02.06.2021

Pančava waterfall in the Giant Mountains, hiking trails and tips for the most beautiful views

• Venue: Krkonoše

It laboriously collects its waters in the alpine peat bogs on Pančavská louka, and then plunges headlong over the edge of the Elbe Mine, creating the largest waterfall in our country and then leading to the Elbe. Although the Pančava waterfall is divided into several continuously connected stone steps, it reaches an incredible height of 148 meters and its visit is definitely worth it!

The name Pančava comes from the German pantschen, ie splashing or splashing. It springs in a peat bog with the remains of the original glacial flora on Pančavská louka, almost on the ridges of the Krkonoše Mountains, but then it breaks sharply on the edge of the Elbe mine and then falls steeply to the bottom of the glacial valley in several steps. This is the Pančava Waterfall, the highest waterfall in the Czech Republic, which is a popular tourist attraction thanks to the views of the Elbe Mine together with the Elbe Waterfall.

The highest waterfall had a reservoir with a sluice

Although the Pančava waterfall is not rich in water, with 148 meters it is the highest among our waterfalls. The owner of the nearby Labská bouda, Josef Schier, once wanted it to be even more attractive to tourists, so he artificially increased its flow: he built a small reservoir with a sluice and a booth for the attendant above the upper edge. When enough paying tourists had gathered on the nearby observation deck, local staff signaled the trumpet staff upstairs to raise the sluice. Even in the summer months, visitors saw an "improved" waterfall in the form it usually has only at the end of April and the beginning of May, when the snow on the Pančavská and Labská meadows melts. We can only regret that the attraction with a booth and a viewing terrace disappeared in the 1930s, and today the waterfall will definitely not see any further improvement.

Views of the Pančava waterfall

If you want to see the waterfall in the best condition, you must come in the spring, when the water flow is most abundant: during the spring thaw, the waterfall can reach a maximum height of 162 meters. For the rest of the year, however, you will only see the individual cascades, ie the four main stages, which measure 36, 39, 23 and 20 meters.

Where is the most beautiful view from? From the edge of the Elbe mine or from the nearby Ambrožova viewpoint you will see only the upper part of the Pančavský waterfall, but the beautiful view of the Krkonoše valley with Kozí hřbety, Kotle and Lysá hora is one that will not be forgotten. But if you want to see the Pančava waterfall in all its beauty, you have to go down to the Elbe mine - and plan your trip accordingly.

Trip above the waterfall and below the waterfall

You can combine a trip to the upper part of the Pančava waterfall, for example, with a trip to the source of the Elbe, or to the Elbe hut. Take the cable car to Medvědín, follow the red light to the Golden Hill to Vrbatova bouda and continue along Buchar's path directly to the waterfall. If you go a little further, you will reach Ambrož's lookout, the Elbe hut and the Elbe meadow with the source of the Elbe. Not far from the Elbe hut, however, you can walk along the blue marked path around the Elbe waterfall to the bottom of the Elbe mine. The descent is very steep and is definitely not suitable for prams, but the reward is a beautiful view of the Pančava waterfall from below. You can then continue along the Elbe Mine along the Elbe and across Dívčí Lávky to Špindlerův Mlýn.

How long routes to count on? From the upper station of the cable car in Medvědín to Pančavský waterfall are 4.3 km, another kilometer is to Labská bouda and from it to Špindlerův Mlýn 8.2 km. In total, a walk of about fifteen kilometers awaits you. It can be extended in any way, but it can be shortened in the only way: when you go down from the upper station of Medvědín to Horní Mísečky to Jilemnická bouda, from where a bus goes to Zlaté vrchší.

Tip for accommodation in Špindlerův Mlýn

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