The best hiking routes in CHKO Moravský kras

CHKO Moravský kras is a forested limestone tableland defined by deep, steep-sided wooded ravines rather than high peaks. The landscape is split into two distinct characters. On the surface plateau, you walk through quiet beech and pine forests along wide, stony forestry tracks and dirt paths where the underlying karst is invisible. Once you descend into the valleys, the terrain changes abruptly to narrow, shaded canyon floors where cold air pools and limestone cliffs tower directly over the trail. Underfoot, these gorge paths are often damp, rocky, and uneven, occasionally transitioning to metal grates or steps near cave entrances.

Water is the defining force here, though it is rarely visible on the surface. Instead of open rivers, you will follow dry valleys where streams suddenly disappear underground into sinkholes, only to emerge miles away as powerful springs at the base of limestone walls. This means the plateau can feel dry and silent, while the deep ravines hum with the sound of hidden water. The transition from the dry, sunny upper woods to the dark, damp microclimate of the gorges is immediate and noticeable on any descent.

The area is highly accessible, which means the main paved valley bottoms and the areas around the famous show caves can become very busy with visitors. To find a quieter walking experience, choose the steeper, unpaved hiking trails that climb onto the forested ridges or follow the less-visited dry valleys in the northern and southern sections of the karst. These upper paths offer a rugged, natural forest walk away from the main tourist infrastructure.