The Vejsplachy Cross-country Ski Resort
There are kilometres of regularly groomed cross-country tracks, some of which are lit every evening and are supplemented by artificial snow when necessary.
These cross-country tracks are located around Kacak Lake in the Vejsplachy complex, south of the town. Homologated cross-country competition tracks are located nearby, as well as other cross-country tracks which lead to Horni Branna, Dolni Branna, Valterice and Knezice, and continue via Benecko to Horni Misecky. Other tourist cross-country tracks are available beyond the municipal park towards Lanov and Strazny.
Vrchlabi offers a total of 35 km of regularly groomed cross-country tracks.
1. Vejsplachy Cross-country Circuit (3.75 km)
There are 3.75 km of regularly groomed tracks in Vejsplachy around Kacak Lake suitable for all cross-country skiers. If necessary, artificial snow is used. The tracks are lit every day until 7 p.m. For up-to-date information, see:
2. Vrchlabi – Vejsplachy Competition Cross-country Tracks
There are 4 km of homologated competition tracks on the southern border of the town.
3. Vrchlabi, Vejsplachy – Horni Branna – Vejsplachy
This track, 6 km in length, will take you from Vrchlabi across the hill to Horni Branna, where you can stop to see the local sights, for instance, the renovated Harrach Family Tomb and the exhibition on the famous teacher, Jan Amos Komensky.
4. Vrchlabi, Vejsplachy – Dolni Branna – Vejsplachy
Vejsplachy is a good starting point for your cross-country trips. You can also take this track, 6 km in length, to Dolni Branna and back.
5. Vrchlabi, Vejsplachy – Knezice – Valterice – Vejsplachy
This is a more demanding track, 7 km in length, which runs to Knezice, from where attractive views of Vrchlabi and panoramas of the Krkonose can be enjoyed. You can visit the local riding hall and Knezicka chalet. You can also see the Chapel of St. Anne and the Fourteen Holy Helpers, offering a beautiful view around. The track will take you back to Vrchlabi via Valterice.
6. From the Upper Chairlift Station via Knezicky Hill to Krizovky Junction
This track begins at the upper chairlift station for Knezicky Hill and continues to Krizovky Junction. From there, you can follow another track to Herlikovice or continue to the viewing tower on Zaly Mountain and take the chairlift down to Herlikovice. Skilled sportspeople can take the next track through Rovinka Junction to Horni Misecky.
7. Krizovky Junction – Herlikovice
This is an easy 1 km downhill track from Krizovky Junction to Herlikovice.
8. Vrchlabi, Municipal Park – Mesicni Valley – Lanov – Jankuv hill – Vrchlabi, or Lanov – Strazne
This is a medium difficulty track which begins in the municipal park in Vrchlabi and runs through the picturesque Mesicni valley to Lanov. From there, more skilled skiers can continue via Dolni Dvur along the Klinovy brook to Strazne. The original track continues from Lanov around the local airport back to Vrchlabi. The track length is 5 km, or 8 km including the trip to Strazne.
You can also contribute to the maintenance of the tracks.
The tracks are free to use. However, you can contribute to their maintenance in Vejsplachy by purchasing a ski vignette in the complex, or in the Information Centre on TGM Square. Vignettes worth 50, 100, 250 and 500 CZK are available. You can also use QR codes at entry points for online payment.
Parking Fee
The parking fee at the Vesplachy complex car park is 95 CZK per every commenced three hours for passenger cars, 250 CZK for vans and 1000 CZK for buses. The parking fee applies only from 1 December to 31 March. Parking is free in other months. The reason to introduce the parking fee were the increasing costs of artificial snow and maintenance of cross-country tracks.
Maintenance and Up-to-date Information
The latest information about the maintenance of cross-country tracks in the Krkonose, provided by GPS tracking of snow cats, is available at
For current snow conditions and the state of maintenance of downhill and cross-country tracks in the whole Krkonose area, simply go to
We have recorded cross-country wanderings from Vrchlabi. You can watch it…
The team of “Bezkotoulky”, a TV feature on wandering on cross-country skies, chose Vrchlabi as the setting on one of the most beautiful days of last winter. Enjoy this invitation to the sunlit and freshly snow-clad submontane town which will attract you not only with its sports facilities.
