The Amber Trail through the Moravian Karst: cycling from Adamov to Sloup

The Amber Trail is a long-distance cycle route no. 5 that runs the length of Moravia from Bohumín to Mikulov, covering 326 km. Through the Moravian Karst it follows the section Adamov – Blansko – Skalní Mlýn – Suchý žleb – Ostrov u Macochy – Sloup, which is about 25 km long. From Brno to Sloup it is more than 40 km along the route. The two loveliest stretches are almost car-free: the Svitavská lesní silnice (forest road) between Adamov and Blansko, and Suchý žleb (a gorge) past the Kateřinská Cave (Kateřinská jeskyně). After that comes a climb up hairpin bends to the Macocha Abyss and on to Ostrov. The 5/5 link runs through Pustý žleb, which is closed to cars. Note that route no. 507 is a different cycle route, not the Amber Trail.

QUICK LINKS 🧭 What is the Amber Trail · 🗺️ Section-by-section route through the karst · 🔀 The Pustý žleb link · 📏 Difficulty · 🚆 Getting there · ❓ FAQ

The Amber Trail has a romantic name, recalling the ancient route along which amber was carried from the Baltic to the Mediterranean. For cyclists, though, it is above all a well-signposted backbone route that links the railway stations at Adamov and Blansko with the caves of the karst. If you cycle into the karst from Brno, you will most likely be following it.

What is the Amber Trail

The Czech section of the Amber Trail is a Class I cycle route, no. 5. It was created around 2001, mostly using paths and roads that already existed. It runs from Bohumín via Ostrava, Olomouc, Prostějov, Blansko and Brno to Mikulov, and continues into Poland and Austria. The stretch through the karst is also part of the international EuroVelo 9 route and of the Kraków – Moravia – Vienna Greenway.

The route numbers are often confused. Cycle route no. 507 runs from Ostrov u Macochy via Jedovnice and Bukovinka to Rousínov, and meets the Amber Trail only at the Balcarka Cave (Balcarka).

Section-by-section route through the karst

Distances are calculated from the route as mapped in OpenStreetMap and are rounded.

1. Adamov – Blansko (about 8 km). In Adamov, after the bridge over the River Svitava, you turn off into a narrow lane between the buildings of the former engineering works. Beyond them begins the Svitavská lesní silnice: about 4 km of tarmac through the Svitava valley, where cars are allowed only with a permit. At the Pod Hradem spring, cycle route 5119 branches off towards Nový hrad (New Castle). The Amber Trail continues beneath the railway bridge, and the last 3.5 km or so into Blansko follows road 376, which has normal traffic. On the edge of Blansko stands the Klamovka ironworks. You can read more about Adamov in the article Adamov.

2. Blansko – Skalní Mlýn (about 5 km). From Blansko the route follows the road up the Punkva valley, past the ČKD works, to Skalní Mlýn. In the season there are lots of cars and coaches here, so expect traffic. At Skalní Mlýn you will find a hotel, a restaurant and a car park; see Skalní Mlýn.

3. Skalní Mlýn – Suchý žleb – Ostrov u Macochy (about 6 km). From Skalní Mlýn the route crosses the Punkva and follows Suchý žleb, which is closed to cars. It passes the Kateřinská Cave and takes you through a cool, rocky canyon to the turning for the Macocha Abyss. From there it climbs up hairpin bends, then continues along a road with normal traffic, past the Balcarka Cave, to Ostrov. This is the toughest climb of the whole section.

4. Ostrov u Macochy – Sloup (about 5 km). In Ostrov the route turns up a steep hill past the church onto the Ostrov plateau, then drops sharply via Šošůvka to Sloup and the Sloup-Šošůvka Caves (Sloupsko-šošůvské jeskyně). From Sloup it carries on north, then towards Prostějov and Olomouc.

The 5/5 link through Pustý žleb

You can also get from Skalní Mlýn to Sloup another way, along the 5/5 link of the Amber Trail. It runs past the Punkva Caves (Punkevní jeskyně) through Pustý žleb on a tarmac track closed to cars, and from Skalní Mlýn it climbs only gently towards Sloup. It is about 8 km long. This is the most comfortable way through the karst by bike, and families with children ride it too; see The Moravian Karst by bike with children.

The main route and the link together make a loop: out through Pustý žleb to Sloup and back via Ostrov and Suchý žleb, or the other way round. A similar loop with a detour via Holštejn is described in the article Cycling through Suchý and Pustý žleb.

Difficulty

• Surface: the whole stretch through the karst is on tarmac, mostly on Class III roads and forest roads. A road bike will manage it.
• Climbs: two notable ones. From Suchý žleb up to the Macocha Abyss and on to Ostrov, and from Ostrov up onto the Ostrov plateau. From the Svitava to Skalní Mlýn the route is almost flat.
• Traffic: cars are not allowed into Suchý and Pustý žleb, and only with a permit on the Svitavská lesní silnice. The roads from Adamov to Blansko and from Blansko to Skalní Mlýn are busy in the season.
• Who it suits: anyone who rides a bike can manage the Adamov – Skalní Mlýn section. The climb to Ostrov is better suited to stronger riders or to an e-bike.

In the national nature reserves you may cycle only on roads and marked cycle routes, which the Amber Trail satisfies. The rules are summarised in the article The Moravian Karst by bike.

Getting to the start

• By train: both Adamov and Blansko lie on the railway line from Brno to Česká Třebová. Bikes can be taken on the train, so you can ride one way and come back by rail.
• By car: there are pay car parks at Skalní Mlýn. For where to park in Blansko and Adamov, see the articles on the towns, Blansko and Adamov.
• Accommodation along the route: in Sloup and the surrounding area there are plenty of guesthouses; see Accommodation in Sloup. Hotel Skalní Mlýn offers guests free bike storage.

For where to eat along the way, see the article Where to eat in the Moravian Karst. For longer trips, the route makes a good basis for a three-day cycling tour of the karst.

FAQ

Where does the Amber Trail run through the Moravian Karst? From Adamov via Blansko to Skalní Mlýn, then through Suchý žleb past the Macocha Abyss to Ostrov u Macochy and on to Sloup. The 5/5 link runs through Pustý žleb.

What number is the Amber Trail? Cycle route no. 5. Route no. 507 is a different one, running from Ostrov u Macochy to Rousínov.

How long is the section through the Moravian Karst? About 25 km from Adamov to Sloup. From Brno to Sloup it is more than 40 km.

Is the Amber Trail suitable for children? The car-free stretches are, especially the Svitavská lesní silnice and Pustý žleb. The road from Blansko to Skalní Mlýn and the climb to Ostrov are not suitable for small children.

Are cars allowed into Suchý žleb? No, both Suchý and Pustý žleb are closed to cars.

Information verified as of 13 October 2026. Sources: OpenStreetMap: relation 5 Jantarová stezka (route, section lengths, access restrictions); Wikipedia: Cyklistická trasa 5; Town of Rájec-Jestřebí: Cycle paths in the area (description of routes no. 5 and 507 and the 5/5 link); Hotel Skalní Mlýn: Cycling; Jedovnice.com: Cycle routes.

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