The best hiking routes in CHKO Brdy

CHKO Brdy offers a distinct hiking landscape defined by its history as a restricted military training area, which kept the region largely uninhabited and free from modern development. Unlike the jagged sandstone towers found in northern Bohemia, this highland consists of broad, gently rounded ridges covered by vast, dense spruce and beech forests. The terrain is characterized by stony forest tracks, wide firebreaks, and occasional open patches of heathland and peat bogs that have formed in the higher, damp depressions.

Walking here means navigating a network of long, straight gravel roads and rougher dirt paths that can become muddy in low-lying sections. You will notice a lack of permanent villages or tourist infrastructure inside the core zone, replaced instead by occasional ruins of forestry lodges, old paved military tarmac, and small, artificial water reservoirs built for timber floating or military use. The highest points, such as Praha or Tok, are broad, flat plateaus rather than sharp peaks, offering wide views over the treetops to the surrounding rolling hills.

In late summer, particularly during August and September, the open clearings and former military target areas turn purple with blooming heather, contrasting with the dark green of the surrounding pine and spruce plantations. While the peripheral trailheads can be busy with cyclists and families on weekends, the deep interior of the forest remains quiet, attracting those who prefer long, steady walks on firm forestry tracks through quiet, uniform woodland.