The region functions as the 'roof of Europe,' acting as a significant hydrographic watershed divide.
The area is home to the endangered Great Snipe and several species of carnivorous sundew plants in its protected peat bogs.
Devět skal (Nine Rocks) was historically used as a navigational landmark for forest management and local trade routes.
Many of the area's characteristic rock formations, known as 'tors,' are formed from gneiss exposed by millions of years of erosion.
Pilská nádrž, one of the larger reservoirs, serves both as a recreational site and a flood-control mechanism for the region.
The PLA administration maintains a specific program to protect the traditional hay meadows that require manual mowing to prevent forest encroachment.
Žďárské vrchy is a protected landscape area in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands covering approximately 715 square kilometers. The terrain is characterized by a high-altitude plateau with frequent rock formations, peat bogs, and spruce forests. It serves as a primary European watershed divide, separating the Elbe and Danube drainage basins. Devět skal is the highest peak, reaching 836 meters above sea level. The area includes several protected nature reserves, such as the Dářko peat bog and the Škrdlovice reservoir. Its geological composition consists largely of crystalline rocks, notably orthogneiss and mica schist. The landscape is dotted with historical rural settlements and traditional vernacular architecture. Visitors can access an extensive network of marked hiking and cross-country skiing trails. It is legally designated as a Chráněná krajinná oblast (PLA) to preserve its biodiversity and forest ecosystems.
The summit of Devět skal, providing panoramic views over the surrounding highlands.
Bring a topographic map or GPS device, as cell service can be intermittent in the dense forested valleys.
Pack layers, as the high-altitude plateau experiences rapid weather shifts and significantly lower temperatures than the surrounding lowlands.
Utilize the marked 'naučná stezka' (educational trails) which provide historical and ecological context via onsite signage.
Attempting to traverse the entire area in a single day, as the terrain is rugged and expansive.
Stick to marked trails to protect sensitive peat bog habitats; wild camping is strictly prohibited.
