Cycling in the Moravian Karst: Routes, Rules and Bike Hire

The karst is easy to explore by bike, as long as you stick to roads, forest tracks and signposted cycle routes. Riding off these is prohibited in the national nature reserves. The Protected Landscape Area (CHKO) authority recommends two routes: Sloup – Skalní Mlýn – Blansko (about 15 km, through the Pustý žleb gorge, almost entirely downhill) and the longer Brno-Líšeň – Křtiny – Adamov (about 35 km). We’d add our own loop, Blansko–Křtiny–Jedovnice (23 km). For mountain bikers, there’s Singletrail Moravský kras in Jedovnice. E-bikes can be hired in Ostrov u Macochy and in Blansko.

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Routes worth riding

1. Sloup – Pustý žleb – Skalní Mlýn – Blansko (about 15 km)

The prettiest easy route in the karst, and one the CHKO authority recommends too. From Sloup, a tarmac road runs through Pustý žleb (the “Deserted Gorge”), which is closed to cars, down to Skalní Mlýn and on along the Punkva valley to Blansko. Most of the way is downhill, so it suits children as well. The climb back up to Sloup is much tougher, so it makes sense to ride one way only and take the train or bus back from Blansko. Along the route you’ll find the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves (Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně), the Kateřinská Cave (Kateřinská jeskyně) and Skalní Mlýn, from where it’s 1.6 km to the Punkva Caves (Punkevní jeskyně). There’s more on the gorge in our article Pustý žleb.

2. Blansko – Křtiny – Jedovnice (23 km)

A loop along cycle route 5081 via Habrůvka, Křtiny and Bukovina to Jedovnice, mostly on forest tracks across the plateau. On the way you’ll pass Santini’s church in Křtiny, and at the end there’s swimming in the Olšovec pond. We describe it in detail in the article Cycling from Blansko via Křtiny to Jedovnice.

3. Brno-Líšeň – Křtiny – Adamov (about 35 km)

A longer route through the southern part of the karst, recommended by the CHKO authority. It runs via Říčky, past the Ochoz Cave (Ochozská jeskyně) and Hádek to Křtiny, then on to the Mácha Memorial, Nový hrad and Adamov. Adamov lies on the Brno–Blansko railway line, so you can take the train back to Brno.

4. Loop through Suchý and Pustý žleb (23–30 km)

From Skalní Mlýn, climb up Suchý žleb to Ostrov u Macochy, continue past the ruined castle of Holštejn to Šošůvka and Sloup, then ride back down through Pustý žleb. Along the way there are 3 caves open for guided tours and a castle dungeon. It has two serious climbs, so it’s better suited to stronger riders or e-bikes. We describe it section by section in the article Cycling through Suchý and Pustý žleb.

5. The Iron Trail (Cesta železa, about 30 km)

An educational trail on the history of ironworking in the karst. It’s a good choice if you’d like to combine a ride with the story of the region. Ironworking is also touched on in the article The Křtiny Valley.

If you’d like to stay longer, there’s a three-day cycling tour of the karst, and the long-distance route no. 5 is covered in the article The Amber Trail through the Moravian Karst.

Singletrail Moravský kras

For mountain bikes, Jedovnice has a network of singletrails: narrow paths built specifically for riders. Further sections can be found in Mariánské údolí in Brno.

• Season in Jedovnice: from mid-March, with a winter closure from 1 November.
• Bike hire is available on site, open from May to October, and daily in July and August.
• Some sections are temporarily closed from time to time because of timber felling. Check singlekras.cz before you set off.

Bike and e-bike hire

Please check prices and availability directly with the hire shop, and book ahead in the season.

Rules for cyclists in the CHKO

The whole karst is a Protected Landscape Area, so stricter rules apply than elsewhere:

• In the national nature reserves you may ride only on roads and on cycle routes approved by nature conservation authorities.
• In forests you must stay on forest tracks, and that applies outside the CHKO too. Riding on slopes damages the soil and young saplings.
• A waymarked hiking trail is not a cycle route. If a footpath isn’t also a designated cycle route, bikes don’t belong there.
• Cycle races are prohibited off the roads in Zones I and II of the CHKO.

More in the article Rules in the Moravian Karst CHKO.

Bikes and caves

Bikes aren’t allowed inside the caves, so expect to leave yours outside. At Skalní Mlýn you can combine cycling with the karst’s own transport: the cable car from the Punkva Caves up to the Macocha Abyss (Propast Macocha) can take a bike, and the little train to the Punkva Caves is wheelchair accessible. You’ll find prices in the article Skalní Mlýn.

Frequently asked questions

Can I cycle through Pustý žleb? Yes, the road through Pustý žleb is open to bikes, and the CHKO authority specifically recommends the Sloup – Skalní Mlýn – Blansko route. Cars aren’t allowed.

Which route is best for children? Sloup – Pustý žleb – Skalní Mlýn, because it’s almost entirely downhill on tarmac with no traffic. More tips, including the children’s trail in Jedovnice, are in the article Cycling in the Moravian Karst with children.

Where can I hire an e-bike? In Ostrov u Macochy (Ekolorent) or in Blansko (Kola Novák). Touring scooters can be hired at Hotel Skalní Mlýn.

Is there a singletrail in the karst? Yes, Singletrail Moravský kras in Jedovnice, open from March to the end of October.

Can I ride anywhere in the forest? No. In forests, stick to forest tracks, and in the national nature reserves, to roads and approved cycle routes only.

Information checked as of 19. 9. 2026. Sources: AOPK ČR – Moravian Karst CHKO: Cycling, Singletrail Moravský kras, Skalní Mlýn: Little train and cable car.

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