While we in Germany and Austria are still struggling to build legal trails, our Czech neighbours have long been among the best trail builders in the world. Bike parks and trail centres without lifts are sprouting from the flanks of the low mountain ranges here and true curve masters are also at work around Prague. The place names are difficult to pronounce, the websites are not always translated into English and you pay in Czech crowns: perfect for a cheap road trip adventure right next door!
Here are the best spots sorted by low mountain range, a map for a rough overview can be found here: www.mtbczech.cz
Ore Mountains
Trailpark Klinovec (Keilberg, Ore Mountains), www.trailpark.cz
From long flow trails (up to 10 km) to challenging downhill trails (30 km in total) with chairlift and a signposted network of tours all around (70 km) with restaurant, bike wash, hire, shop and workshop.
Trails: 4 long main trails with connecting paths
Open: 1 May -1 November, 9:30-18 hrs
Day ticket: children up to 5 years free, 6-14 years 12.50 euros (320 CZK), adults 24.50 euros
Trailpark Plesivec (Plessberg, Ore Mountains), www.trailparkplesivec.cz
Four trails wind their way down the 1030 metre high Plesivec (easy (3.6 km), medium, difficult, extreme (2 km)) with a 4-seater chairlift and barbecue restaurant. Designer: Michala Prokopa (Czech fourcrosser)
Open: 9:30-17:30
Day ticket: young people: 11.50 euros, adults 19 euros
Bohemian Forest
Bikepark Lipno, www.lipno.info
3 trails (family trail, flow trail, moderately difficult trail with jumps and drops), 2 chairlifts, bike hire, hut for refreshments
Open: May to September, low season only on weekends, 9:30-17-30 hrs
Day ticket: young people 10.50 euros, adults 17 euros
Bikepark Spicak, sumava.spicak.cz/en/
4 trails on the 1202 metre high Spicak with chairlift, restaurant, bike hire, pump track
Open: May to the end of October, 9am - 6pm
Day ticket: young people 22 euros, adults 26 euros
Giant Mountains
Spindl Bikepark (Spindleruv Mlyn), www.mestospindleruvmlyn.cz
5 trails plus pump track with chairlift, bike shop and hire shop
Open: May-October, 8-18 hrs
Day ticket: adults 26.50 euros
Bikepark Rokytnice (Bikepark Rock-it-nice ), www.rokytnice.com & http://www.skiroky.cz/
Bikepark Mlade Buky, www.areal-mladebuky.cz
Trutnov Trails, www.trutnovtrails.cz
35 kilometres of trail network in the Giant Mountains. Neighbouring: Vlcka bike park with challenging descents.
Jizera Mountains
Singltrek Pod Smrkem in Nove Mesto, https://podsmrkem.singltrek.cz & www.trek-centrum.cz
Oldest trail centre with many kilometres of the purest flow trails. IMBA: One of the 7 best mountain bike destinations in the world!
Open: all year round. The shop: April - October, 9-17:30
Bike park Jested Liberec (Jeschken), www.regionliberec.de
6 trails from family to "El Masacre" (extreme)
Open: April - September, 9 am - 5 pm
Day ticket: young people 13 euros, adults 19 euros
More MTB trail centres & trail parks in the Czech Republic
Moninec Bike Park in Bohemian Siberia, www.moninec.cz
Day ticket: 16 Euro
Rychlebské Stezky (near Cerna Voda, Jeseníky Mountains), www.rychlebskestezky.cz
They say it's perhaps the best trail centre in Europe. Unfortunately, it is hidden away in the north-east of the Czech Republic. Funds for trail construction are collected here via crowdfunding, e-MTBs are not allowed in.
Open: May - October
Dolni Morava Trail Park in Moravia, Info: www.dolnimorava.cz
Moravský Kras single trail in Jednovice, singlekras.cz
Trail centre with shop, workshop, restaurant, riding equipment, rental
Plus: Flowtrail Boskovice
Bike Aréna Vsetín, www.bikearena-vsetin.cz
Trail park on the eastern border of the Czech Republic, open all year round
Bikepark Kyčerka červený, www.bikeresortvalassko.cz
Trail park on the Slovakian border
Around Prague
Particularly in the south, east and west of the Czech capital are a forest belt with various trail spots. It is therefore definitely worth taking your bike with you when you visit Prague. For example the Tocna Trails. Here you get a good Overview of the MTB trails around Prague.
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Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
