About this place
Kladnatá – Grapy is a nature monument sitting just east of the village of Horní Bečva, in the Vsetín district, right in the heart of the Beskydy Mountains. The protected area covers a modest 62.82 hectares on the southwestern slopes below the peaks of Kladnatá (918 m) and Grapy, at altitudes ranging from roughly 765 to 910 metres. It lies about 4 km east of the Horní Bečva village centre and forms part of the wider Beskydy Protected Landscape Area, within the Radhošť highlands.
Why is this area protected?
The reserve exists to safeguard an unusually dense mix of habitats packed into a small footprint. Within the 770–910 m altitude band, waterlogged spruce forests sit next to wet bog meadows and rocky slopes with exposed rock outcrops. This patchwork of soil types and terrain features has created ideal conditions for rare plant species that are becoming increasingly scarce elsewhere in the region.
What grows and lives here?
Botanists have recorded 76 species of vascular plants and 60 species of bryophytes within the reserve. Notable species include marsh violet, lady's mantle (Alchemilla), spiky sedge and gentian — plants tied to wet, peaty ground that has been steadily disappearing across the Beskydy landscape.
The site also serves as a breeding ground for amphibians: common toads, great crested newts and alpine newts reproduce in its ponds and springs. Sunny clearings attract lizards and grass snakes, and the varied habitat mosaic supports a wide range of bird species. Kladnatá – Grapy additionally falls within the range of larger predators, including the Eurasian lynx, which has been gradually returning to Beskydy forests.
How to get there
Hiking trails reach the reserve from both Horní Bečva and Pustevny, making it a popular stop for walkers exploring this part of the Beskydy range. The area is part of the EU's Natura 2000 network and stands as a good example of the wild, diverse and largely untouched Beskydy landscape — a type of terrain that is becoming harder to find each year.
The site is managed by the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area Administration, under the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR).
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Kladnatá – Grapy located? East of Horní Bečva in the Vsetín district, about 4 km from the village centre, on the slopes below the Kladnatá and Grapy peaks.
How large is the protected area? It covers just under 63 hectares.
What can visitors see there? A mosaic of habitats — waterlogged spruce forest, bog meadows and rocky slopes — along with rare plants, amphibians and birds.
Where do the hiking trails start? Trails lead into the reserve from both Horní Bečva and Pustevny.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.