From Lipno nad Vltavou to Medvědí Hora and back

Total length

7.7 km (there and back)

Duration

3 hours

Terrain

Rugged unpaved terrain in the middle of a mixed forest, roots, stones.

Difficulty level

More demanding ascent and descent exclusively for pedestrians, sturdy shoes required.

Marking

YES

How do you get to the start

To Lipno nad Vltavou by car (parking is possible in front of the information center in Lipno nad Vltavou or in the parking lot by the dam on the right bank - you can also start the route here) or by public transport.

Route description

From the Client Information Center in Lipno nad Vltavou, follow the blue trail to the dam and turn left behind it to the parking lot by the dam (you can also start the route here as an alternative). Cross the road leading to Loučovice and enter the forest. After about 350 meters from the entrance to the forest, you will reach the turnoff to Godošova Poustevna, to which the path leads for another 300 meters through the forest over stones. Then you must return to the turnoff. Then the steep climb continues for about 500 meters to Čertov Kopyt. Due to logging in the forest, which has removed several trees with a blue trail, finding the way is intuitive in places, but the well-trodden path is clearly visible even without a trail. From Čertov Kopyt, a beautiful view of the Lipno Dam opens up. The next climb of about a kilometer leads to another nice lookout point for Lipno at U Medvědí stěny. The peak of Medvědí hora at an altitude of 943 m above sea level is only a short distance from here. 

You can return to Lipno nad Vltavou by the same route marked in blue. You can then continue along the blue to the nearest crossroads with Medvědí cesta and from there descend through the forest to Nové Domky on an unmarked path and return to the starting point along the Lipno cycle path along the water. However, this route is no longer marked and is therefore not included in this trip, it is only offered as an alternative.

Interesting places on the route

Lipno nad Vltavou - Today's village, which is located above the beginning of the Lipno Valley Reservoir, was previously located in the Vltava Valley. The original settlement belonged to the estate of Vyšší Brod and, like many surrounding settlements, was one of the small timber settlements in which workers lived to ensure the floating of wood on the Vltava River. The village underwent a fundamental change in the mid-20th century, when the Lipno Reservoir was built between 1952 and 1959. The village has become a modern tourist center with world-class infrastructure serving all age categories. It has equipment for almost all water sports, including a port for 130 boats and beautiful beaches. For cycling and in-line trips, there is an illuminated coastal path or beautiful ridge routes above Lipno. The dominant features of Lipno nad Vltavou are the Treetop Trail and the Kingdom of the Forest. Two year-round bobsleigh tracks are also popular. Skiers can visit the Lipno Ski Resort with 12 kilometers of downhill slopes and dozens of kilometers of cross-country trails.

Godošova Poustevna (761 m above sea level) - The legend about the hermitage is as follows: at the end of the 17th century, gypsies settled on Uhlířský vrch (formerly Cikánský) hill. Over time, they became a disaster for the entire region. Among them were Godoš and his beloved Manda. On May 25, 1715, the army surrounded the gypsy camp, a shootout occurred and 13 camp residents lost their lives. Manda was injured. After several years of her injuries, she succumbed and Godoš moved to the Rhineland. He eventually began to visit her grave regularly. When he grew old, he moved to Poustevna, where he always spent the entire summer. One day, he was found dead and, at his request, he was buried next to Manda in Loučovice, near the wall of the church of St. Oldřich.

Devil's Hoof (782 m above sea level) - Devil's Hoof is an interesting rock formation, which got its name from the shape of the highest part of the rock, which really resembles a hoof. Sometimes this location is also referred to as the Gypsy Castle, which is related to the legends about gypsies. From the place there is a beautiful view of the Lipno reservoir and the village of Lipno nad Vltavou.

Bear Mountain (934 m above sea level) - Bear Mountain near Loučovice can be a nice destination for a hike or mountain bike trip. The mountain can be climbed either from Loučovice or from the Lipno Dam dam following the blue tourist trail. The mountain itself was named after the bears that naturally lived here. The area is part of the Vyšehrodsko Nature Park and consists of the rest of a mountain mixed forest with numerous screes, rockeries and boulders. The dominant tree species here is beech and the forests are rich in birds, which brings birdwatchers and nature lovers amazing experiences from bird concerts, especially in the spring months. You can meet the chaffinch, the black-headed warbler, the wren, the blackbird, the coal tit or the wood pigeon. The wood sparrow and the black woodpecker also nest here. The view from the top of the mountain to the surroundings is slightly limited by the overgrown greenery.