Czechia's tallest waterfall hides in the Giant Mountains: the Pančava stream plunges off the edge of a plateau and drops 148 meters in four stages into the Elbe Valley. You can get there in half a day, and admission is free — here's how.
The Pančava Waterfall (Pančavský vodopád) sits in the Krkonoše National Park, within the town of Špindlerův Mlýn. Its height is 148 meters, a record for Czechia.
It doesn't fall in a single stream but in four cascades: 36, 39, 23 and 20 meters. The water drops off the edge of the Pančava meadow down a rock face to the bottom of the Elbe Valley — the very valley where the Elbe River begins.
A landmark for orientation: roughly a kilometer south of Labská bouda.
From Špindlerův Mlýn, take the cable car up to Medvědín, then follow the red trail markers on foot through Zlaté Návrší and Vrbatova bouda. It's about 4.5 kilometers along the ridge to the waterfall.
The walk is easy, with almost no elevation gain — the cable car does most of the work. The views along the way take in the whole valley.
You can shorten the hike by driving to the car park in Horní Mísečky and starting from there. This option works well if you're setting off early or hiking with kids.
The waterfall runs year-round, but its flow varies a lot. The average discharge is about 25 liters per second, and it becomes truly powerful during snowmelt, usually from late April to early May. That's the best time to see it at full strength.
In summer there's noticeably less water, but the weather is more reliable and the trails are easier. In winter the route is passable, but it calls for proper gear — this is a mountain ridge, and the weather there can turn quickly.
With the cable car and a round-trip walk, plan on half a day without rushing. If you're starting from Prague, it works as a day trip — Špindlerův Mlýn is about two hours away by car.
We round up other routes through the Czech mountains and natural sights in our Places section.
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