An easy 8 km circular tour around the Labská reservoir from Špindlerův Mlýn

• The Labe (or Elbe as it becomes in Germany) is the most important river in the Czech Republic. Its drainage basin (which includes those of the Labe’s major Czech tributaries) encompasses almost the entire territory of Bohemia. For millennia, the Labe – which is navigable from Prague to the North Sea – has been the most significant transport and trade route into and out of the country.
• The Labe begins its thousand kilometer journey to the North Sea on the slopes above the Krkonoše mountain village of Špindlerův Mlýn, the Czech Republic’s most famous ski resort. A series of streams and waterfalls close to the Czech/Polish border cascade down the mountainside from an altitude of around 1400m, joining together above the village to form the fledgling river. By the time the Labe reaches Špindlerův Mlýn, it is already an impressive mountain river. It is not hard to imagine why a local miller, Spindler, relocated his mill here in 1765. The melting snow must have powered a seriously impressive water wheel.
• In the late 19th century the river also caused catastrophic flood damage along the mountain valley below Špindlerův Mlýn and a decision was made to construct a large dam just below the village to protect against future floods. The resulting Labská reservoir provides walkers with an excellent opportunity to create a circular route on easy paths, suitable for winter walking or with a baby stroller in the summer months.
• The suggested route starts in Špindlerův Mlýn village square, crosses the Labe on the footbridge and continues on mountain roads into the Bedřichov area. The trail follows the terrace to the Labská ski area before descending to the reservoir, crossing to the other side of the valley along the dam wall. The trail returns back to Špindlerův Mlýn along the reservoir, for a total circular walk of 7.9 km, mostly on easy asphalt paths, with 200m of height gained/lost during the walk. Note that the route crosses the downhill ski piste, so if walking in the ski season, especial care is needed when crossing the slope.
• For a slightly short walk, the footpath on the eastern side of the reservoir from Špindlerův Mlýn as far as the reservoir dam, and back the same way is a nice easy 5 km walk.
• For refreshment on the journey, the route passes several mountain restaurants, including the excellent Lebeda in Bedřichov, and there is the popular self service ‘limobar’ about half way round. In summer the terrace at the Pension Fontána, on the footpath next to the eastern side of the reservoir may be open for public refreshments.

Note: click ‘Show on Mapy.com’  to go to a full screen version of the route directly on the mapy.com site. This can be used for on line navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file.

Directions

• Start the route at the Špindlerův Mlýn village square, initially following the RED hiking trail in the direction of Horní Mísečky
• The route crosses the Labe on the footbridge, climbs an asphalt footpath to reach reach the main road to Bedřichov, reaching the restaurant of Lebeda after 500m
• Continue on the RED trail as it turns left onto the mountain road of Horská. Continue for 600m past the large hotel Volareza until reaching the crossroads with Lesní street
• Turn left onto Lesní, passing the spa hotel Bedřiška on the left (here there is also the stylish restaurant of Orange le Moon)
• After a further 600m, turn off Lesní following the cycle route on the terrace above the hotel Lesana
• After 800m the cycle path meets the GREEN hiking trail and continues along the terrace towards Labská
• The route passes under the chairlift, past the wooden bell tower and limobar, before reaching the Labská – jižní okraj trail junction (300m after the limobar)
• At the trail junction, turn left onto the BLUE trail following this path downhill for 600m to reach the trail junction where the BLUE route splits into two direction. Take the right fork which leads down to the main road after 200m
• Follow the main road – still on the BLUE trail – for 200m, then cross the road and follow the wall of the dam to cross to the opposite side of the valley
• At the Labská přehrada trail signpost (located at the end of the dam) turn left onto the GREEN trail and follow this back to Špindlerův Mlýn, initially alongside the reservoir and then on the terrace above, the river, passing under the chairlift before returning to the village centre (2.6 km from the dam)