Bílá Opava Waterfalls

Destination

Canyon of the Bílá Opava with cascades and the Velký vodopád waterfall (7.9 m) via ladders and footbridges – the Bílá Opava nature trail from Karlova Studánka to Barborka

Tips

• Caution – After the flood of September 2024 the destroyed footbridges were rebuilt and the yellow-marked route reopened on 30 Apr 2025 (ČTK/Deník); no restrictions reported for the 2026 season (as of 10/2026, news of the Jeseníky PLA administration). Closed every winter, and after winter usually briefly closed for footbridge repairs – check before you go.
• Uphill only – Take the yellow-marked trail past the waterfalls only on the way up and come back down on the blue – on the ladders and footbridges it is hard to pass people coming the other way, and it is slippery going down.
• Sturdy shoes, free hands – The stones and wooden footbridges are wet even in dry weather; keep your poles in the backpack and hold onto the railings. After a storm or at high water, better take the blue-marked trail.
• Trail conditions before you go – The footbridges are damaged every winter and by floods (2019, 2024) – check the current passability at jeseniky.aopk.gov.cz or on the Facebook page of the Jeseníky PLA administration.
• Off-peak – In the summer holidays there are queues at the ladders; set off in the morning or on a weekday. The shuttle bus from Ovčárna runs only until 17:30.
• With younger children – With smaller children choose only the section to the first cascades (from Palouček) or the blue-marked trail; a pushchair doesn't belong in the valley.
• Season – May–October (impassable and closed in winter; short closures for footbridge repairs are common in spring).
• Admission – freely accessible (a symbolic contribution to repairs used to be collected at the Palouček in season)
• Parking – Karlova Studánka – paid car parks by Hubertus / Hvězda (130 Kč/day, booking at karlovastudanka.parkum.cz)
• Shuttle bus – from Ovčárna the shuttle bus line 885 to Hvězda (at half past each hour, 7:30–17:30, approx. 50 Kč) – see the trip praded-z-ovcarny
• Restrictions – the CHKO (protected landscape area) administration recommends using the yellow-marked nature trail only for the ascent (uphill), down along the blue; terrain with fallen trunks, slippery rocks and ladders; approx. 130 000 visitors a year – queues at the ladders in the school holidays
• Good to know – ladders, footbridges, slippery rocks – no pushchairs; children from about 8–10 with sure footing