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*A tour of the spectacular Broumovsko sandstone rocks formations, Ostaš and Kočičí skály: 5 km*

  • The Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area is blessed with many remarkable sandstone rock formations, the result of sedimentation during the Cretaceous period, some 70 million years ago, when much of north and central Bohemia was covered with a shallow tropical sea. Two of the smaller (but no less spectacular) rock areas are Ostaš and Kočičí skály, which can easily be combined together in one short trip.
  • Ostaš is a typical sandstone table mountain, broken on its eastern flank into a complex of towers, which has created a classic sandstone rock maze where the trail weaves around the rocks. Kočičí skály is more like a smaller version of the famous Broumov Walls, with many interestingly-shaped rock towers and some lovely viewpoints.
  • Of the two areas, Ostaš is the better known and can get busy in peak periods, leading to the narrow trail in the rock labyrinth getting quite crowded at times. Kočičí skály is quieter, despite the two areas only being about 500m from each other!
  • Most visitors to the rocks will probably start from the convenient (but paid) parking area, just below the Ostaš rocks. The nearest public transport is to the Pěkov-Ostaš bus stop, over 1 km from the parking area (and an extra 100m of climbing!)
  • Although the route is short, accessing the viewpoints and rock maze involves quite a few step sections and squeezing through narrow rock walls. Some of the viewpoints are a little exposed, so care is needed, especially if the rocks are wet. There is just over 200m of ascent/descent over the 5 km route, assuming all the main viewpoints are visited. For refreshments, there is a good bistro/snack bar, which is connected to the camp site at the trail crossroads below the two rock areas.

Note: click ‘Show on map’ above to go to a full screen version directly on the mapy.cz site. This can be used for online navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file

Directions

  • Starting at the parking area, join the BLUE trail heading towards the Ostaš rocks
  • After 800m the trail reaches the edge of the rock maze, at the Ostaš – vstup do bludiště junction
  • Turn right and follow the BLUE marked trail in an anticlockwise direction. It leads back to the starting point after 1.2 km
  • Return 500m back down the BLUE trail to the Ostaš – rozc. junction and there turn left onto the GREEN trail
  • Follow the GREEN trail into the Kočičí skály. The endpoint – Kočičí hrad – is reached in 1.1km
  • Return back to the car park along the outbound route

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