Two circular hikes around the Kozákov hill; 8.5 km/13.5 km long

Two circular hikes around the Kozákov hill; 8.5 km or 13.5 km long

• Two circular walks whose focus is the volcanic hill of Kozákov, from which it is believed at least a quarter of Bohemia can be seen
• Both walks start from the small car park just below Rotštejn castle and the Klokočské rock formations
• The shorter walk (8.5km, with 440m of height gained/lost) takes the most direct (steepest) route up the hill, and returns on a less steep path, passing some of Kozákov’s sandstone rock formations
• The longer walk (13.5km, with 460m of height gained/lost) uses the sandstone rock path for the ascent, and for the descent follows the gently sloping Kozákov ridge down, before turning back to Rotštejn
• The longer version is the recommended option, for those with the time available, as the views on the descent are more varied
• Either walk can be combined with an excursion into the Klokočské rocks and/or Rotštejn castle. Possible short extensions are noted in the directions below, but for a full day tour both walks can be combined with the Klokočské tour to create an 18km or 23km trip
• Refreshments should be available on the summit of Kozákov, or back at Rotštejn

Directions – Option 1 (8.5km)

• Start and finish at the small car park just below the castle of Rotštejn, close to the village of Klokočí. The car park can get quickly full at peak times
• From the car park, take the YELLOW trail (direction Kozákov)
• The trail initially follows a narrow road, then passes the restaurant of Na Špici before heading across the fields and the lower slopes of Kozákov.
• The summit with its almost 360 degrees views is reached after 3.8km, all on the YELLOW trail
• From the summit take the RED trail (direction Malá Skála) for 0.5 to reach the signpost of Kozákov – sev. At the signpost turn left onto the alternative RED trail (direction Turnov)
• After 400m pass the Kozákovská Drábovna rock cave and continue the descent passing through the village of Vesec and on up to the signpost of Fialník (total of 3km from the rock cave)
• At Fialník turn left onto the BLUE trail (direction Rotštejn), and reach the car park after 800m

Directions – Option 2 (13.5km)

• Start and finish at the small car park just below the castle of Rotštejn, close to the village of Klokočí. The car park can get quickly full at peak times
• From the car park, take the BLUE trail (direction Fialník)
• Reach the Fialník sign after 800m and there turn right onto the RED trail (direction Kozákov)
• Follow this trail up through the village of Vesec, up the slopes of Kozákov, past the rock cave of Kozákovská Drábovna, to reach the summit (with its nearly 360 degree views) after 3.1 km
• From the summit return along the outbound route (RED trail) for 500m to reach the signpost of Kozákov – sev. There continue on the RED trail (direction Malá Skála) down the ridge.
• Stay on the RED trail for 4.7 km until reaching the village of Koberovy
• At Koberovy turn left onto the BLUE trail (direction Klokočí) and reach the car park at Rotštejn after 3.6km

EXTENSIONS TO ROTŠTEJN AND KLOKOČSKÉ SKÁLY

Both of the above walks can easily be combined with an extension to the castle of Rotštejn and the rock formations of Klokočské skály.

For Rotštejn, simply take the YELLOW trail from the car park and reach the castle in 100m.

For a longer tour continue along the YELLOW trail (if it is open after the castle – the trail was closed at the end of 2019 for renovations, with an uncertain opening time) towards Klokočské průchody (1.2km). The passageway can also be reached by taking the road through the village of Klokočí for 1km.

At Klokočské průchody, the options include continuing on the RED trail (direction Turnov) to follow the cliff path with superb views for 1-2km, and then return. Alternatively, the YELLOW trail can be taken to view the Postojna cave (800m from Klokočské průchody).

Finally, the Kozákov walks can be extended by the full 10km Klokočské tour, in which case follow that tour from Rotštejn in a clockwise direction.