A trip to the Oslava River via the Velká Skála lookout point

A trip to the Velká Skála lookout point above the Oslava River

Starting point

The village of Senorady. We left the car at the village hall; there is a parking lot there where you can park your car.
 

Description of the hike

We set off from the village of Senorady along a wide dirt road. Although there are no hiking trail markers here, the path is wide, so finding our way wasn’t a problem. We were essentially climbing gently the entire way out of the village. Gradually, views of the surrounding area—including the Dukovany Power Plant—began to open up. We entered the forest, where we joined the yellow hiking trail. We continued through a beautiful mixed forest to the Velká Skála rock overlook. In front of the overlook is a large hiking shelter with a built-in fire pit. Even during our trip, hikers were roasting sausages there. The overlook itself is truly beautiful—a combination of rock, pine trees, and a great view. That’s why we took a longer break here.

From the viewpoint, we followed the yellow trail to the Oslava River. The trail descends gently at first along the edge of the slope, but later in the forest, the descent becomes steeper. Eventually, we reached a cottage settlement by the Oslava River. Since the weather was beautiful, we decided to extend our trip a bit along the river. We continued along the yellow trail, which runs above the river through the rock. The path is very narrow, with no safety railings. There is only a single set of steel steps. But it is a beautiful stretch. After completing it, we joined a wide path that led us to the Senoradská kantýna snack bar. Here we had lemonade and Turkish coffee, and then we returned along the wide path back to Senorad.
 

Difficulty

A pleasant family outing. It’s not very strenuous; the climb up to the rock is gentle. The descent to the river is steeper in places, but nothing too bad. The trail along the Oslava River is challenging. You walk along a narrow path carved into the rock, and there are no guardrails. Aside from this section, the trail is easy to navigate.
 

Water availability

On the way to Senorad, there’s the Senorad Canteen, where they serve beer, soda, instant coffee, or Turkish coffee.
 

Mountain peaks

From Velká Skála, at an elevation of 401 meters above sea level, there are beautiful views of the Oslava River valley and its surroundings.
 

Danger

You need to be careful at Velká skála. There are no guardrails, and the cliffs are sheer. Another slightly dangerous section is the trail along the Oslava River. It runs along a narrow path in the rock directly above the river. There are no guardrails or other safety features here either. Otherwise, the route is easy.
 

Food

It’s a good idea to bring a snack. Snacks like energy bars are available at the Senorad canteen. You can bring something to roast; there’s a stone fire pit next to the hiking shelter at Velká skála. You’re welcome to roast something there.