Hiking Velky Javornik – The Big Maple Mountain
Hiking Velky Javornik – Contents
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Hiking Velky Javornik – Basic Information
- A 20 km hill walk through varied countryside.
- 964 m height gain.
- Great views across the Beskydy and Tatra Mountains.
- Access by car.
- Restaurants and hotels available.
Hiking Velky Javornik – Elevation Profile
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Hiking Velky Javornik – Photo Gallery
Hiking Velky Javornik – Notes
Velky Javornik is not a difficult hike as such. There are a few steep parts to the trail, but not many and not long. The trails are clearly marked with coloured lines painted on trees and signposts where trails cross.
Park your car in the turnaround at the top of the road up from Velke Karlovice. The road continues up for some way but it is not open to the public. Make sure you leave enough space for the bus to turn around, otherwise someone might get upset with you!
Follow the yellow trail up the spur, through the forest and out onto a pasture.at the signpost on Javorníček. Here is your first nice view of the trip and a good place to capture the mood of the season with your camera. Carry on along the ridge and down to the saddle at Příschlop – sedlo where you cross a small road by some cottages.
The yellow trail ends here and you continue on the green one. It’s a steady climb up, crossing the border into Slovakia as you approach the ridge. When you get to the ridge, you turn left onto the red trail and carry on to the view tower and war memorials at Ztracenec.
This is the place for panoramic photos of the Beskydys. On a clear day you can clearly see almost the whole range and on the north-west horizon you can even see the Jeseniky Mountains, around 120 km away.
The view tower is built near a gap in the trees, so from up there you can see down into Slovakia and into the Fatra and Tatra mountain ranges. It is often windy on the ridge and if you want to stop for a break and get out of the wind, there is a little wooden shelter here which is perfect.
The war memorial is dedicated to 3 soldiers who were killed here in 1945 during the liberation by the Red Army of Velke Karlovice. The memorial stone reads, ‘On May 3rd, 1945, during the liberation of Velke Karlovice, here on Ztracenec, fell two unknown members of the 1st Czechoslovakian Army Group and Andrej Rabcan, born 9.11.1922 in Drabska.’
At this point, you have seen the best of the views on the walk, so if you like, it’s a good place to turn around and head back. If you want to check out the other viewpoints and get to the highest point of the route at Velky Javornik, just continue along the red trail.
The trees along here are quite sparse on the Czech side, so there are regular good views in clear weather. The trail is well-defined and still marked on rocks where there are no trees. At the viewpoint just past Velky Javorniky, you can shelter from the wind among the trees and have a break, although there’s no shelter building here.
The route back is the same way you came up. This can be helpful if you are heading back at the end of the day. It can get quite dark in the forest even though it’s still light on the ridge. And there you have it, a fantastic walk with some good climbs, wonderful views and lots of fresh air. If you need any more information, use the comments section or our contact form.
Happy hiking!
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