Apartmány
Across Smrčina and Hraničník – a Wild Bohemian Forest Hike (21 km, Elevation 561 m)
Kočárek: ❌ | Pes: ✅ | · Náročná, ale nádherná túra pro zdatné turisty. Projděte si hřebenovku divokou přírodou a užijte si klid daleko od civilizace.
Stroller: ❌ | Dog: ✅
We have walked the Bear Trail (Medvědí stezka) several times — in different seasons, in different directions, and each time it surprised us again. It is one of the most beautiful routes in the Šumava Mountains: quiet, wild, and historical. It leads from Černý Kříž to Nová Pec (or vice versa) and measures approximately 13 km. We recommend starting in Černý Kříž — not only for accessibility but also because you can enjoy the more demanding and beautiful section better going downhill.
What awaits you on the Bear Trail Part 1 (The way up)
The first section climbs through the forest on a wide path, but don’t be fooled — the elevation gain is noticeable and it is not for small children. However, more experienced hikers will enjoy it. At the fifth kilometer, you will come across the Barenstein, a historical stone from 1856, a reminder of the last Šumava bear.
From there, the trail continues to the settlement of Jelení vrchy, where you can stop for a small refreshment. From Jelení vrchy, you will follow the yellow trail further, again slightly uphill, until you arrive at the Hirsch Pond (Jelení jezírko). This is an artificial reservoir from 1835, which supplied water to the Schwarzenberg Navigation Canal for floating timber.
From the Hirsch Pond (Jelení jezírko), you have about a kilometer and a half of climbing to the first large rock formation, which is Perník. Here you are at the highest point of the trip, and this is exactly where the character of the route breaks.
Part 2: Descending between rock formations
From Perník, the most fun, but also technically more demanding part of the journey begins. The trail turns into a narrow path and drops sharply through a wild gorge full of giant granite boulders and roots.
This main section with the rock formations is approximately 4 kilometers long, and you will descend almost 200 vertical meters. The entire path is essentially one large open-air gallery. You will pass dozens of fascinating rocks, many of which have their own names (look for the small wooden signs). Gradually, as you descend from Perník, you will come across:
Giant Cubes, Calf’s Head, Giant Puffball, Stone Beauty, Rocking Stone, Chapel, Mushroom, Hermitage, Cavern Cave, Moss Pyramid, Gothic Portal, Robber’s Gorge, Gingerbread Rock and finally Dragon’s Mouth.
Beyond the Dragon’s Mouth, the trail continues to descend, but on a better path, and after about 850 meters you will be at Ovesná station, which is the official end of the Bear Trail. If you walk all the way to Nová Pec to your car, another 2.5 km awaits you from Ovesná along the Stožec Cycle Path.
How to get there: 2 variants of the route
Planning the trip is important because the route is not a loop. You have two main options for planning it:
Variant 1: Entire route (approx. 13.2 km, for hikers)
- Leave your car or bike in Nová Pec (at the station parking lot).
- Board the train and travel to Černý Kříž.
- From there, head on foot following the yellow signs of the Bear Trail.
- The official end of the trail is in Ovesná. From there you can either ride one stop by train back to Nová Pec or walk approx. 2.5 km along the Stožec Cycle Path.
Variant 2: Shortened route (7 km, manageable with older children)
Want to see the best (the rock formations) and avoid the main climb?
- Leave your car in Nová Pec (at the station parking lot).
- Take a bus to Jelení vrchy.
- From there, walk following the yellow signs through the most interesting section of the Bear Trail for about 7 km to Ovesná.
- Return to the car: From Ovesná, you can either walk 2.5 km to Nová Pec or simply wait for the train.
If you have enough energy, also check out other trips near Lake Lipno.
Bear Trail Map
Click to see photos of the formations along the Bear Trail
🖼️ Photo gallery of rock formations on the Bear Trail (38)
Open gallery on a separate page →
📍 Where to rest after a long trip?
After such a trip, you deserve a place where you can truly relax. Our family accommodation near Lake Lipno is the ideal base for trips like the Bear Trail. In the morning, you comfortably board the train at our station in Hůrka (Černá v Pošumaví station) and in the evening you return straight “home” — to peace and comfort.
A large garden, swimming pool, children’s playground, and a fish restaurant await you, where you can truly enjoy a meal after your return. And the kids? They definitely won’t be bored – there are plenty of cycle paths, beaches, and other experiences for children nearby. And when you want to take them fishing, you can go straight to the Hůrka trout farm right behind the apartment fence.
Book your stay as dates fill up quickly.
We look forward to seeing you — whether you come from the forest, the water, or the bike path. And if you are returning from the Bear Trail, we know exactly what will make you happy at our place.
