Svratka or Herálec are convenient starting points for exploring this area of Ždárské vrchy (protected area) on the border of Bohemia and Moravia. We started at the square at Svratka, but another good starting point is at 2, in front of the castle Karlštejn (not the one built by Charles IV on Berounka river). It is easy to park there. At point 3 you can decide to visit the Zkamenělý zámek, an interesting stone formation. Park your bike under the boulders and climb up without it – however, you will have a chance to visit more interesting similar place Devět skal (Nine rocks) at point 11.
Ride from 5 to 6 is a little tricky, but after that you will enjoy a long downhill 6 to 7. Ride after point 8 is educational, it will show you most of the trees growing in this area and teach you how to recognize them. At point 9 you should not make a mistake and try to use blue tourist mark to get to the top. It did not work for us and undoubtedly it did not work for anybody with a bicycle at all. You can reach the top of Devět skal by following the map and climb the last 100 meters by foot.
Another challenging part is 15 to 17, and after that it is quite simple ride. Do not miss the source of Chrudimka river at 20 and the riding path 20 to 21 which is barely visible. If you parked at Svratka’s square, you will like the ride downhill along very unusually placed golf course after point 29.
https://en.mapy.cz/s/cosujolevo 45 km with 786 m elevation gain. To see this E-bike trip in context, check our interactive maps.
A small mistake: Karlštejn instead of Křivoklát.