Křovina Sněžné-Samotín

Křovina is a forested hill rising to 830 m above sea level, located in the cadastral territory of Samotín, part of the town of Sněžné in the Žďár nad Sázavou district, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic. The summit belongs to the Žďárské vrchy range and ranks among the most notable high points of this protected landscape area.

Where exactly is Křovina located?

The hill sits within the Devítiskalské vrchoviny sub-range, part of the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO). The trigonometric survey point on its summit measures 829.68 m above sea level, making Křovina the second-highest elevation in the entire Žďárské vrchy range — only the nearby Devět skal (836 m) rises higher. Devět skal lies roughly 2 km to the southeast, the village of Křižánky about 3 km to the south, and the tower of the Holy Cross church in Sněžné around 5 km to the west-northwest.

What will you see at the top?

The summit of Křovina is entirely covered by forest, so unlike neighboring Devět skal with its well-known lookout tower, there is no open panoramic viewpoint here. This makes the hill better suited to hikers who enjoy quiet woodland trails than to those chasing a 360-degree view. The surrounding terrain is typical of the Žďárské vrchy: rolling, forested hills interspersed with meadows and small streams, characteristic of this part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.

How do you get there?

The most convenient starting point is the town of Sněžné, from which forest roads and paths lead up to the summit, connecting with the wider network of hiking trails across the Žďárské vrchy range. Another option is to start from Devět skal and link both summits into a single multi-hour hike — a popular route among visitors to the protected landscape area, since the two peaks are only about 2 km apart. Cyclists and hikers looking for a longer route often begin instead from the village of Křižánky, south of the summit.

When is the best time to visit?

Because the hill is forested throughout, Křovina can be visited year-round, though hiking conditions are most comfortable between May and October. In autumn the forest on its slopes takes on the typical colors of the Vysočina highlands, while in winter the elevation and reliable snowfall typical of the Žďárské vrchy make the surrounding area popular for cross-country skiing.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Křovina? The trigonometric survey point at the summit stands at 829.68 m above sea level, generally rounded to 830 m.

Is Křovina the highest peak in the Žďárské vrchy? No, it is the second-highest point in the range. Only the neighboring Devět skal is higher, at 836 m above sea level.

Is there a view from the summit of Křovina? No — the top is densely forested, so there is no open viewpoint. Visitors looking for a panorama should head to nearby Devět skal instead.

What is the best way to plan a hike to Křovina? The simplest approach is to start from the town of Sněžné or the village of Křižánky and combine the hike with an ascent of Devět skal, since the two summits are only about 2 km apart — letting you cover both key high points of the Žďárské vrchy in a single outing.