Outskirts
pindlerův Mlýn surroundings
There are lots of tourist activities in pindlerův Mlýn surroundings, the region offers hiking, cycling, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, sledge tracks, aqua park, bobsled track, paragliding, horse riding, bowling, fitness, golf, snow tubbing, squash, tennis...
Mountain tourism:
The trail of Czech - Polish Friendship: pindlerova bouda - Harrachov
From pindlerova bouda to Petrova bouda we continue along red mark, after 2 km we come across turning to the left to Petrova bouda marked in blue. In summer we can choose if we will turn left or continue hiking along the ridge, in winter only the track around Petrova bouda is marked with poles. From Petrova bouda we will return to the border ridge along yellow mark and will continue along the red one. From Petrova bouda to Sněné jámy (Snow Hollows) we climb up to Dívčí and Muské kameny (Girl's and Man's stones) - conspicuous rocks with a good view. We are passing by small monuments - Kalman´s and of O. Rys, by the monument we will turn to Polish ground to the highest mountain of western Giant Mountains - Vysoký Kol, 1508 m above sea level. On the right there is a view to Velká and Malá Sněná jáma (Big and Small snow hollow) with lakelets. From Sněné jámy to Vosecká bouda and to Mumlava valley we continue to Violík. In ? km we will get to a crossing with yellow mark (leads to the Elbe stream head - ? km). The road will again turn to Poland, we will pass along Sokolník peak and at the crossing of tracks Tvaroník marked in red we will turn left from the border ridge to Vosecká bouda and to the woody valley of Mumlava. By the river our track meets with the blue track of Harrach and together they continue down the river to today's last stop - Mumlava waterfall. It is only 8 m high however it is a waterfall with most water in the Giant Mountains. Even here we come across interesting formations in granite - in rapids above the waterfall the water eddies hollowed out giant kettle holes or rather basins - the biggest ones in our country (with a diameter of 5 - 7 m and depth of 3 m). From the waterfall we climb down to Harrachov either along blue track to the bus station or we continue along the red track to Harrachov - Nový Svět (New world).
The trail of Czech - Polish Friendship: pindlerova bouda - Sněka
We will start the journey along one of the most interesting parts of the Czech - Polish Friendship trail with quite hard section of climbing along the northern hillside of Malý iák (1440 above the sea level). The track is stony, uncomfortable and runs through Polish ground. We are walking through a belt of mountain pines that does not prevent beautiful view to basin of Jelenia Gora and mountain areas surrounding it. In the west there is Wysoki Grzbiet Izerski, in the north Gory Kaczawskie and in the east Rudawy Jnowickie. The first stop is Polední kámen (Noon stone) (Stonecznik - 1423 m above the sea level), granite tor, it is visible from far away and emblazoned with a number of tales. Its shape resembling a human figure from the north, was the reason why in the past it had a number of different names (among others Monk, Mayor, Devil's stone, etc.). The formation seen from far away is used by the residents as peculiar sundial. The Sun culminates above the stone at high noon. The track takes us further to Hrabu karu. Here we will find remains of a significant ridge chalet that was built by Giant Mountains association in 1889 as a model tourist trade facility for the mountain range. The chalet of Prince Henry burnt down in 1947 under unclear circumstances and has not been rebuilt. When it is nice these are the most beautiful sceneries in Giant Mountains with Sněka as a dominant. From the crossing Spalona Stranica we walk comfortably to Schronisko pod Snieka and there we will make a decision where to next. Climbing to Sněka is a logical crowning. Coming back through Luční bouda and Kozí hřbety.
Labský důl (The Hollow of Elbe)
From pindlerův Mlýn we start along the blue mark along the left bank of Elbe by hotel Savoy and around the valley with chair-lift station to Medvědín (1235 above sea level). By Dívčí lávka (Girl's bench) at the confluence with White Elbe the Hollow of Elbe itself and also the first tourist track in Giant Mountains begins, so called track of Harrach, named by its founder count Jan from Harrach, who had it built in 1879. Right here by the Girl's bench there was a toll collection point. The Hollow of Elbe is a mountain valley, 8 km long, formed by a glacier that was almost 5 km long during the period of highest glaciation. The remains of moraine line can be seen as early as near the outfall of Medvědí potok (Bear stream) that flows into Elbe from the left. After crossing the bridge to the left bank of Elbe the valley spreads out. The place was once selected for Harrachov sawmill that used the force of young Elbe. During the journey we can see on the right side on Sedmidolí hillsides the effects of 1966 autumn windstorm that destroyed 450 hectares of forest that is slowly recovering especially in the bottom part. Further along still wide and comfortable path we approach the bottom Elbe waterfall above it this section ends. In winter it is used as cross-country skiing track from pindlerův Mlýn. The track is worse and it is rising. We are crossing Pudlava that forms a waterfall above the bridge. From a nice outlook on the rock we can see the effects of an avalanche that in 1956 in March destroyed 9 hectares of forest on the opposite hill. It ripped off all of the soil and uncovered a long rock along 1375m long track. With a huge inertial force it ran over the Elbe bed to the opposite hill. We are walking further through deforested area created by mining of trees damaged by emissions, helicopters are often used here. Then the track is closed due to safety reasons. On the opposite side there are views of individual hollows of the Elbe hollow, gulch of Harrach, Pančava, Navor and Elbe. All of them are significant botanical locations. However our eyes fall especially upon Pančava waterfall (formerly Pančiče or Pučava) that falls in several jumps to the depth of 148 m to the bottom of Elbe hollow, in Pančava hollow there is also a significant botanical location called garden of Schustler. On the hillside near the waterfall there is also an entrance to crevasse cave of Giant Mountains master (Krakono) treasury that is emblazoned with several tales. After crossing the wooden footbridge across Elbe there is the most demanding, as far as building (they used to work with explosives here) of the track and walking along it, section of climbing to Labská bouda. Steep climbing is slightly reduced by hairpin bends, one of them comes near to the bottom part of the Elbe gulch that Elba waterfall 35m high falls into. Climbing along stony path ends on a flat terrace where former Labská bouda was standing, it burnt down on 6.1.1965. It is only few meters to its modern successor that is located higher on the hill, we decide to take rest here in the buffet or restaurant. The first human seat in the form of a shack made of stone, branches and bark has its place by Elbe waterfall, around 1830 legendary Blasse - Blaková from Rokytnice ran her tavern here. The offered products: goat cheese, milk and smuggled role from Silesia. After improvement by members of Schier family they could provide accommodation in middle of the century. The new Labská bouda according to the project of architect Z. Říhák was built in 1969-75. Till now there are reasonable doubts about suitability of its existence at this place because the design of the chalet greatly surpasses the surrounding, in which it is located. From Vrbatova bouda we go downhill along red track along mountain road with beautiful views of Jizera valley and the whole area of western foothills of the Giant Mountains. Then the red track turns along the path to the mountain pine and within short we are at the outlook of míd, where we say good-bye to the panorama of Silesia ridge and view of the whole Sedmidolí. From the outlook of míd we begin quite a steep descent to Horní Mísečky. Lively centre of winter sports. Object called Cáchovna reminds us of its recent mining history. In fifties there were miners, who performed ore (uranium) survey at the hillsides of Medvědín, accommodated here. We descent from the crossing to the meadow edge again quite steeply along the red track first to Bedřichov and then between the buildings of military sanatorium and then to the centre of pindlerův Mlýn.
