I have been meaning to
blog about walking the oldest nature trail in the Czech Republic for some
time now. I actually walked the trail a year ago, but never got round
to blog about it.
The Bear Trail (Medvedi
Stezka) gets its name from a stone three quarters of the way along
the trail, which marks where the last brown bear in the country was
shot in the 19th century. Now the only bear you will come
across is on the signsposts and information boards for the trail,
which feature a bear on a yellow and black background.
Set
in the spectacular scenery of the Sumava National Park. the trail
links the two former lumberjack settlements of Ovesna and Cerny Kriz,
both are on the train line from Cesky Krumlov. Although the trail is
only 8.7 miles long, you should allow a day for the walk, as you will
need to coincide your walk with the train timetable and you will want
to stop for a drink and food at Jezerni Vrch.
Cow Head Rock
The
first section of the walk between Ovesna and Jezerni is probably the
most spectacular, as you climb the forested slopes of Mt Pernik - the
trail rises from 736m above sea level to 1037m before dropping down
to Jezerni. Walking in the forest can be a bit tedious, but not so on
the Bear Trail, because all the way up are a number of rock
formations with descriptive names:
including Pernikova
Skala (Gingerbread Rocks), Goticky Portal (Gothic door), Hrib
(Mushroom),
Obri Kostky (Giant's Dice), Draci tlama (Dragon's Mouth) and Soutezka
lapku (The Highwaymen's Gorge). In places the forest parts to afford
spectacular views across the river valley to the ancient forested
hill of Boubin.
At
Jezerni Vrch you will find the Schwarzenberg Wood Canal and places to
eat and drink. After refreshments you continue along the trail past
the Bear Stone and on to Cerny Kriz and the train back home.
