Nature Trails in the Beskydy: Routes for Everyone

Nature trails in the Beskydy near Rožnov pod Radhoštěm can be picked to match your mood and fitness, from easy forest loops of around 2 to 6 km to a full-day ridge hike from Pustevny up Radhošť. Most starting points are within 30 minutes by car from Penzion Anděl, and you can walk to both the open-air museum and the lookout tower. Here is an overview to help you decide where to head.

Why choose a nature trail over a regular hike?

A nature trail is a hike with something extra: along the way you read about Beskydy nature, history and folk crafts, and you naturally pause at the information boards. It fits into half a day, but you can just as easily turn it into a full-day outing.

• Information boards about the forest, water, wildlife and Wallachian culture.
• Frequent stops, so the route does not wear anyone out.
• Routes for every level, from flat loops to ridge hikes.
• A great option even on a partly cloudy day when you do not want to travel far.

Where to find shorter nature loops around Rožnov?

Several easygoing loops lead from Rožnov through the forests and hills above town, roughly 2 to 6 km, mostly without much elevation gain. Some starting points are literally a walk from Penzion Anděl.

• Loops in the forests above town with views into the Bečva valley, roughly 2 to 4 km.
• Routes to the Wallachian Open-Air Museum, just a few minutes on foot from us, so you can easily combine the walk with a museum visit.
• A walk up to the Jurkovič lookout tower on the hill above Rožnov, shorter but a brisk climb, rewarded with views over the town and the Beskydy ridges. We cover more viewpoints in our article on the most beautiful lookout towers.

Check the current waymarking and trail conditions on the local information boards or at the Rožnov information centre.

Which nature trails in the Beskydy suit keen hikers?

If you want a proper climb, head higher. The best known is the ridge route from Pustevny to Radhošť: roughly 4 km one way along the ridge, with gentle climbing and stops at the statue of Radegast and the Chapel of St Cyril and Methodius. From the guesthouse it is roughly 30 minutes by car to the car park below Pustevny, and the cable car from Trojanovice can save you the first climb.

• The Pustevny-to-Radhošť ridge: roughly 4 km one way, plan for a full day if you are walking back too.
• We cover the climb up Radhošť in detail in our article Radhošť: the route and in our tips on Pustevny and Radhošť.
• Longer ridge stretches with real elevation gain, where you will appreciate sturdy boots and a good water supply.

“The best thing about the Beskydy trails is that you choose according to your mood, an easygoing forest loop one morning, a full-day ridge hike up to Radegast another.”

Here is a quick overview to help you gauge what each route involves:

Route type	Approximate length	Difficulty	Where you start
Forest loop above Rožnov	2 to 4 km	easy	on foot from the guesthouse
Loop by the open-air museum	2 to 3 km	easy	a few minutes on foot
Walk to the Jurkovič lookout tower	3 to 5 km	moderate	on foot from Rožnov
Pustevny-to-Radhošť ridge	approx. 4 km one way	moderate to demanding	approx. 30 min by car

Travelling with young children or a pushchair?

A slightly different set of rules applies for the smallest legs: shorter loops, playful stops and flat terrain. That is why we have written up family and pushchair-friendly options separately in our article on family nature trails. You will find tips there on choosing a route by your children’s ages and what to pack.

What to bring and how to plan the trip

A few tried-and-tested tips to make the day go smoothly:

• Set off in the morning, car parks tend to be fuller and legs more tired in the afternoon.
• Pack water and a snack, the trails do not have refreshments at every step.
• Sturdy boots and a rain jacket, Beskydy weather can turn within half an hour, we cover the best timing in our article on weather in the Beskydy.
• Plan a longer ridge hike with some margin, so you catch the cable car and make it back in the evening.

Where to start? Stay just minutes from the trails

You have both the nature trails and the open-air museum within easy reach of Penzion Anděl, so in the morning you can step straight out of bed and into the forest. After your hike you can stay in our rooms, enjoy a specialty coffee and a homemade cake in the café, and warm up tired legs in the private sauna. Breakfast, served only to guests staying with us, and parking are both included.

We are a family guesthouse just a few minutes’ walk from the open-air museum, rated 4.8/5 from 461 reviews on Google and 9.2/10 on Booking. Planning a trip to the Beskydy? Take a look at our reservations or call +420 602 541 112, we are happy to recommend a trail based on the weather and your fitness.