Holidays with children

Families with Children

Malá Úpa is a ski resort in winter and a cycling and hiking paradise in summer, particularly suitable for families with kids. This romantic traditional village on the border with Poland is easily accessible by car and bus. Flowering meadows and wide forests invite you to hiking. And there is plenty to be discovered!

Younger and older children will have fun in Krakonoš's kingdom – there is a Fairy Tale Trail, playgrounds, and theaters for the little ones, while older children can enjoy outdoor and indoor sports grounds, a nearby water park, or a western town in Poland.

Fairy Tale Trail

A great idea for enjoying the national park, seeing beautiful nature, and climbing a hill with children who will love it. Sounds like a fairy tale? Then we invite you to our Fairy Tale Trail! Start at the Information Center in Horní Malá Úpa, where you can buy a booklet for a small fee. The book serves as a map for the entire route and also as a notebook in which children can trace the plastic ornaments from each stop. The trail consists of ten fairy tale stations inspired by the writer Marie Kubátová.

If your book contains all the ornaments, you'll get a Maloúpský groš coin as a souvenir. The route is about 17 km long, so you can spread your energy over several days. The average visitor with kids takes three days to complete it.

The opening hours of the Information Centre can be found on the municipality website, and more about the trail, as well as fairy tale samples, can be found at www.pohadkova-stezka.cz.

Úpáček Train

Try a relaxing ride on a tourist sight-seeing train through the beautiful fairy-tale town of Malá Úpa. The train always departs from Spálený Mlýn and continues towards Kostel and then on to Pomezní boudy, from where it heads back to Spálený Mlýn. You can board and alight at any marked stop. The train is not only for family trips; it is also possible to arrange special trips for kindergartens, school trips, or events for older visitors.

You can find the schedule and current location of the Úpáček train at www.vlacek-upa.cz.

Farm trails

A journey to see farm animals

Bouda Malá Úpa has revived cattle breeding, which was already practiced in Malá Úpa in 1609. These were large herds with thousands of head of cattle. In Malá Úpa, you can visit a paddock with Highland Cattle – Scottish highland cattle and Suffolk sheep. Rams of this breed can weigh up to 130 kg, which is quite a lot for a sheep! Please keep in mind that feeding the animals is forbidden. However, you can ask the owner, who will be happy to provide you with more detailed information and a tour of the paddock.

Hořcová Trail

An easy trail suitable for bikers or families with strollers. The trail is named after a rare plant that grows in only two places in the Krkonoše Mountains – Hořeček mnohotvárný český. The trail starts at Pomezní Boudy, leads through Rennerovy Boudy, around the Church of St. Peter and Paul, and ends at Spálený mlýn.

Lookout towers

Treetop Trail

The trail is located in the heart of the majestic forests of the Krkonoše National Park. It shows you what makes the nature of the Krkonoše Mountains unique. You will discover the beautiful forests literally from their roots to their crowns. You 'll become part of forest life and discover a range of animals and plants that you won't find anywhere else.  www.stezkakrkonose.cz.

Lookout tower on Černá hora

You can reach the observation tower on Černá hora by foot or by taking the cable car from Janské Lázně. At the top of the tower, you will find a telescope and a Czech Television camera providing live broadcasts from the Czech mountains. After climbing 106 steps, you 'll see the peaks of the Krkonoše, Podkrkonoší, Orlické hory, and Jizerské hory mountains from the 21-meter-high viewing platform. In July and August, it is open daily from 10:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and admission is 10 CZK. Černá hora cable car operations.

Modré Kameny Viewpoint

There are several ways to reach Modré kameny (Blue Rocks). You can take the route from Černá hora via Pardubické boudy, or from Janské Lázně along the blue trail and then the yellow trail. The viewpoint is natural, with no stairs. You can easily climb up the rock or use a rope.

Hnědý vrch Lookout

There is a lookout tower on the mountain, made of wood and steel, with three viewing platforms. To reach the highest one, which is roofed, you have to climb 138 steps. Your reward will be a view of the main ridge of the Krkonoše Mountains from the highest lookout tower in the range. The work of architect Michal Rosa stands out for its height and unusual layout, as it is supported not by four but by six pillars made of roughly carved blocks of wood. Admission is free, and you can get to the top from June to October when the cable car is in operation, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

More distant lookouts

You can also visit the ELIŠKA lookout tower, located near Stachelberg, which rises to a height of 24.5 m. More information here.

The ŠIBENÍK Lookout in Trutnov will also reward you with a beautiful view of the Krkonoše panorama. More information here.

Children's Playgrounds

You can also use the SKiMU Parks for children in summer, and there are playgrounds available for children. The playgrounds at the U Kostela pension and the Permoník and Rusalka pensions can be used by consent of the owners.

Borůvka Chalet with Children's Theatre

Approximately 4 km from Spálený Mlýn stands the Borůvka chalet. At Borůvka, you can enjoy delicious blueberry pancakes and all sorts of other treats. The owners breed a flock of sheep, which you can feed dry bread to by request. Borůvka hosts a number of theater performances during the summer months.

Trips to Poland

Malá Úpa is situated on the border with Poland, so it would be a shame to miss out on the picturesque border region. We have prepared a few tips for you on where to explore – from an aqua park to a western town to recommendations for fine dining – find inspiration on the website Trips to Poland.

PECKA play landscape

In nearby Velká Úpa, on Portášky, the PECKA play landscape has been created, which is perfect for families with children.

The PECKA play landscape is open to hikers, adventurers, pilgrims, and wanderers who want to head out on a family-friendly adventure. The animals of the Krkonoše Mountains come to life in the meadow and forest – salamanders, lynxes, deer, and vipers. All of the giant sculptures have a function that you must explore. Equip yourself with a wooden "pecka", which will help you with your exploration. From Pecka, you can set off on a scooter, which can be rented at the upper station of the cable car.

More information HERE