*Sněžka from Špindlerův Mlýn, returning via Špindlerovka – a 21 km to 26 km hike*

• Sněžka (1603m) stands proud on the Czech/Polish border. It is, by some distance, the Czech Republic’s highest mountain (the next highest being Sněžka’s near neighbour, Luční hora, at 1555m). Sněžka is a popular mountain. On a sunny July or August day the summit is visited by several thousand people, who ascend via various hiking trails or the cable cars which rise towards the peak from both the Polish and Czech sides.
• Although the 1970’s architecture on the summit might not be to everyone’s taste, Sněžka remains a striking mountain. Its bleak sides are littered with frost-shattered rocks. There is hardly any vegetation to be found on its scoured slopes. The climate is pretty extreme – a record wind speed of 223 km/h was recorded here in 2020.
• Three sides of the mountain were sculpted by glaciers during the ice ages, but Sněžka’s prominent pyramid shape is mostly due to the extraordinary toughness of its rock. Around 300 million years ago a vast body of liquid granite pushed towards the surface beneath the layers of schist rock that made up most of the Krkonoše range at that time. The hot magma baked the closest layers of schist, transforming the crystalline structure into a different form of (super hard) metamorphic rock, known as hornfels.
• Over the subsequent millennia, most of which were hot and humid, the softer layers of surface rock were eroded away and washed by tropical storms into the lowland areas. The whole mountain range was gradually flattened into plateau areas. In place, the now solidified granite intrusion was exposed to the elements. Only the slopes of Sněžka and the nearby ridges, made up of erosion resistant hornfels, resisted the flattening process. The exposed granite on the plateau areas was subsequently shattered by frost and freeze/thaw cycles to form characteristic crumbling cliffs and rocky ‘tors’.
• Today, visitors can explore the unique geology of the area by taking a number of routes to the summit of Sněžka. A popular (and recommended) route leads from Pec pod Sněžkou along the Obří důl valley. A longer, but equally dramatic approach, starts in Špindlerův Mlýn and traverses beneath the sharp ridge of Kozí hřbety. The advantage of this route is that it gives various options for the return journey to Spindl, including an excursion into Poland to view the circular lakes and other remnants of the glaciers that sculpted the northern flank of the Krkonoše range. This is the route described in the directions below.
• The suggested route starts and finishes in the village square of Špindlerův Mlýn and follows the side streets until past the Panorama chalet hotel, where the route joins the old Bucharova trail as it climbs towards the Kozí ridge and the Krakonoš mountain viewpoint.
• On the plateau below the Czech Republic’s second highest mountain, Luční hora (1555m), the trail passes Luční bouda, a well known large mountain hotel and restaurant (which also has a microbrewery, the highest in Central Europe). The current building was constructed on the site of the first inn built in the high mountains, during the 17th century.
• The trail then crosses sections of peat bog, sometimes on wooden planking, before the main ascent to Sněžka begins on the winding, often very busy, summit path. At the summit, in addition to the ‘space age’ Polish weather station, there is a snack bar, chapel and post office.
• For variety, on the return leg it is suggested to take the cobbled route that winds around the Polish side of the mountain and then join the ‘Polish-Czech Friendship trail’ which broadly follows the border on the Polish side of the Střibrný ridge. The trail shows off the classical glacial terrain of the north-facing Krkonoše slopes; U-shaped valleys and circular lakes.
• The Friendship trail concludes at the trail junction and border crossing of Špindlerovka, where it is possible to catch a bus back to Špindlerův Mlýn (saving 5.6 km of walking). For those wanting to complete the route on foot, an attractive hiking trail follows the route of the winter toboggan run and then the photogenic path beside the Labe river as it flows towards the village centre.
• The maximum length of the route is 26.3 km with around 1000m of height gained. None of the paths are particularly difficult or steep (assuming normal weather conditions). It can be very cold and windy on the summit and ridges so appropriate mountain clothing is essential. There are several refreshment options along the route including at Luční bouda, Sněžka summit, Obří sedlo (just below the summit) and around Špindlerovka.
• Note – for those wanting an even more epic journey to Sněžka summit, consider the 39 km Four Summits tour.

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 fil

Directions

• Start the walk in the village square of Špindlerův Mlýn and join the RED trail in the direction of Luční bouda
• The route takes side street as it climbs out of the village, and after 1.9 km just after the chalet hotel Panorama, joins a forest track as it climbs towards the Kozí ridge on the left
• After 2.8 km the RED trail reaches the trail junction of Kozí hřbety – vyhl. Here it is possible to divert left for 200m to visit the fine viewpoint
• Continue on the RED trail for 2.1 km to reach the Luční bouda mountain hotel-restaurant
• At Luční bouda join the BLUE trail in the direction of Obří sedlo, which is reached after 2.5 km. This is the Czech-Polish border
• At Obří sedlo join the RED trail for the direct route to Sněžka summit which is reached in 1 km
• From the summit either return on the direct route (RED trail) back to Obří sedlo or take the less direct ad less steep descent route on the Polish side of the mountain (RED trail to Jubilejní cesta and then BLUE trail to Obří sedlo). This route is 1.8 km but offers a variety of additional views
• At Obří sedlo take the RED trail in the direction of Špindlerova bouda. This is the Czech-Polish Friendship trail.
• The trail passes above the two Polish glacial lakes and reaches Špindlerova bouda in 8.3 km. There are many fine views over the Polish landscape on this trail
• At Špindlerova bouda, there is an option to take the bus back to Špindlerův Mlýn, saving 5.ž km of walking
• If preferring to complete the route on foot, join the GREEN trail which starts at the corner of the parking area in front of the large Špindlerova bouda hotel
• Follow the GREEN trail down hill crossing the road at Lužická bouda, finally meeting the Bilé Labe stream near the U Dívčí lávky trail junction after 3km of descent
• At U Dívčí lávky join the BLUE trail and continue on this path along the Labe river to reach the centre of Špindlerův Mlýn