Family sightseeing trip through the Rudice sinkhole

Sightseeing trip between Rudice and Jednovnice through a sinkhole

Starting point

Leave the car at the parking lot at the starting point of the nature trail NS Jedovnické rybníky - Rudické propadání. The parking lot is at the end of Pod Kovárnou street by the pumping station and is free of charge (however, it is small, for about 10 cars).
 

Description of the hike

From the unpaid parking lot in Rudice we follow the green hiking trail (NS Jedovnické rybníky - Rudické propadání) towards the rocks called Kolíbky. They are about 500 metres from the car park, just around the corner. They are a favourite place of many climbers, thanks to their easy-going nature, mostly with children.

From Kolíbky a green sign leads into the forest, where there is a steeper section with a descent, in places with a lot of roots. Down there is the entrance to the main part of the Rudice sinkhole cave (entering the cave is at your own risk, suitable only with an experienced speleologist).

From the caves, the green trail leads further along the Jedovnický brook. The path is comfortable, flat. After a while we reach Jedovnice, where the first thing we see is the smaller pond Dýmák and a little behind it is the larger and more famous Jedovnice pond Olšovec, where the camp is located and fishing competitions are held. Above Olšovec in the woods there are famous single trail routes for cycling enthusiasts - more info here.

From Jedovnice from Olšovec we go to the main street Palackého, where we connect back to the green hiking trail and through the fields, where the bike path leads, we return to Rudice to the car.
 

Difficulty

It is a completely easy trip, which can be easily handled even by small children (tested on 7 year olds). The path leads along flat dirt and forest roads. Only right at the cave drop there are more roots and stones, but everything is in the standard of forest cover in the Czech Republic. The route is also suitable for pensioners or dogs.
 

Water availability

It's a pretty short trip, so we only had 0.5 liters of water with us. There is a possibility of refreshment halfway in Jednovnice.
 

Danger

There is no objective danger on this route unless you start climbing on Kolíbky :)). The only steep place is above the caves in the forest, where in rainy weather it can be very slippery to go down the roots to the caves.
 

Attractions

The rock area of Kolíbky is part of the national Natural Monument Rudické propadání. Kolíbky is the folk name for the romantic amphitheatre above the active sinkhole of the Rudice Depression. Kolíbky was inhabited by horse and reindeer hunters as early as 12,000 years ago. They hunted mainly cold climate game - reindeer, horses, mammoths and ice foxes.

Remarkable are the findings of sandstone slabs with carved bowls - 16 pieces in total. According to archaeological theories, they could have been used to grind mineral dyes or seeds of collected plants. Or they could have been grease lamps. Similar finds from the same period are also found in excavations in French and Spanish caves.