Located along the Czech-Polish border, this protected area has dense forests and peaks reaching 1,600m. Visitors can hike, ski, or explore medieval castles and mountain villages.
At Krkonoše National Park, you'll walk through arctic-alpine tundra where dwarf pines grow just centimeters tall, and spot rare ice-age survivors like the Krkonose Rowan tree. The park's highest point, Sněžka peak (1,603 meters), rises above spruce forests and deep valleys. Watch the Pančavský waterfall drop 250 meters in multiple cascades, or follow wooden boardwalks across 12,000-year-old peat bogs on the Černohorské nature trail.
Getting to Krkonoše
Drive 2.5 hours north of Prague to reach the national park. While buses and trains run to the area, a car will give you more flexibility to explore. Start your visit in Vrchlabí, where you'll find the park headquarters and Krkonoše Museum in an Augustinian monastery. Walk through four historical buildings on the town square to learn about the park's geology, plants, and animals.
Hiking Trails and Mountain Peaks
You can explore 800 kilometers of marked trails throughout the park. Hike the steep path through Obří důl valley to reach Sněžka, the Czech Republic's highest point. Walk along the border ridge on the Path of Czech-Polish Friendship to see landscapes of both countries. The quieter Rychory nature trail winds through meadows and forests where 165 bird species nest and feed.
Landscapes and Ecosystems
The park's elevation ranges from 480 meters to alpine tundra zones above 1,450 meters. Walk the Černohorské moor nature trail across peat bogs that formed after the last ice age. In Labský důl Valley, follow the trail to multiple viewpoints of the Pančavský Waterfall's 250-meter cascade. Look for the distinctive Krkonose Rowan tree in the arctic-alpine zone, found nowhere else in the world.
Winter Activities
From December to March, ski at Špindlerův Mlýn's 25 kilometers of slopes served by 5 chair lifts, or try Pec pod Sněžkou's 14 lifts. Cross-country ski on 500 kilometers of groomed tracks through forests and along ridges. Snow typically stays on the ground for 150-180 days each year, reaching depths of 300 centimeters at higher elevations.
Summer Activities
Take cable cars up the mountains from Pec pod Sněžkou or Janské Lázně. Race down the 900-meter bobsleigh track at Relaxpark in Pec pod Sněžkou, or challenge yourself in the adventure park's climbing courses. Mountain bike through lower elevations or rent all-terrain scooters for an 8-kilometer downhill ride from Černá hora. Swim in Janské Lázně spa's indoor and outdoor mineral pools, heated to 28°C.
