The Climbing Guide Labske Udoli (Kletterführer Elbtal) describes over 2,200 routes across a wide range of grades at Labske Udoli, and is available to buy from our shop.
The author Gerald Krug has written an article describing the rock climbing at Labske Udoli.
The Ostrov Rock Climbing Guidebook describes over 3,300 routes across a wide range of grades at Ostrov (Eiland), and is available to buy from our shop.
The Sněžník bouldering guidebook describes over 1,800 boulder problems across a wide range of grades (easy to Fb 8b+), and is available to buy from our shop.
Rock climbing in the Czech Republic
Czech climbing has a reputation for scary routes on sandstone rock with only knotted slings for protection. Whilst this is true for some areas and/or selected routes there are plenty of places to go climbing in the Czech Republic where there are bolts or in-situ rings for protection, as well as plenty of bouldering. The map shows some of the best places to go rock climbing and bouldering in the Czech Republic.
Rock Climbing and Bouldering around Děčín
The city of Děčín is located in the northern part of the Czech Republic on the border with Germany near the city of Dresden. Here there are 3 main areas, with the climbing at Labske Udoli and Ostrov being very similar on good quality sandstone cliffs and towers, plus the sandstone bouldering at Sněžník.
Map of the main rock climbing areas in the Czech Republic
As the climbing is located on either side of the river it is always possible to find the sun or shade depending upon the time of year. Getting to Labske Udoli is easy by flying into Dresden (Germany) or Prague (Czech Republic). A train runs between these two cities passing directly through the area, so there is no need for a car, as almost everything is within walking distance. The climbing guide Labske Udoli describes over 2,200 routes across a wide range of grades and is available to buy from our shop. The author Gerald Krug has written an article describing the climbing at Labske Udoli in more detail, find out more…
Map of the rock climbing and bouldering areas around Děčín
The rock climbing at Ostrov is suitable for climbers of all abilities, though the emphasis is on medium to easy routes that are on average 20m long. Again there are strict ethics with regards to the protection used (metal nuts and cams are banned). Instead the focus is on adventure climbing using slings for threads or knotted slings inserted into cracks, and most routes have between 1 and 4 fixed rings or bolts. This means the climbing is generally safe though long falls can happen. What is unique about the climbing at Ostrov is the large number of easy routes (up to F5c) that have some fixed protected, making the area popular with families.
As the sandstone towers and cliffs surround Ostrov there are always sunny and shaded crags to be found, making the best time to climb at Ostrov from the spring through to the autumn. The climbing guide Ostrov describes over 3,300 routes across a wide range of grades and is available to buy from our shop. Ostrov is also easily accessible from either Dresden (Germany) or Prague (Czech Republic).
The best time of year to boulder at Sněžník is in the autumn though great conditions can be found from March to November. Even during the warm summer months there are plenty of shady areas within the trees. The Sněžník bouldering guidebook describes over 1,800 boulder problems across a wide range of grades (easy to Fb 8b+) and is available to buy from our shop.
Click on the images to view a larger photograph, showing the excellent rock climbing to be found at Labske Udoli.
Bouldering at Petrohrad
Petrohrad is the best bouldering area in the Czech Republic, and is located 80km to the west of Prague. The bouldering is on exceptional quality grey granite that is rough, often rounded, which offers excellent friction. There is a huge variety of climbing styles with many slabs and overhangs. There are around 3,000+ problems, across the whole grade range from easy to cutting edge Fb8b+. The walk-ins are short, and generally the boulders are situated in magical forests but some are also to be found in open fields surrounded by a wild, hilly landscape.
Rock Climbing at Prachov Rocks (Prachovske Skaly)
Prachov Rocks (Prachovske Skaly) is a part of the Bohemian Paradise Nature Park, and is a Protected Landscape Area. Prachov Rocks is a series of sandstone towers with a variety of climbing styles ranging from slabs with good friction, to cracks of all sizes, and chimneys. Protection is via spaced fixed rings along with slings for threads or knotted slings to insert into cracks. Like other sandstone areas in the Czech Republic the use of all nuts and cams are banned along with chalk. A 60m rope will be sufficient for the vast majority of the routes. At the top of each tower there are rings to abseil from along with a little metal summit container containing an informative booklet and summit log.
Rock Climbing Adršpach
The climbing at Adršpach is very similar to that of Prachov Rocks except that the sandstone towers reach heights of more than 100m. Again protection on these towers is via spaced fixed rings and/or the placing of slings. However there is also a sport climbing area here (called Krizovy hill) that is well bolted and chalk is also permitted.
The sandstone towers of Prachovske Skaly
Rock Climbing at Rudice (South Moravia)
The climbing at Rudice (South Moravia) is a large limestone area that is made up of a series of buttresses and crags. Here there are routes across a wide range of grades to suit climbers of all abilities near the town of Brno.
The Climbing Guide Labske Udoli (Kletterführer Elbtal) describes over 2,200 routes across a wide range of grades at Labske Udoli, and is available to buy from our shop.
The author Gerald Krug has written an article describing the rock climbing at Labske Udoli.
The Ostrov Rock Climbing Guidebook describes over 3,300 routes across a wide range of grades at Ostrov (Eiland), and is available to buy from our shop.
The Sněžník bouldering guidebook describes over 1,800 boulder problems across a wide range of grades (easy to Fb 8b+), and is available to buy from our shop.