Prachov Rocks: Trails, Viewpoints, Prices and Tips (2026)

Prachov Rocks (Prachovské skály) is the largest and most dramatic "rock town" in Bohemian Paradise: a maze of tall sandstone towers, narrow gorges and viewpoints near Jičín, about 95 km north-east of Prague. Three marked circuits start at the tourist hut: a 1.5 km loop (45 min), a 2.5 km loop (1.5 h) and the full 3.5 km circuit with many steps (2 h). It's open all year, 7:00–19:00; admission in 2026 is 150 CZK for adults from October to May and 200 CZK from June to September, plus 100 CZK for parking.

Prachov is where I start my Bohemian Paradise days. I've been squeezing through the Mouse Hole since I was a kid, and I still discover viewpoints I'd walked past a hundred times.

Prachov Rocks at a glance

Where	Bohemian Paradise UNESCO Global Geopark, 6 km north-west of Jičín
Distance from Prague	~95 km, 1 h 15 min – 1.5 h by car
Size	nature reserve of 262 hectares
Open	all year, daily 7:00–19:00 (trails must be left by 20:00)
Admission 2026	150 CZK adults Oct–May, 200 CZK Jun–Sep; reduced 100/150 CZK; family (2+2) 400/550 CZK
Parking	100 CZK per car for the whole day
Routes	1.5 km, 2.5 km or 3.5 km circuits
Owner	the Schlik family (privately owned since 1637)

Tall layered sandstone towers of Prachov Rocks seen from the Pechova viewpoint

Which circuit should you choose?

All three circuits start at the Turistická chata Prachov (the tourist hut, built in 1924) next to the main car park, and one ticket lets you combine them however you like.

Circuit	Length	Time	Highlights	For whom
Yellow (Small Circuit)	~1.5 km	~45 min	Mouse Hole, Bohemian Paradise viewpoint, Peace viewpoint, Emperor's Corridor	Families with small kids, short visits
Red	~2.5 km	~1.5 h	adds the Green Gorge and the Křížkovský and Hlaholská viewpoints	Most visitors
Green (Grand Circuit)	~3.5 km	~2 h	the full tour, including the Leaning Tower, Rumcajs and Schlik viewpoints	Anyone with average fitness and 2–3 hours

My advice: do the green Grand Circuit. It isn't long, but it's full of stairs cut into the rock — up and down, up and down — so it feels longer than the kilometres suggest. There's also a blue route on paved paths for prams and wheelchairs from Prachov village, which reaches some of the viewpoints but not the gorges.

The best viewpoints and sights

• Bohemian Paradise viewpoint (Vyhlídka Českého ráje) — the classic view across the sea of rock towers, with Trosky Castle and the Ještěd ridge on the horizon. If you only have time for one viewpoint, this is it.
• The Emperor's Corridor (Císařská chodba) — the largest gorge in Prachov, named after Emperor Francis I, who walked through it in 1813.
• The Mouse Hole (Myší díra) — the narrowest passage on the trails. Kids love it; backpacks occasionally don't.
• The Leaning Tower (Šikmá věž) — a viewpoint on top of a tilted rock tower, looking south towards Jičín.
• Pelíšek — a little pond in the forest with a sculpture of the good spirit of the rocks and a nature trail for children.
• Pařez Castle (hrad Pařez) — the remains of a 14th-century rock castle with two rooms carved into the sandstone, restored in 2023–2025.
• Mnich (the Monk) — the tallest tower in Prachov. Climbing here has a long tradition: the local climbing club was founded in 1907, the year of the first recorded ascent of Mnich.

How the rocks were made

About 90 million years ago this whole area was covered by a shallow sea. Rivers brought sand that settled on the seabed and hardened into sandstone hundreds of metres thick. When the land later rose, the rock cracked into blocks along vertical joints, and water, frost and wind widened the cracks into the gorges you walk through today. What stayed standing are the towers. It's the same story as in Bohemian Switzerland, told in a smaller, more intimate way.

Panorama from a viewpoint in Prachov Rocks over sandstone pillars and forest

Tickets, hours and parking (2026)

Ticket	Main season (1 Jun – 30 Sep)	Off-season (1 Oct – 31 May)
Adult	200 CZK	150 CZK
Reduced (children 3–15, students under 26, seniors 65+)	150 CZK	100 CZK
Family (2 adults + 2 children)	550 CZK	400 CZK
Dog	50 CZK	30 CZK
Children under 3	free	free

• Parking: 100 CZK per car for the day at the central car park by the tourist hut
• Opening: the area is open year-round, 7:00–19:00. The ticket office is staffed 8:00–18:00 in summer and 9:00–17:00 the rest of the year.
• Payment: cards accepted; tickets on site only, no booking needed
• Official website: prachovskeskaly.cz

Prachov Rocks in winter

Prachov stays open all winter, and with snow on the towers it's magical — and nearly empty. Two things to know:

• Ice. The stone steps in shaded gorges freeze over. Wear shoes with a good grip; in hard frost, light crampons or microspikes help a lot. Some sections may be closed in bad conditions.
• Short days. In December it's dark soon after 16:00. Start by early afternoon at the latest.

Note that Trosky Castle nearby is closed from November to March.

How to get to Prachov Rocks from Prague

Option	Time	Good to know
Car	~1 h 15 min – 1.5 h	D10 motorway towards Turnov, then towards Jičín. Park at the central car park by the tourist hut.
Bus via Jičín	~2–2.5 h	Bus or train from Prague to Jičín, then local bus 510 to the "Holín, Prachov, Skalní město" stop. From May to September a tourist bus also runs from Jičín (weekends; daily in July–August).
Train + walk	~2.5 h	Train to Jinolice station (Turnov–Jičín line), then about 3.5 km on the green trail.
Guided day trip	~1.5 h	My Bohemian Paradise tour combines Prachov Rocks and Trosky Castle with lunch.

Tips from a local guide

• Arrive before 10:00 on summer weekends — the car park and the narrow passages fill up quickly.
• Go clockwise or anticlockwise, but commit. Turning back on narrow staircases means squeezing past everyone else.
• Bring water. The tourist hut at the start is the only place to buy food and drinks inside the area.
• Keep kids close at viewpoints. Most have railings, but not every edge does.
• Combine with Trosky. The castle is about 20 minutes away by car and looks best in the afternoon light.

For the bigger picture — Hrubá Skála, Valdštejn, Kost and more — see the Bohemian Paradise guide.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to walk around Prachov Rocks?

The short yellow circuit takes about 45 minutes (1.5 km), the red circuit about 1.5 hours (2.5 km) and the full green circuit about 2 hours (3.5 km). With photo stops, plan 2–3 hours for the full experience.

How much does Prachov Rocks cost in 2026?

From October to May adults pay 150 CZK and reduced tickets are 100 CZK; from June to September it's 200 and 150 CZK. A family ticket (2+2) costs 400 or 550 CZK, and parking is 100 CZK per car.

Is Prachov Rocks open in winter?

Yes. Prachov Rocks is open all year, 7:00–19:00, with off-season prices from October to May. In winter the steps can be icy, so wear shoes with good grip.

Is Prachov Rocks suitable for children?

Yes — it's one of the best family trips from Prague. The short yellow circuit takes only 45 minutes, the narrow passages feel like an adventure, and the Pelíšek pond has a nature trail for kids. Prams can use the paved blue route only.

Can you visit Prachov Rocks and Trosky Castle in one day?

Yes. They're only about 20 minutes apart by car, so a morning in Prachov and an afternoon at Trosky is easy. Without a car it's harder; in summer a tourist bus connects them.

Prachov Rocks or Adršpach — which is better?

Adršpach is bigger and more famous, but it's about 2.5 hours from Prague and very busy in summer. Prachov is closer (about 1.5 hours), has better viewpoints over the rock towers, and pairs well with Trosky Castle. For a day trip from Prague, Prachov is the easier choice. See our full Adršpach vs Prachov comparison.