Zlaté návrší

Zlaté návrší is a mountain ridge at 1,411 metres above sea level in the Krkonoše (Giant Mountains), within the Vítkovice municipality, just above the settlement of Horní Mísečky. It's one of the most visited spots on the Czech side of the range — reachable without technical climbing, yet rewarding with views that usually take a much longer climb elsewhere.

How to get there?

The easiest starting point is Horní Mísečky, from which a yellow-marked trail leads up to Zlaté návrší. The climb is steep but requires no mountaineering skills, so an averagely fit hiker can manage it without trouble. For those who'd rather save their legs, a seasonal Krkonoše cyklobus (cycle-bus) service connects Vítkovice with Horní Mísečky, leaving only a short stretch to the ridge itself. In summer the area is also popular with cyclists — the network around Dvoračky, Rezek and Rovinka is well signposted for both hikers and bikers.

What will you see?

At the top stands Vrbatova bouda, a mountain chalet where visitors can stop for a rest or a hot meal. Right beside it rises the Mohyla Hanče a Vrbaty, a stone memorial mound commemorating two Czech cross-country skiers, Bohumil Hanč and Václav Vrbata, who died in 1913 during a blizzard while competing in a race. Hanč tried to save his exhausted teammate but did not survive himself. The tragedy became the direct impetus for founding the Mountain Rescue Service (Horská služba) in the Krkonoše — so the site carries historical weight well beyond its scenery.

The ridge opens up wide views across the main Krkonoše range, and from here a loop trail continues to the Sněžné jámy (Snow Pits), glacial cirques that count among the most distinctive landforms in this part of the mountains. The full Zlaté návrší–Sněžné jámy loop runs about 9.5 km and is one of the most popular routes in the region.

When to visit?

In summer, Zlaté návrší serves as a launch point for hiking and cycling trips with panoramic views across the range. In winter the character of the place changes completely — the area is one of the best-known cross-country skiing centres in the Czech Republic, with a dense network of groomed trails linking Horní Mísečky to the neighbouring valleys. It was here, under harsh winter mountain conditions, that the events of more than a century ago unfolded — the ones now commemorated by the mound at the summit.

Frequently asked questions

Is the climb to Zlaté návrší difficult? The yellow-marked route from Horní Mísečky is steep but technically straightforward — no climbing skills are needed. In the summer season, a shuttle bus is also available.

What is the Mohyla Hanče a Vrbaty? It's a stone memorial mound honouring two cross-country skiers who died in a blizzard in 1913 during a race. Their deaths led to the founding of the Mountain Rescue Service in the Krkonoše.

Can you cycle there? Yes, the area around Zlaté návrší, Dvoračky and Rovinka is well marked for cyclists, and a seasonal Krkonoše cycle-bus also runs in summer.

Is it worth continuing on to the Sněžné jámy? Definitely — the roughly 9.5 km loop leads to glacial cirques, one of the most striking landscapes in the Krkonoše, before returning to Zlaté návrší.