*A circuit around Smrk (1236m), the second highest Beskydy peak, from Čeladná : 17 km*

• The appropriately named peak of Smrk (‘Spruce’) is the second highest peak in the Beskydy chain. Unlike its higher neighbour, Lysá hora, Smrk is completely forested. Indeed, there is only a small open area just below the summit offering a view to the north, but otherwise the long summit ridge is fully covered in spruce trees. This makes a traverse of Smrk somewhat wilder than a trip to the summit of Lysá. In addition, there are no huts for refreshment at the top of Smrk – this is genuine mountain hike!
• There are a number of potenial starting points for the hike up Smrk, but for a nice circular trip, the niche chapel of Cyrilka, a few kilometers along the road from Čeladná is a good starting point. There are bus connections to this spot from Čeladna town and a few parking spots directly beside the chapel. There is a famous spring beside the chapel for filling water bottles before (or after) the hike.
• The suggested route shown in the map below can be taken either clockwise or anticlockwise, but the trail on the southern flank is a little easier than on the north and eastern side, so it is suggested to take the southern path on the descent. Half of the route is on mountain roads, and the other half on mountain footpaths, none of which are particularly steep, but the paths are very rocky and can be slippery after wet weather. The total circuit of 17 km involves around 760m of height to ascend-descend.
• For refreshments after the hike (in addition to the Cyrilka spring), near there are two boutique hotels (the Lorkova vila and Hotel & Garden u Holubů) just a few hundred meters from the Cyrilka bus stop. Both have excellent restaurants with terraces that are open for non-residents (map points 8 and 9).

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

• From the Cyrilka bus stop, join the BLUE trail heading in the direction of Ostravice
• After 2.7 km gentle ascent along the public road, reach the Pod Smrčkem junction. Here, leave the BLUE trail and turn right heading up the forest road
• The road leads after 2.4 km to the Nad Holubčankou trail junction, where the RED trail is met
• Turn right onto the RED trail which winds up the mountain to reach the summit after 3.3 km – the viewpoint is a few meters off the summit, to the north
• Leave the summit in the opposite direction, remaining on the RED trail
• After 3.5 km on mountain footpaths, the trail reaches the Polana junction
• Here, turn right remaining on the RED trail which follows a forest road all the way back to Cyrilka, which is reached in 5.3 km