9 August 2026 · Sunday · 08:25 snapshot
Medvědín Day Hike
A ready-to-follow itinerary
Drive from Prague to Medvědín, take a one-way gondola up, pass Pančavský vodopád, the Elbe source and Kotelní jámy, then hike back down to P3 via the summer ski slope.
Four things to remember before leaving
Route summary: Medvědín → Vrbatova bouda → Pančavský vodopád → Labská bouda → Pramen Labe → U Čtyř pánů → U Růženčiny zahrádky → Harrachovy kameny → Nad Kotelní jámou → Vrbatova bouda → Medvědín → Horní Mísečky → Vodovodní summer ski slope → P3
There is no 12:30 departure; if you miss 12:00, do not wait until 13:00 for the full loop — switch to the short route instead.
Today's schedule
Leave Prague
Allow 2 h 10 min to 2 h 25 min for the full drive; do not plan around the traffic-free theoretical time only.
Arrive at P3 Medvědín
Park, change shoes, grab water and food, use the toilet, then buy a pedestrian one-way gondola ticket.
Take the gondola up
11:00 is ideal, 11:30 is fine; 12:00 is the last option.
Start walking from the top station
Look for the red trail and the sign for Vrbatova bouda to enter the alpine loop; the summer ski slope is the very last segment after completing the loop.
Lunch at Labská bouda
Stop for 20–30 minutes. If you arrive after 14:00, just use the toilet, refill water, and continue after 10 minutes.
Pramen Labe
Spend 10–15 minutes at the symbolic Elbe source; leave by 15:00 at the latest.
Harrachovy kameny
View Kotelní jámy from the ridge above. Do not leave the marked trail to descend into the cirque.
Second pass at Vrbatova bouda
Take only a 5-minute break, then follow the red trail back to Medvědín.
Begin hiking down from the top station
Do not take the gondola down. Follow the wide road to Horní Mísečky first, then descend via the blue Vodovodní summer ski slope to the bottom station.
Back at P3, drive to Prague
The descent is about 5.2 km, 1 h 30 min; expect to reach Prague around 20:45–21:20, depending on traffic.
Driving, parking & one-way gondola
Driving from Prague
Recommended route: Prague → D10 → Mladá Boleslav → Jičín → Nová Paka → Vrchlabí → II/295 → Špindlerův Mlýn → P3 Medvědín
- Take D10 towards Mladá Boleslav / Turnov.
- Turn towards Jičín, follow I/16 via Nová Paka to Vrchlabí.
- At Vrchlabí, take II/295 north along the Labe valley.
- In town, follow signs for Medvědín, Lanovka, Aquapark, P3.
On arrival
| Car park | P3 Medvědín, next to the gondola bottom station, open 24 h |
|---|---|
| Availability | ~250 spaces at 08:25; check on arrival |
| Parking budget | Prepare 300 CZK; actual price posted on-site |
| Ticket phrase | jednosměrná jízdenka pro pěší, jen nahoru (pedestrian one-way, up only) |
| Where to buy | GOPASS, ticket machine, or on-site ticket office |
| Operating hours | 09:00–18:00, on the hour and half-hour; no 12:30 departure |
| Descent | On foot via Horní Mísečky, then Vodovodní summer ski slope back to P3 |
Route segments: follow place names first, trail colours second
The alpine loop has an official moving time of about 4 h 12 min, with roughly 393 m of total ascent and descent. The summer descent from the Medvědín top station to P3 adds another 5.2 km, about 1 h 30 min, dropping roughly 491 m. Total hiking distance is about 18.1 km. The segments below include time for navigation, photos and short breaks. Click each segment to expand.
01Medvědín top station → Vrbatova bouda50–60 min · Red trail
After exiting the gondola, look for Vrbatova bouda / Zlaté návrší and join the red hiking trail. On your first visit to Vrbatova bouda, stop only 5–10 minutes — no meal here.
02Vrbatova bouda → Labská bouda60–75 min · Red trail
Follow signs for Labská bouda / Pančavský vodopád / Ambrožova vyhlídka. You will pass memorial areas, viewpoints and the top of the waterfall. Do not take the road down to Horní Mísečky and do not look for a shortcut to the waterfall base.
03Lunch at Labská bouda20–30 min · Main supply point
Use the toilet, buy drinks or a simple hot meal, refill water. Do not depend entirely on the restaurant: Sunday queues can eat into your afternoon time.
- Arrive before 13:30: rest up to 30 min
- Arrive 13:30–14:00: 20 min max
- Arrive after 14:00: keep it to 10 min
04Labská bouda → Pramen Labe25–30 min
Follow signs for Pramen Labe. Do not head towards Sněžné jámy, Martinova bouda or Labský důl. The source visitors see is symbolic; the actual natural source lies within a protected wetland — do not leave the trail to find it.
05Pramen Labe → U Čtyř pánů15–25 min · Yellow markers
From the source, follow the yellow markers to U Čtyř pánů. Do not continue towards Česká budka, the Polish border or Sněžné jámy. This is one of the day's easiest junctions to get wrong.
06U Čtyř pánů → U Růženčiny zahrádky15–25 min
First look for U Růženčiny zahrádky, then once there identify Harrachovy kameny / Vrbatova bouda / Nad Kotelní jámou and join the green trail. Do not descend towards Harrachov.
07Harrachovy kameny & Kotelní jámy35–50 min · Green trail
Pass through Harrachovy kameny, the viewpoint area above the cirques, and Nad Kotelní jámou, then return towards Vrbatova bouda. Kotelní jámy is viewed from above — do not descend into the cirque floor. Do not leave the marked trail for photos.
08Vrbatova bouda → Medvědín45–60 min · Back to red trail
At your second visit to Vrbatova bouda, rest 5 minutes at most. Look for Medvědín or the gondola icon and rejoin the red markers back to the top station. On arrival, do not take the gondola; prepare for the final hiking descent.
09Medvědín top station → Horní Mísečky → P3~1 h 30 min · 5.2 km · Summer ski slope
From the top station, follow the wide road to Horní Mísečky, then continue down the blue Vodovodní sjezdovka (Vodovodní ski slope) all the way to the Medvědín gondola bottom station and P3. The "blue" here refers to the ski-run name and difficulty grade — do not confuse it with the blue hiking markers. Do not shortcut steep sections; yield to bikes and scooters and follow on-site traffic signs. The full descent drops about 491 m; watch for loose gravel, wet grass and a steep section near the end.
Today's weather & clothing
Clear morning, warm afternoon
Medvědín at 08:25: about 9°C; around 18°C at noon, up to 23–24°C at lower elevations in the afternoon. Most of the route sits at roughly 1,300–1,400 m on open highland — hot in direct sun, cools quickly once the wind picks up.
What to wear
- Quick-dry short-sleeve or thin long-sleeve
- Light windbreaker in your pack
- Long pants or hiking trousers
- Shoes with good grip (treaded soles)
- Hat and sunglasses
Note
Avoid flat-soled or heavily worn sneakers. Even in dry conditions, stone paths, boardwalks, ski-slope gravel and wet grass can be slippery; the continuous 491 m descent is also tough on the knees — consider trekking poles. Bring the windbreaker even on a sunny day.
Departure checklist (per person)
Tap to check off; state is saved in your browser only.
If you're late or things go wrong, do this
Missed the 12:00 gondola
Do not wait for 13:00 to do the full loop. Switch to: Medvědín → Vrbatova bouda → near Pančavský vodopád → retrace your steps.
Reach Pramen Labe after 15:00
Cut photo time short and head straight to U Čtyř pánů. If you are clearly behind schedule, go directly from there to Vrbatova bouda — skip Harrachovy kameny and Kotelní jámy.
Thunder, fast-moving clouds or strong wind
Stop lingering on the exposed ridge. Follow marked trails to the nearest Labská bouda or Vrbatova bouda. Stay away from isolated trees, ridge high points and exposed rocks.
Wrong shoes or obvious fatigue
Decide whether to continue the full loop no later than Labská bouda. If your knees hurt, energy is low, or the ski slope is wet from rain when you return to the Medvědín top station, take the gondola down instead — do not force the extra 491 m descent.