Adršpach Rocks: Stairs Between Cliffs, a Boat Ride and a Train Back

The Adršpach-Teplice Rocks (Adršpašsko-teplické skály) are a rock city in the Broumov region of Czechia, where you can walk between sandstone towers on stairs, go on a boat across a little lake and come back by train. We came in May from our accommodation Naruby in Maršov near Úpice.

What is the trip like?

The main circuit through the rock city follows the green trail marking, is 3.5 km (2.2 miles) long and takes roughly two and a half hours. It starts at the entrance near the little lake (what remains of a former sandpit) and continues to the Small Waterfall. On the way there are wooden stairs that lead up through the rocks, and narrow gorges between the towers.

It's worth looking for the named formations: the Mayor and the Mayor's Wife, the Mouse Hole and the Lovers. In one gorge there is an iron grille with memorial plaques.

How do you recognise the named rocks?

The rocks here have names and you can turn it into a search game. According to the rocks' official website and Wikipedia, these are mainly:

• Lovers (Milenci): the tallest tower in the Adršpach Rocks, 81.4 m high. German climbers first conquered it in 1923, and it's also a viewpoint.
• Mayor and Mayor's Wife (Starosta a Starostová): a pair of towers side by side and a viewing spot.
• Sugarloaf (Homole cukru): it balances on its tip, about 13 m wide at the top and only 3 m at the bottom, so it looks like an upside-down cone. People leave sticks at its foot to "prop it up".
• Jug (Džbán): a rock with a window about 6 m high that forms the "handle" of the jug.
• Mouse Hole (Myší díra): a gap about 50 cm wide and the narrowest passage in the rock city.
• Gothic Gate (Gotická branka): the original entrance to the rocks from 1839, built by Ludvík Karel Nádherný together with a network of paths.
• Great Waterfall (Velký vodopád): it falls 16 m into a rock gorge and freezes into an ice fall over winter. Above it is a little lake from which the boats set off.

Which rock is in which of our photos, we still have to fill in. In the field you can recognise the names from the signs and from the map from the information centre at the entrance.

Boat ride

In the middle of the rocks there is a little lake with boats that a boatman propels with a long pole. According to the available information the boat ride runs from April to October in good weather. It's not suitable for pushchairs. Check the price and operating times on site or on the official website.

How to get to Adršpach by train

You can get to the rocks partly by train. Adršpach has a railway station which, according to sources, is just across the road from the main car park, so you're in the rocks within a few minutes. We came back from Adršpach by train, which suits the end of a whole day in the hills. Check connections in the timetable (IDOS, the Czech journey planner).

Tickets and opening hours

• According to the available data the rocks are open all year round from 8 am to 6 pm.
• Admission is roughly 130 to 200 CZK (about EUR 5-8) depending on the season; check the exact price and time on the official website.
• In the high season (July, August) both tickets and parking are booked online, and it often gets full. Outside the season there are far fewer people.
• Official rocks website and phone 491 586 012 for current operations.

Frequently asked questions about the Adršpach Rocks

Do I have to buy a ticket in advance?

It's recommended. The booking system spreads visitor numbers over the whole day, so when buying you choose a time (for example 8:00) and enter the rocks within the following hour. Once inside the circuit, the length of your visit is no longer limited. The fewest people are outside peak time, between 10 am and 2 pm. It's also recommended to book parking online, as capacity is limited.

How long does the circuit take?

The main circuit (green marking) is 3.5 km (2.2 miles) and takes roughly 2.5 hours. A shorter one is the circuit around the sandpit (blue, 1.5 km or 0.9 miles). From there you can continue through the Wolf Gorge (Vlčí rokle) to the Teplice Rocks (yellow, 3.5 km or 2.2 miles).

Can you go with a pushchair or small children?

With a pushchair only to the Small Waterfall, which is about 1.3 km (0.8 miles) on the flat, and you go back the same way. The rest of the route goes up narrow steep stairs, and the whole circuit has almost 2,000 of them. For small children a baby carrier is better.

Are dogs allowed in the rocks?

Yes, but on a lead the whole time. Dogs are not allowed on the boats.

Can you cycle there?

The circuit is for walkers only. Cycle paths lead up to the site and you can leave your bike in the bike room by the entrance.

Is there food and drink on the circuit?

No. In summer there are stalls before the entrance, so bring water and something to eat. You can pay by card at the entrance, but for the boats only in cash in Czech koruna.

How do I get to Adršpach without a car?

The Adršpach train stop is right in front of the entrance to the rocks, and the bus stop is about 250 m from the entrance.

What is forbidden in the rocks?

Swimming in the sandpit and in the little lake, smoking, leaving the paths, carving and painting on the rocks, flying a drone, camping and open fires. The rocks' warden can issue a fine.

Source: the official website of the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks (the frequently asked questions and the page about the named rocks) and Wikipedia. Always check prices and operating times at adrspasskeskaly.cz.

Where to stay nearby?

We stayed at the Naruby accommodation in the Jestřebí hory hills, where they also have ducks and duck eggs. More tips from the area are below the article.