--- title: "Cross-country skiing in Krkonoše from Vrchlabí: where to go and what to rent" description: "Cross-country skiing in Vrchlabí and Krkonoše: Vejsplachy, Benecko, Horní Mísečky. Classic or skate? National park rules and cross-country ski rental." url: https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/cross-country-skiing-krkonose-vrchlabi language: en-GB published: 2026-09-23 updated: 2026-09-23 publisher: "SKI Rental Jiří Honců, Valteřická 1436, 543 01 Vrchlabí, Česko" --- # Cross-country skiing in Krkonoše from Vrchlabí: where to go and what to rent Where to go cross-country skiing in Vrchlabí and the Krkonoše mountains, what to choose the first time and what to keep in mind in the national park. And if you do not have your own gear, you can rent cross-country skis from us in Vrchlabí. ## Right in Vrchlabí: Vejsplachy by Kačák pond If you want to get out on cross-country skis straight away, without a long drive into the mountains, take a look at the Vejsplachy cross-country area by Kačák pond right in Vrchlabí. According to the official Krkonoše portal krkonose.eu, it has more than 7 km of regularly groomed trails. More than half of them have artificial snow and floodlights, so you can ski here in the evening too. The trails are looked after by the local sports clubs Spartak Vrchlabí and TJ SVS Krkonoše. You can park right by the Vejsplachy sports ground, and trail information is on the website nabezky.cz. The area works well, for example, for: - trying cross-country skiing for the first time without having to drive far into the mountains - practising technique, for example before your first trip into the mountains - a session after work or after dark on the floodlit part of the trails ## Further into the mountains: Benecko, Horní Mísečky and the Krkonošská magistrála According to the regional guide, more cross-country routes lead from Vrchlabí to Horní and Dolní Kalná, Valteřice and Kněžice, and via Benecko all the way to Horní Mísečky. At Horní Mísečky, according to the town of Špindlerův Mlýn, there are race loops from 1.5 to 10 km long for both classic and skate skiing. The town website also has a map of winter cross-country trails and an overview of cross-country spots in the area, such as Pláň, Horní Mísečky, the Krkonošská magistrála or Rovinka. The backbone of the whole network is the Krkonošská magistrála, a ridge trail that runs 71 km along the ridges from Žacléř to Harrachov. According to the krkonose.eu portal, up to 600 km of cross-country trails are groomed in the Krkonoše mountains and foothills when snow conditions are good, so there is plenty to choose from, whether for a short outing or a full-day trip. > **Tip from the shop:** Grooming depends on the snow and the weather. Before you set off, check the latest information: for Vrchlabí on nabezky.cz, for Špindlerův Mlýn on the town website. An overview of cross-country trails across the whole mountain range is on krkonose.eu. ## Classic or skate? What to choose the first time ### Classic In the classic style you ski in a set track, that is, in two parallel grooves. The movement is like brisk walking, the track keeps you heading in the right direction, and the skis need grip under the foot so they do not slide backwards when you push off. Most people on cross-country skis for the first time find classic more natural. ### Skating (skate skiing) Skating is done on the wide groomed surface next to the track, and the push-off is similar to ice skating. It is usually faster, but it takes more balance, technique and fitness. If you have never skated on skis, expect the first few kilometres to be hard work. Also, not every route has a groomed skating lane, so check before your trip. - Classic suits you if you are a beginner, skiing with children or planning a longer, relaxed trip. - Skating suits you if you are already steady on skis, reasonably fit and want to ski briskly on groomed trails. ### How long should the poles be? As a rough guide: for classic, somewhere between armpit and shoulder height; for skating, longer, between chin and upper lip. We will pick the right length with you on the spot, based on your height and the style you want to ski. ## Rules in Krkonoše National Park A large part of the mountains lies within Krkonoše National Park (KRNAP), which has its own rules for getting around on skis. Among other things, the park administration states that: - skiing is allowed only on pistes, marked trails and designated ski touring routes - in the quiet zone off the paths, and anywhere in the forest off the paths, skiing is prohibited - cycling is not allowed on machine-groomed cross-country trails in winter - dogs must be kept on a lead ## Groomed trails are free, but you can contribute According to the krkonose.eu portal, cross-country skiing in Krkonoše costs nothing, but grooming the trails costs a lot of money. It is taken care of by municipalities, sports clubs and associations, and anyone who wants to can contribute voluntarily. At Vejsplachy in Vrchlabí you can buy a ski badge (lyžařská známka) in different values, in Benecko the Hrdý přispěvatel (Proud Contributor) badge, and in Špindlerův Mlýn you can contribute via a QR code or a bank transfer. ## Safety in the mountains: weather, navigation and Mountain Rescue On the ridges the weather can change quickly, and in fog or strong wind it is easy to lose your bearings, even on a route you know. A few rules worth following: - check the weather forecast and trail conditions before you leave - take a charged phone, a map, an extra warm layer and something to drink - remember that winter days are short and plan to be back in daylight - tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back - the Mountain Rescue Service (Horská služba) emergency line is +420 1210 and runs non-stop, so save it in your phone [We sum up what not to forget when packing in our article: What to pack for skiing in the Krkonoše mountains.](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/ski-trip-packing-list-krkonose) ## Cross-country ski rental in Vrchlabí: what you can rent from us At our rental shop in Vrchlabí you can rent a cross-country set for both classic and skate skiing. A set consists of skis, boots and poles. We wax the skis to suit the current snow, and if you ski more often, you can also rent them for the whole season. It helps us choose if you tell us your height, weight, shoe size and whether you want to ski in the track or skate. We are also happy to advise you on a route, depending on how far you want to go and what the snow is like at the moment. Current prices are in the price list on the cross-country ski rental page. [Cross-country ski rental: classic and skate sets](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/cross-country-ski-rental) > **Tip from the shop:** Going cross-country skiing for the first time? It is usually easier to start with classic and plan a shorter first outing, for example at Vejsplachy in Vrchlabí. You can move on to skating once you feel confident on cross-country skis. ## From history: Jan Buchar and the beginnings of skiing in Krkonoše Skiing has a long tradition in Krkonoše. One of its pioneers was Jan Buchar (1859–1932), a head teacher in Dolní Štěpanice. According to the Czech Tourist Club, his first Czech article about skis was published in 1894, followed a year later by the first Czech methodological paper on skiing, and in 1903 he became the first chairman of the Association of Skiers in the Kingdom of Bohemia. Today his name is carried by the Bucharova cesta (Buchar Trail), a hiking route of about 30 km from Jilemnice to the source of the Elbe (Labe). For our rental, this chapter also has a personal side: according to the family history of the owner, Jiří Honců, Jan Buchar was his direct ancestor. [School holiday dates and tips on when to head to the mountains are in our article: When to go skiing in the Krkonoše mountains.](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/spindleruv-mlyn-ski-season-2026-27) [Book cross-country skis in advance](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/booking) ## Frequently asked questions ### Do you have to pay for groomed cross-country trails in Krkonoše? No, according to the krkonose.eu portal, cross-country skiing in Krkonoše costs nothing. Grooming is taken care of by municipalities, clubs and associations, and you can contribute voluntarily, for example by buying a ski badge at Vejsplachy in Vrchlabí or in Benecko. ### Can you go cross-country skiing in Vrchlabí in the evening? Yes, at the Vejsplachy area by Kačák pond more than half of the trails are floodlit and have artificial snow. Check whether they are currently open on the nabezky.cz website. ### Should I rent classic or skate skis for my first time? Most beginners find classic in the track more natural, because the movement is like walking and the track keeps you on course. Skating takes more balance and fitness, and we are happy to advise you on the spot. ### Can I ski off the marked trails in the national park? No. Under the rules of the Krkonoše National Park Administration, skiing is allowed only on pistes, marked trails and designated ski touring routes. In the quiet zone off the paths, and anywhere in the forest off the paths, skiing is prohibited. ### What number should I call if something happens while cross-country skiing? The Mountain Rescue Service (Horská služba) emergency line is +420 1210 and it runs non-stop. Save it in your phone before you set off. --- SKI Rental Jiří Honců · Valteřická 1436, 543 01 Vrchlabí · +420 603 554 947 · skihoncu@gmail.com - [Book now](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/booking) - [Prices](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/prices) - [All guides](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides) Other languages: [Čeština](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/cs/bezky-vrchlabi-krkonose.md) · [Deutsch](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/de/langlauf-riesengebirge-tschechien-vrchlabi.md) · [Polski](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/pl/biegowki-karkonosze-vrchlabi.md) · [Українська](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/uk/bihovi-lyzhi-krkonoshe-vrkhlabi.md)