Praděd

1,491 m

Czechia

Also known as Altvater, Pradziad, +1

Altvater · Pradziad · Прадед

Elevation: 1,491 m
Prominence: 983 m
Difficulty: 2/10; Hike
Best Season: Jun–Sep
Routes: 1

AdvisoryReported 28 Apr 2025
The yellow trail through the Bílá Opava gorge reopened on 28 April 2025 after footbridges were swept away by the floods of mid-September 2024. Further repairs were planned, and the administration of the Jeseníky Protected Landscape Area asked visitors to take extra care.
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Routes

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The classic walk up Moravia's highest mountain: from the spa village of Karlova Studánka up the rocky Bílá Opava gorge past cascades and waterfalls, on ladders and footbridges (yellow, one-way uphill) or the easier blue trail above it, to the Barborka chalet and then 2 km up the paved road to the summit tower. About 8–9 km and 650–750 m of ascent.

Elevation Profile

approximate line

Distance: 8.3 km; one way
Ascent: +698 m; start → summit
High Point: 1,491 m
Time Up: 3h 24m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 2h 48m; DIN 33466 · same way back

From the paid car parks in Karlova Studánka (the closest is by the Hubertus restaurant) walk about 1 km into the Bílá Opava valley to the junction Na Paloučku (972 m). Here the trail splits. The yellow trail follows the stream up a narrow gorge past rapids, cascades and the Great Waterfall (7.9 m), with ladders, footbridges, slippery rocks and fallen logs; it is one of the toughest marked trails in the Jeseníky and has been one-way uphill since 2025. The blue trail is a gentler climb above the gorge. Both meet at Nad vodopády Bílé Opavy (1,190 m). Continue on the blue trail to the junction Pod Ovčárnou (1,213 m), keep right on blue and climb steeply past a ski lift to the Barborka chalet (about 1,325 m). From there the red-marked paved road leads about 2 km up the open ridge to the summit of Praděd, crowned by a 146 m television tower with a restaurant and an observation deck reached by lift. Do not descend the yellow gorge trail. Instead walk down the road to Ovčárna (about 3.5 km from the summit), take the yellow trail down to Pod Ovčárnou and return by the blue trail to Na Paloučku and Karlova Studánka, or take the shuttle bus from Ovčárna down to Hvězda. The round trip is about 17–19 km and 5–6 hours. In winter the gorge trail is icy and dangerous and the mountain rescue service advises against it; use the blue trail.

Start

Karlova Studánka810 m

Bus to Karlova Studánka (from Bruntál or Malá Morávka); shuttle bus between Hvězda and Ovčárna for the way down.
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Karlova Studánka → Praděd	8.3	698	19	3h 24m

Waypoints

Parking:
Karlova Studánka810 m
Paid car parks; Hubertus restaurant
Feature:
Na Paloučku972 m
Yellow (gorge, uphill only) and blue trails split
Feature:
Nad vodopády Bílé Opavy1,170 m
Feature:
Pod Ovčárnou1,225 m
Hut:
Barborka1,325 m
Summit:
Praděd1,491 m

Key Passages

Bílá Opava gorge: ladders, footbridges and wet rocks past the waterfalls (yellow, one-way uphill)
Steep climb from Pod Ovčárnou to the Barborka chalet
Open, windy summit ridge on the paved road

Equipment

0/5 packed

Technical

Microspikeswinter and spring on the blue trail; the yellow gorge trail is not advised in winterRecommended

Footwear

Hiking boots with good gripwet rocks, ladders and footbridges in the gorgeRequired

Clothing

Windproof and waterproof layersthe open summit ridge is windy and cold; the upper gorge stays below 10 °C even in summerRequired

Navigation

Offline mapRecommended

Other

Water and foodRecommended

Downloads

Route confidence 75%

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Overview

The highest mountain of Moravia and Czech Silesia (1,491 m), a broad, windswept dome in the Hrubý Jeseník topped by a 146 m television tower. The classic ascent climbs the waterfall gorge of the Bílá Opava from Karlova Studánka; a shuttle road reaches Ovčárna, 3.5 km below the top.

Praděd, Altvater in German, is the culminating point of the Hrubý Jeseník range in the north-east of the Czech Republic and the highest point of the eastern Sudetes. With nearly 1,000 m of prominence it dominates the region: the open, grassy ridge above the treeline is exposed to strong winds, fog and rime, and snow lies for months. The summit carries a television tower whose tip, at about 1,637 m above sea level, is the highest man-made point in the country; a lift takes visitors to an observation deck 71 m up, and in clear weather the view reaches Sněžka, Lysá hora and the Tatras.

The mountain lies in the Jeseníky Protected Landscape Area and the Praděd National Nature Reserve. Its character is less wild than its height suggests: a paved road climbs from Hvězda to the Ovčárna chalets and on to the summit, with access for private cars controlled by a barrier and timed shuttle slots, and there are several chalets on the ridge. The best walk avoids the road for most of the way, following the Bílá Opava up a rocky gorge with cascades and waterfalls, ladders and footbridges, before the last 2 km on the summit road.

Other popular approaches come from Červenohorské sedlo along the ridge via the Švýcárna chalet, and from Videlské sedlo. In winter the summit area is a cross-country and ski-touring destination.

Climbing Notes

A long but straightforward day for fit walkers: about 8–9 km and 650–750 m up from Karlova Studánka, 17–19 km and 5–6 hours for the round trip. The gorge trail is wet, slippery and cold even in summer, with ladders and footbridges; it is one-way uphill and best walked from June to September. Do not take it in winter, when the steps ice up and a slip can mean a long fall; use the blue trail above the gorge instead. Bring warm, windproof layers for the summit ridge whatever the season. The shuttle bus between Hvězda and Ovčárna makes a one-way walk easy. Stay on marked trails in the national nature reserve.

History

A stone lookout tower on the summit collapsed in 1959. It was replaced in the 1980s by the present television transmitter, 146 m tall, with a restaurant and an observation deck.

Season

Best Jun–Sep

January: Possible
February: Possible
March: Possible
April: Possible
May: Good
June: Best (best window)
July: Best (best window)
August: Best (best window)
September: Best (best window)
October: Good
November: Possible
December: Possible

Jan: Snow, wind and rime; gorge trail not advised; blue trail or road
Feb: Winter conditions
Mar: Winter conditions on the ridge
Apr: Snowmelt; gorge icy
May: Late snow possible on the ridge
Jun: Recommended season for the gorge trail
Jul: Busy in the summer holidays
Aug: Busy in the summer holidays
Oct: Cold, foggy days; first snow
Nov: Wet, icy rocks; gorge trail not advised
Dec: Winter conditions

Access & Permits

Fees

Paid car parks in Karlova Studánka
Fee for driving private cars from Hvězda to Ovčárna; shuttle bus fare
Charge for the lift to the observation deck of the summit tower

Rules

Praděd National Nature Reserve: stay on marked trails
The yellow trail through the Bílá Opava gorge is one-way, uphill only, from Na Paloučku to Nad vodopády Bílé Opavy
The Hvězda–Ovčárna road runs in timed slots: up on the hour, down at half past; the barrier stays closed once the Ovčárna car park is full

Getting There

Karlova Studánka; Malá Morávka

Ostrava (OSR); Katowice (KTW)

Bus to Karlova Studánka (from Bruntál or Malá Morávka)
Shuttle bus from Hvězda to Ovčárna, then 3.5 km on the paved road to the summit
By car to Karlova Studánka or to Hvězda; private cars to Ovčárna only in the timed slots

Hazards

Weather

Huts & Shelters

BarborkaHutStaffed
1,325 m