Blueberry Trail

In addition to ore deposits, the deep forests have long been considered one of the greatest treasures of the Krkonoše Mountains. The first colonizers of the mountain forests were prospectors and miners. In the mid-16th century, the royal mining governor Kryštof of Gendorf began mining iron ore and establishing ironworks. The mines and smelters consumed a lot of wood. Gendorf invited experienced woodcutters and rafters from his homeland of Carinthia, Styria, and Tyrol. They settled with their families and founded new settlements, such as Krausovy Boudy, above which our route to Špindlerův Mlýn leads. The settlers harvested wood, built charcoal kilns, and floated timber down the rivers. Their engineering skills in taming streams have been preserved. Examples can be found near Boudy u Bílého Labe on a stream called Čertova strouha. Here, a masterful dam construction, consisting of dozens of stone thresholds that slow down the flow of water and prevent flooding, has survived for more than 100 years.

From Vrchlabí's Míru Square, take Husova Street past the Krkonoše Museum along the K10 cycle route and, following the yellow tourist trail, climb past the Kněžická chalupa cottage to the "Křížovky" crossroads and then turn right towards Benecko. At the Zlatá vyhlídka hotel, turn right onto the K10 cycle route and climb up to the Žalý lookout tower. Then continue along the K10 cycle route to the "Rovinka" crossroads and continue along the K13 cycle route via Třídomí to Horní Mísečky. Here, turn right onto the K1A cycle route and descend to Špindlerův Mlýn to the White Bridge. After the bridge, join the K16 cycle route and ride through Svatý Petr to the Stoh ski lift and continue along the K16 cycle route to Bouda U Bílého Labe. From there, descend along Bílý Labe on Weberova cesta, continuing on K16 to the log cabin at Dívčí lávky. Follow cycle route K14 back to Bílý most, which you will cross again. Follow the K1A cycle route uphill again, parallel to the yellow tourist trail, to the "U Krásné Pláně" crossroads. Continue along the K1A cycle route to Strážné and then along the road to Vrchlabí.