Králický Sněžník Nature Reserve protects the highest peak of the Eastern Sudetes mountain range, straddling the Czech-Polish border. This is a place where alpine meadows above the treeline meet ancient spruce forests below, creating one of the most dramatic landscapes in the region.

Above roughly 1350 metres, the summit plateau opens into treeless alpine grasslands and heathlands, swept bare by wind in winter, while sheltered slopes hold lush tall-grass meadows and boulder fields. Lower down, old-growth spruce forests with a primeval character give way to acidic beech woods. Spring and summer bring a spectacular bloom of alpine flora, including rare hawkweeds found nowhere else on Earth. In autumn mist often rolls across the ridges, and winter transforms the mountain into a genuine snow-covered wilderness - true to its name, which literally means 'Snowy Peak'.

How to get there

• Morava mountain hut (Czech side) - yellow trail, approx. 2-3 hours, moderate difficulty
• Approach from the Polish side via Międzygórze - red trail, longer route, requires good fitness

Practical information

• Leaving marked trails is prohibited - the area is under strict nature protection
• Caves within the reserve are closed to visitors
• Fragile bog and alpine plant communities mean hikers should stay strictly on the paths

The reserve is home to the endemic Sněžník hawkweed (Hieracium nivimontis), found nowhere else in the world - a true botanical rarity growing only on this single mountain.