internet, you will also find other altitudes: 1491 or 1493 m above sea level. Mount Pradziad is a popular tourist attraction and a paradise for cyclists, and in winter for cross-country skiers. From the village of Karlova Studanka, you can drive up the mountain along the asphalt bicycle route, which continues towards the Svycarna shelter.

Accommodation in Jeseníky

While visiting the Jeseníky Mountains, we slept in the Petrovy Kameny Hotel, which we liked. It provides the comforts of a hotel, but it has such a relaxed mountain hostel atmosphere. A lot of skiers here. The rooms are comfortable, with a private bathroom, some additionally with balconies. The room offers a flat-screen TV, coffee service, water and wifi (the price of a double room is about PLN 400 per night, cheaper stays are possible).

The hotel has a full board restaurant, with rich breakfasts and several fixed dishes on the menu. Of course, among them there is fried cheese or a local specialty - the Moravian vrabec, translated as the Moravian sparrow. It is a Czech dish, prepared from pork, onion, seasoned with cumin and served with dumplings and sauerkraut. It comes from Moravia, and here it is served, because Pradziad is located on the border of Silesia and Moravia. Another Czech specialty often appears as the soup of the day - garlic soup. We also came across a delicious cream of broccoli. Plus kofola and Czech beer. And for long afternoons, we recommend the wellness area, where there is a jacuzzi and saunas as well as a fitness area. For us, it was a very pleasant time, perfect for resetting and resting from everyday matters and the pre-Christmas race.

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Trails to Pradziada from the village of Karlova Studanka

• Cycling route from the village of Karlova Studanka - an asphalt route up to the top of the mountain, running through the lower parking lot on the Hvězda pass and the upper parking lot Owczarnia (Ovčárna parking lot, next to the Ovčárna mountain hotel). You can cross the Hvezda - Ovcarna section by bus or use the possibility of a paid entry with your own car. Movement takes place here by a pendulum, at every full hour you go up, and in the middle of every hour there is a downward movement. From the upper car park (Owczarnia) it is about 4 km to the very top. Easily and pleasantly, about 200 meters of elevation
• The yellow trail from Karlova Studánka, much more interesting, more beautiful, but also much longer, runs through the White Opava valley. In winter, it is closed, footbridges and ladders lead by the river, and the rocks are slippery, so you have to be careful. To the top it is 8 km, in both directions about 16 km
• Blue trail from Karlova Studánek, year-round, easier than yellow, but equally long. In summer, you can make a loop with these two trails, but it is better to go up the yellow and return in the blue

Other trails to the top

• Red trail from Červenohorské sedlo, through the Švýcárna cottage
• Blue trail from Kouty nad Desnou, through the Divoká Desná river valley, about 10 km

Our trip to the top of the Grandfather in Vysoký Jeseník

We reached the top much easier, because we were invited to this area by a hotel, which is located on the slope of Pradziada, about 1.5 km from the upper parking lot. In winter, you won't be able to reach it by car because of the snow. For this, we could drive to the Ovcarna car park for free, and from there a hotel employee picked us up and luggage on a snowmobile. This short ride was great!

From the march, we were not ready for such snowy conditions, and dusk was near, so we planned to go out the next day, on which we planned the High Waterfall. So we decided to combine these 2 experiences into one route, which was quite a challenge. It was good, because on the first day there was milk and zero views, while the next day the weather was more interesting every hour. Maybe not so much good as spectacular.

From the hotel, you can get to the top really easily and quickly, without much effort. It is 2.6 km and less than 200 meters of elevation. We walked in the company of skiers, along a wide route, all the time climbing slightly upwards. At the very top, it was very windy, we immediately remembered Śnieżnik from the Polish part of the Eastern Sudetes and the famous, windy Śnieżka in the Giant Mountains.

Observation tower

There is a TV tower at the top of Mount Pradziad. It is about 150 meters long, or more precisely 146.5 m. The tip of this TV transmitter is the highest point in the Czech Republic. At a height of 73 meters, it offers a paid observation deck (PLN 150, PLN 25). It is accessed by an elevator, but due to icy windows, the terrace was closed. It's a pity, because in good weather you can see not only the Sudetes, but also the Tatras and even the Alps! Fortunately, the top itself is a good vantage point and the panoramas under the tower are also noble, intensified by amazing clouds. Inside there is a hotel, a restaurant and a buffet. We bought hot chocolate (65 kc, PLN 11) and went on our way.

It is also worth mentioning that by the end of the 1950s Of the twentieth century, a stone observation tower stood here, but it lost the fight against the harsh conditions and collapsed. It stood for only 47 years, since 1912. Interestingly, a copy of it was built in Germany, on the top of the Wetzstein mountain, as a "peaceful protest against the expulsion of the Germans".

Svycarna Hostel

From the summit at the crossroads, we did not return along the same route, but went the other way. We walked a little down to the Svycarna shelter, which is a Swiss refuge. It is the oldest tourist hostel in the High Jeseník Mountains. The cottage is located at an altitude of 1304 m above sea level, on the slope of Malý Děd mountain. It is about 2.4 km northwest of the top of the Pradziad mountain. The hostel is year-round, offers ski equipment, because this comfortable route continues here.

Blue trail over the waterfall

Behind the hostel, we went down a comfortable path. The last 2.5 km above the waterfall is a blue trail, leading along a narrow path through the forest. In this episode, we had a big dilemma, whether or not to turn back, because the time was urgent, the dusk was approaching, and we were collapsing to our knees and even to our thighs in the snow. There were no other footprints, because no one in front of us walked on this snow. When it got really hard, we realized that we had lost the trail, and when we returned to it, it turned out that I had lost my cell phone. So I had to turn back and repeat this arduous effort, after our footsteps. Fortunately, after a long moment, I saw a cell phone in the snow. It worked! It was still a bit easier, especially since we met 2 skiers and followed their footsteps. Until a very steep descent to the waterfall, which lengthened mercilessly. The last fragment was practically a stream, taking care not to get completely wet. 

High Waterfall

Finally, we saw the High Waterfall, called Jesenická Niagara. Indeed, it is a lot, but the amount of water did not knock us down. That's because it was partially frozen, and the free fall of water was blocked by large patches of snow. In addition, he is looked at high up and thus does not make such an amazing impression if he falls closer to us. But the view is still picturesque and soothing. It has a height of 28 meters, and what is interesting, in the nineteenth century it was as high as 45 meters before the great downpour. Then, in 1880, it was broken into a series of cascades. It is the highest waterfall in the Jeseníky Mountains. A is located at an altitude of 1007 m above sea level.

We are very happy that we managed to get here. The place is rarely visited, because it is considered difficult to access, the greater the joy that we managed to do in winter and with Amelka. We bought it back in the dark, but it was worth it! The first episode was now the most difficult, a very steep upward approach. We were already feeling very tired, but step by step we were getting closer to the hotel. We reached the Svycarna shelter and the easier route at sunset. Darkness found us under the Grandfather, but from here it was really easy and close. Until the end, we were accompanied by skiers. It was good to see the lights of the hotel in the dark, an announcement of warmth, food and rest.

Our route in numbers

- From the hotel to Pradziada: 2.6 km
- From Pradziada to the waterfall 5 km (2.5 km to Svycarna and 2.5 km along the blue trail)
- Full distance: 15 km
- Time of passage of the whole: 7 hours

Map with our route to the Grandfather and the High Waterfall

Below on the map is our route from the hotel to the Pradziad Mountain and further over the High Waterfall. This will make it easier for you to plan your trip to Jeseníky.

Where did the name Great-grandfather come from?

The name of the mountain was aging along with the very top. In the fifteenth century, known as the Old Father (from the German Altvater), and in the nineteenth century, the current name, Pradziad (Praděd in Czech), already existed. It refers to the mythology of the region, that is, to the good spirit of the mountains, which was harsh, but fair and made sure that it went well in these mountains and in the whole region. His likeness stands proudly at the top, proving that he still cares for this place.

And did you know that at one time this peak was also called Schneeberg? Which means as much as a snow mountain. So it is not surprising that we encountered so much snow on it, although there was nowhere around it. 

Experiences in the area

It is the highest peak of the Czech Jeseníky Mountains, a mountain range that also touches Poland in the form of the Opava Mountains. Their highest point, in turn, is Biskupia Kopa, which we also gained in winter, in 2023. And in the near distance, be sure to visit the beautiful spa town of Karlova Studanka, and a little further to the magnificent Olomouc.

Rent a car

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What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

• Bear Cave in Kletno, distance: 32.4  km
• Moszna Castle, distance: 55.1  km
• Kłodzko Fortress, distance: 57.1  km
• Palace in Kopice, distance: 64.4  km
• The castle in Tworków, distance: 72.3  km
• Szczeliniec Wielki, distance: 77.4  km
• Brzeg Castle, distance: 88.4  km
• Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie, distance: 94.2  km
• Pławniowice Palace, distance: 94.8  km
• Church of Peace in Świdnica, distance: 99.7  km