Cycling the Moravian Karst with Children: The Easiest Car-Free Routes

With kids on bikes, three places stand out in the karst. Pustý žleb (the “Deserted Gorge”) has 8 km of car-free tarmac, climbing gently from Skalní Mlýn to Sloup and then rolling back down again. In Jedovnice, the “Pod cestou” children’s trail opened in June 2026: a loop of about 5 km with almost no climbing, plus challenges along the way and a reward at the finish. For older children there’s the almost flat Svitava 24 cycle route from Letovice to Blansko, with a train ride back. The smallest riders on balance bikes can tackle the Granny Březinka Trail (Stezka babky Březinky) in Březina. Steer clear of the roads from Blansko to Skalní Mlýn and to Adamov, which are busy with traffic.

QUICK LINKS 🛣️ Pustý žleb · 🦡 Jedovnice children’s trail · 🚆 Along the Svitava · 👶 For the youngest · ⚠️ Where to take care · 🔧 Bike hire · ❓ FAQ

The karst is better for cycling families than it might seem, but only if you know where to go. The road from Blansko up the Punkva valley to Skalní Mlýn is packed with cars and coaches in season. Yet just next to it runs a tarmac track that’s closed to traffic, and in the woods above Jedovnice you’ll find a trail built especially for children.

1. Pustý žleb: 8 km of car-free tarmac

Best for: children who can already ride on their own, as well as younger ones in child seats or trailers.

Pustý žleb is a gorge between Sloup and Skalní Mlýn. A tarmac track, part of cycle route no. 5A and closed to cars, runs along its whole length. From Skalní Mlýn it climbs gently up towards Sloup, and the ride back is gently downhill all the way.

• Out-and-back option: from Skalní Mlýn to Sloup and back, about 16 km in total. In Sloup you can stop for lunch, visit the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves (Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně) or head to the outdoor swimming pool.
• Downhill-only option: one parent drives the car to Sloup, and then you simply ride down. This is the most comfortable choice for little ones.
• Along the way: the Hřebenáč rock face and the entrance to the Kůlna Cave, where prehistoric hunters once lived.

Parking: there are two paid car parks at Skalní Mlýn, costing 200 Kč a day (approx. €8) in 2026 — a rough conversion only, as exchange rates fluctuate. For more on the gorge, see our articles on Pustý žleb and Skalní Mlýn.

2. The “Pod cestou” children’s trail in Jedovnice

Best for: small children who are already confident on a bike, ideally a mountain bike or a sturdier children’s bike.

The Moravian Karst Singletrail (Singletrail Moravský kras) in Jedovnice has reopened its children’s trail as of June 2026. It is a 2.5 km run-out section of trail no. 2, repaired after storm damage and fitted with playful features for the youngest bikers. A gravel track with almost no climbing leads to it from the Base (Základna) by the Olšovec pond. The whole loop is about 5 km with minimal elevation gain.

The mascot is Kuli the badger, who has set the children 6 challenge stations. You collect your game card at the Base or at the start of the trail, and a small reward awaits the children at the finish back at the Base.

• Trail fee: a token 100 Kč a day (approx. €4), payable at the Base or by QR code on the trails. The money goes towards trail maintenance.
• Older children can also manage loops no. 1 (10.5 km) and no. 2 (11.5 km), which the operator describes as suitable for children. They do include a few climbs, though. Loop no. 3 is for stronger riders only.
• Season: from mid-March to the end of October, with a winter closure from 1 November.
• After your ride: in summer, a swim in Olšovec; see Jedovnice.

This year the children’s cycling festival Jekolka was also held here on 20 June, with races starting from balance-bike level. For the latest news, visit singlekras.cz.

3. Along the Svitava from Letovice to Blansko

Best for: school-age children who can manage a longer distance.

The long-distance Svitava cycle route no. 24 runs through the Svitava valley. The stretch from Letovice to Blansko is about 30 km with an elevation gain of just 14 metres, with a firm surface and mostly away from busy roads. The Moravian Karst destination management organisation rates it as easy, and the sections around Blansko as ideal for families. You can take the train to Letovice and come back from Blansko the same way, as both towns lie on the line from Brno. For a shorter outing, simply hop on or off at any station along the way.

4. For the youngest: balance bikes

• The Granny Březinka Trail (Stezka babky Březinky) in Březina is a short woodland loop with challenges about how to behave in nature. You can tackle it on a balance bike, a pedal bike or with a pushchair; see Březina.
• Pustý žleb is suitable even for balance bikes thanks to the car-free tarmac; just ride a short stretch and turn back.
• The area around the Olšovec pond in Jedovnice offers easy tracks beside the water.

Where to take care with children

• The Blansko – Skalní Mlýn road through the Punkva valley is packed with cars and coaches in season. Avoid it with small children, or drive to Skalní Mlýn instead. Cars don’t use the Suchý žleb (“Dry Gorge”), but the route from there up to the Macocha Abyss and on to Ostrov u Macochy is a steep series of hairpin bends.
• Blansko – Adamov: a dedicated cycle path along the Svitava is still only at the planning stage. The Amber Trail (Jantarová stezka) here runs for about 4 km along a forest road without regular traffic, and the rest along the busy road no. 376.
• The Skalní Mlýn – Punkva Caves (Punkevní jeskyně) stretch is shared with the eco-train and, in season, with crowds of walkers.
• In the national nature reserves you may only ride on roads and marked cycle routes. The rules are summarised in our article Cycling in the Moravian Karst.
• Helmets: in the Czech Republic, every cyclist under 18 must wear one.

Bike hire

None of the hire shops we checked explicitly offers children’s bikes in the karst, so bring your children’s own bikes with you.

• Ekolorent in Ostrov u Macochy hires out e-bikes along with Hamax child seats. Tel. 602 943 245, ekolorent.cz.
• Kola Novák in Blansko (Svitavská 14c) hires out e-bikes from 750 Kč a day. Tel. 516 419 530, kolanovak.cz.
• Singletrail Moravský kras in Jedovnice hires out trail bikes and e-bikes for adults, daily from 9 am to 6 pm in July and August.

For where to eat along the way, see my article Where to Eat in the Moravian Karst. More family tips can be found in the itinerary with children.

Frequently asked questions

Which route in the Moravian Karst is best for small children? Pustý žleb from Skalní Mlýn to Sloup. It’s on tarmac, cars aren’t allowed, and the ride back is gently downhill all the way.

Is there a trail for children in Jedovnice? Yes, the “Pod cestou” children’s trail: a loop of about 5 km from the Singletrail Base with almost no climbing, featuring challenges with Kuli the badger.

How much does the singletrail in Jedovnice cost? The daily trail fee is 100 Kč, and it goes towards trail maintenance.

Can you cycle from Blansko to Skalní Mlýn with children? Better not to. The road through the Punkva valley is packed with cars in season. It’s better to drive or take the bus to Skalní Mlýn and ride Pustý žleb.

Do children have to wear a helmet? Yes, in the Czech Republic every cyclist under 18 must wear a helmet.

Information checked as of 12 October 2026. Sources: Singletrail Moravský kras: Jedovnice trails, The “Pod cestou” children’s trail, Trail fee, Bike hire; DMO Moravský kras: Svitava 24 cycle route and Through the Heart of the Moravian Karst (parking fees at Skalní Mlýn); Ekolorent; Kola Novák; ČT24: Blansko–Adamov cycle path.

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