Vysoký tok

Vysoký tok is a modest but distinctive hill (546 m) in the municipality of Branov, in central Bohemia, within the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area. Its summit and the slopes facing south and east were declared a nature reserve back in 1984, protecting a landscape that feels surprisingly alpine for such a low elevation — summit grasslands and stone-block fields more typical of higher mountains than of this gentle upland above the Berounka River.

Where exactly is Vysoký tok?

The reserve sits roughly two kilometers south of the village of Branov, within the Křivoklátská vrchovina — a rolling, densely forested highland that forms part of the Berounka river basin. Branov itself lies on the right bank of the Berounka, which marks the municipality's northern boundary. The surrounding landscape is classic central Bohemia: deep river valleys, steep forested slopes, and rocky ridgelines rising above the tree canopy.

Why was this spot protected?

The reserve was established to safeguard two closely linked natural features. First, the summit rock-grassland communities on the peak and adjoining slopes — vegetation that, at such a modest elevation, is unusual and supports plants and insects adapted to dry, sun-exposed, mineral-poor ground. Second, the block fields and frost-shattered rock formed by periglacial processes during the Pleistocene, the last ice age. No glacier ever reached this part of Bohemia, but repeated freeze-thaw cycles over thousands of years fractured the exposed rock, producing the boulder fields still visible today on the hill's northern slope.

What makes up the summit ridge?

The ridge of Vysoký tok is built from dacite, rhyodacite, and dacitic tuff — volcanic and volcaniclastic rock dating back to the Late Cambrian, hundreds of millions of years old. It was precisely this hard yet frost-sensitive rock that made the site so vulnerable to periglacial weathering: water freezing and thawing inside cracks split the ridge into blocks, which then slid downslope to form the scree and talus now covering the hill's base. Rock-grassland vegetation has since colonized the exposed rock and the spaces between the boulders, thriving on the poor soil and strong sun exposure.

How do you get to Vysoký tok?

The starting point is Branov, a village set in a scenic stretch of the Berounka valley, surrounded by the forests of the Křivoklátsko region. Marked trails lead south from the village toward the summit, and the reserve can typically be reached on foot in under an hour. This is one of the quieter corners of central Bohemia — light on tourist traffic, but rich in dense woodland, rocky outcrops, and river-valley viewpoints. It appeals to hikers, nature watchers, and landscape photographers alike, especially in autumn, when the Křivoklátsko forests turn to color.

What should visitors keep in mind?

Because the area holds nature reserve status, standard protected-area etiquette applies: stick to marked paths, take nothing away — no plants, no rocks — and leave no litter. The block fields can be slippery after rain, so sturdy hiking footwear is worth packing. Vysoký tok sits within the wider Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area, one of the oldest and most ecologically valuable protected regions in the Czech Republic, so it's worth pairing a visit here with other nearby sights, such as the gorges and rocky ridges that line the Berounka River itself.

Frequently asked questions

What is Vysoký tok? A 546-meter hill in the municipality of Branov in central Bohemia, protected as a nature reserve since 1984 for its summit grasslands and ice-age boulder fields.

Where is the reserve located relative to Branov? About two kilometers south of the village, covering the summit and the south- and east-facing slopes of the hill, within the Křivoklátská vrchovina highland.

What can you actually see there? Distinctive boulder and scree fields shaped by Pleistocene freeze-thaw processes, rock-grassland vegetation, and exposures of dacite and dacitic tuff hundreds of millions of years old.

Is the reserve part of a larger protected area? Yes — Vysoký tok lies within the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area, one of the Czech Republic's oldest protected natural regions.

How do you reach the reserve? The easiest way is on foot from Branov, following marked trails south toward the summit; the walk usually takes under an hour.