Brtnice Ice Falls

When people say Brtnice Ice Falls today, most visitors know what they are talking about. The beautiful ice falls in the sandstone walls and overhangs in the dark gorges of the back of Bohemian Switzerland are formed during cold winters with heavy snow cover. They are not frozen waterfalls, as many people think. They are formed by the freezing of snow that is gradually melting. They reach their maximum size by the end of winter. Some are barely noticeable, while others are enormous and monumental. Moreover, their colors range from shades of yellow through green to brown and even black. And they bear names such as “The Curtain,” “Bethlehem,” “The Organ,” “The Stable,” and “The Great Ice Column.”

You’ll find the most interesting icefalls along the trail by Vlčí Creek. However, icefalls are scattered throughout the entire Kyjov Valley—they’re a distinctive feature of the local gorges. Under the right conditions, the Fairy Cave is the most enchanting.

How do I get to the icefalls?

The icefalls are accessible only on foot; you can leave your car at one of the parking lots or take one of the popular bus routes to Kyjov, Vlčí Hora, or Brtníky.

  • Route from Vlčí Hora near Krásná Lípa: From the parking lot or bus stop (line 407), follow the yellow trail markers to the Vlčí potok U jezevce trail junction. Continue along the paved path beside Vlčí potok until you reach the Brtnický hrádek turnoff. Then follow the green trail toward Brtníky, and at the Nad Brtníky junction, return along the yellow trail to Vlčí Hora. The entire loop is 10 km; you can find the route here.
  • cesta z Brtníků: od parkoviště nebo autobusové zastávky (linka 407) po zelené značce kolem Velkého pruského tábora až k rozcestí Brtnický hrádek – odbočka. Dále po zpevněné cestě roklí Vlčího potoka až na rozcestí Vlčí potok U jezevce. Odtud dále po žluté a zelené směr Brtníky. Celý okruh má 7,8 km, trasu najdete zde.
  • Route from the Kyjov Valley: From the parking lot or bus stop (lines 434, 404), follow the red trail through the Kyjov Valley to the Tourist Bridge. From there, follow the green trail past Brtnický Castle to the Nad Brtníky junction, then follow the yellow trail to Vlčí Potok U Jezevce, and return along the paved path beside Vlčí Potok to the Tourist Bridge, and back to Kyjov. The entire loop is 14.4 km long; you can find the route here.
The Colorful Brtnice Icefalls

What should you watch out for on your trip?

We recommend that you always keep an eye on the latest weather conditions. During the winter months, icy and slippery patches often appear on the trails, so please exercise extra caution. You can also use crampons on the trail, but be sure to remove them in time in areas where there is no ice so as not to damage the rock surfaces.

Ice falls have become very popular in recent years. We therefore recommend that you leave your car in the parking lots in Krásná Lípa and take one of the regular bus routes. Alternatively, you can use one of the parking lots in Kyjov, Vlčí Hora, or Brtníky.

Members are monitoring the current condition of the icefalls Czech Tourist Club in Krásná Lípa – info here