Studniční hora (1,555 m a.s.l.) is the third highest peak in the Krkonoše — the Giant Mountains — and in the entire Czech Republic, yet it draws a fraction of the crowds that flock to nearby Sněžka. If you want genuine mountain solitude with spectacular views, this is the place to come.
The summit has a distinctive dome-like shape with a broad, rounded top. The northern and western slopes are gentle and easy-going, while the eastern and southern flanks drop sharply into the Obří důl and Modrý valleys, forming dramatic glacial cirques — the Úpská jáma, Malá Studniční jáma and Velká Studniční jáma. These steep avalanche slopes are serious terrain in winter, when large cornices build up along the ridges. One of the most striking local features is the southern avalanche slope with a persistent snow field known as the 'Map of the Republic' — its outline really does resemble the shape of Czechoslovakia. Between the main ridge and the summit lies the Úpa peat bog, the source of both the Úpa and Bílé Labe rivers, making this area botanically rich and atmospheric in every season.
How to reach the summitHere is a fun fact to impress your hiking companions: Studniční hora stands just 55 centimetres lower than its neighbour Luční hora — a rivalry measured in millimetres rather than metres.