Ještěd
1,012 m
Czechia
Also known as Jeschken, Γέσκτετ, +1Also known as
Jeschken · Γέσκτετ · Jeszczed
- Elevation
- 1,012 m
- Prominence
- 517 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- May–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Lift closedReported 31 Oct 2021
The Horní Hanychov–Ještěd cabin cable car has been out of service since 31 October 2021, when a cabin fell and killed the conductor. The city of Liberec plans a completely new line from the tram terminus with an intermediate station; first passengers are expected around 2029–2030 at the earliest. A seasonal tourist bus runs in the meantime.
loudavymkrokem.cz
Routes
1The classic walk from Liberec: from the Horní Hanychov tram terminus (about 540 m) up the blue-marked trail through forest past the toboggan run to the Nad Výpřeží junction, then alongside the red ridge trail to Hubáček's hotel and transmitter on the summit. 3.4 km, about 450–475 m of ascent, 1.5–2 hours.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 5.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +549 m
- −61 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,012 m
- Time Up
- 2h 35m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 56m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Take the tram from central Liberec to its Horní Hanychov terminus, the best starting point (parking in the area is limited and paid). Follow the blue marks uphill past the toboggan run and through forest; the climb is fairly steep in places. Cross the summit road and continue to the Nad Výpřeží junction on the ridge. From here the blue trail climbs parallel to the red-marked ridge trail (Ještědská hřebenovka) to the summit, where the 1973 hyperboloid tower combines a TV transmitter, a hotel and a restaurant open to the public. Entry is free; the view reaches over Liberec and, on clear days, into Germany and Poland. Descend the same way, or make a loop: south past the Ještědka mountain hut and car park, then the red trail to Pláně pod Ještědem (4.8 km on a gentler line) and back to Horní Hanychov via Hluboká. For an easier ascent, the Skalka chairlift from near the tram terminus (seasonal) leaves a walk of under 2 km and 140 m along the red ridge trail from Černý kopec. The cabin cable car from Horní Hanychov has been closed since a fatal accident in October 2021.
Start
Horní Hanychov522 m
- Skalka chairlift (Horní Hanychov–Skalka, seasonal) shortens the walk to under 2 km along the red ridge trail; the Horní Hanychov–Ještěd cabin cable car is closed until its rebuild (expected around 2029–2030).
- Tram from Liberec centre to the Horní Hanychov terminus; seasonal tourist bus from Horní Hanychov towards the summit area while the cable car is closed.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horní Hanychov → Ještěd | 5.1 | 549 | 61 | 2h 35m |
Waypoints
- Station: Horní Hanychov522 m
- Feature: Nad Výpřeží772 m
Junction on the ridge; from here the blue trail runs parallel to the red ridge trail
- Summit: Ještěd1,012 m
Key Passages
- Steep forest climb above the toboggan run
- Crossing of the summit road
- Nad Výpřeží junction and final ridge
Equipment
0/3 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The 1,012 m summit above Liberec, crowned by Karel Hubáček's 1973 hyperboloid hotel and TV transmitter, the best-known modern building in the Czech Republic. A steep 3.4 km forest walk from the city's tram terminus, or a short ridge walk from the Skalka chairlift.
Ještěd is the highest point of the Ještěd–Kozákov Ridge, a narrow chain running south-west from Liberec, and the city's emblem: its slender cone-shaped tower is visible from much of northern Bohemia. The summit and eastern slopes lie within Liberec's Horní Hanychov district. The mountain rises about 500 m above the city and stands apart from the Jizera Mountains to the east, so the view from the top reaches across Liberec and, on clear days, into Germany and Poland.
The summit building, built 1966–1973, combines a TV transmitter about 100 m tall with a hotel (about 45 beds) and a public restaurant; entry is free. It won the UIA's Auguste Perret Prize and was voted the Czech building of the 20th century. The Liberec Region bought the hotel and transmitter in February 2026 and plans a long restoration and a UNESCO nomination; the hotel stays open during the work.
For walkers Ještěd is a short but honest climb: the blue trail from the tram terminus gains about 450 m in 3.4 km. The ski area, ski-jumping hills used at the 2009 Nordic World Ski Championships and a summit road mean you will not be alone, but the forested ridge trails are pleasant in any season.
Climbing Notes
An easy half-day objective needing ordinary walking fitness and sturdy shoes; the blue trail is steep in places and rooty. Start at the Horní Hanychov tram terminus to avoid the expensive, often full parking near the summit. The summit is frequently windy and foggy, so carry a windproof layer. In winter the forest paths can be icy and the area is a busy ski resort. The restaurant in the tower is open daily; families can shorten the day with the Skalka chairlift and the red ridge trail from Černý kopec.
History
A stone landmark has stood on the summit since 1838, a first hut since 1844, and a triangulation station was built in the 1860s. A mountain hotel opened in 1906; the cable car from Horní Hanychov followed in 1933. The hotel burned down in 1963 and was replaced by Karel Hubáček's tower, built 1966–1973. In October 2021 a cabin of the cable car fell and killed the conductor; the line has been out of service since. In February 2026 the Liberec Region approved the purchase of the hotel and transmitter for 181 million CZK.
Season
Best May–Sep- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Ski season; icy paths, microspikes useful
- Feb
- Ski season
- Mar
- Snow and ice on the upper path
- Apr
- Tourist bus runs at weekends from early April
- Jul
- Skalka chairlift daily in July and August
- Sep
- Skalka chairlift at weekends
- Oct
- Autumn colours; summit often in cloud
- Nov
- Fog and early snow; chairlift off-season
- Dec
- Ski season begins
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Hotel Ještěd: recepce@jested.cz, +420 485 104 291, www.jested.cz
- Fees
- Summit building and viewing areas: free
- Parking: summit 250 CZK per day (very limited), U Ještědky 200 CZK per day (cash), Výpřež 100 CZK per day (2026 figures from kudyznudy.cz and loudavymkrokem.cz)
- Rules
- Horní Hanychov–Ještěd cabin cable car closed since October 2021 pending a complete rebuild
- Getting There
Liberec
Prague Václav Havel Airport (PRG); Dresden Airport (DRS)
- Tram from central Liberec to the Horní Hanychov terminus at the foot of the mountain
- Seasonal tourist bus from Horní Hanychov to the Ještědka car park (April to early November 2026; weekends in April and October, daily May–September)
- Skalka chairlift from near the tram terminus (seasonal)
- Car: summit road from Liberec via the Výpřež saddle; paid car parks at Výpřež, U Ještědky and the summit
Hazards
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,012 m