Dlouhé stráně (1,354 m a.s.l.) is one of the most distinctive peaks in the Hrubý Jeseník range — and it has a story written right into its shape. The flat, trapezoidal summit plateau hosts the upper reservoir of a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant, making this mountain a genuinely unique blend of dramatic Alpine scenery and impressive engineering.
Situated about 5.5 km southwest of Praděd, the peak is easy to spot as the central summit in a trio of nearly equal-height tops: Vřesník – Dlouhé stráně – Mravenečník. Its slopes are draped in spruce forests that gradually give way to mixed and deciduous woodland lower down. Hidden waterfalls dot the hillsides — rewarding those armed with a detailed map. Around the reservoir crown run paved paths with sweeping views of the surrounding ridges, while the rocky summit meadow is a perfect spot to sit and soak it all in. In winter, the slopes transform into cross-country skiing trails.
How to reach the summitHere is a little secret: until 1978 Dlouhé stráně had a classic rounded dome summit. When construction of the reservoir began, the very top of the mountain was literally cut off and the excavated rock was used to widen the reservoir base — the mountain's silhouette today is a permanent reminder of that remarkable feat.