Velká Úpa – Hiking, Mountain Culture and Portášky

Velká Úpa combines distinctive mountain culture with varied trails and its own winter sports character. The Skiareál Velká Úpa is particularly characteristic: a smaller ski resort with a ski slope featuring a significant elevation difference. At the same time, several trails lead through or to Velká Úpa. This makes it possible to explore the town as a starting point for various day-trip ideas – from a route with information boards to an excursion in the direction of Sněžka.

Hiking Trails with Their Own Stories

The Cesta horských nosičů begins at the lower station of the Portášky cable car in Velká Úpa. Along this route, information boards provide details about the history of mountain porters. The trail thus connects the specific location at the lower station with a theme closely associated with the mountain environment and its transport traditions.

Údolím Šramlu takes a different direction. The route begins in Velká Úpa and follows a yellow-marked hiking trail to Portášky. For families and groups wishing to include playful stops along the way, Krakonošova zpovědnice offers its own form of discovery: The route includes seven play stations, including stops along the Old Road and in the centre of Velká Úpa.

Krakonošova zpovědnice also follows an easy route from Pec pod Sněžkou to Velká Úpa. You can therefore also consider this route from the direction of Pec pod Sněžkou. A walk from Velká Úpa to Sněžka is recommended; it can be managed with children if a cable car is used at least once. This provides an option for an excursion with a more substantial mountain destination in addition to the shorter local and valley trails.

Portášky Between Winter Activities and Wooden Sculptures

The lower station of the Portášky cable car brings together several facilities in Velká Úpa: It houses a ski school office, a rental service, a test centre and the SkiResort Live service. At the upper station lies Herní krajina Pecka, a unique ensemble of interactive wooden sculptures and objects featuring motifs from the fauna of the Krkonoše Mountains. The lower and upper stations thus represent two different sides of the town: the facilities are concentrated below, while above awaits a distinctive landscape of wooden forms and animal motifs.

Church, Folk Architecture and Monuments

Velká Úpa also has noteworthy architectural landmarks away from the trails. The Church of the Holy Trinity is a spacious Neoclassical brick building. Its construction began in 1788, and the first mass could already be celebrated there in 1789. These dates give the building a clearly defined historical context.

The Velké Tippeltovy Boudy are also among the prominent examples of regional architecture. They are one of the best-preserved ensembles of folk architecture in the Krkonoše Mountains and were designated a village heritage conservation zone in 2005. A hiking route to Velká Úpa passes a Catholic chapel dating from 1877. Mountain House No. 282 is protected as a cultural monument. Those who wish to consider not only trails but also regional architectural forms and history when choosing where to stay will therefore find several distinct themes in Velká Úpa.

For further research, you can also compare Upice, Velky Vrestov, Kocbere, Pilníkov, Horní Marsov, Borovnice U Staré Paky, Chvaleč and Borovnicka.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Trutnov.