Modřany Gully Long Run
Wild, challenging, and just outside Prague.
What to expect
Modřany Gully (Modřanská rokle) is my go-to long run — this gorgeous nature reserve sits just south of Prague, with the trailhead outside Zbraslav on the east bank of the Vltava, around nine kilometres downstream from the city.
This one’s a proper challenge—technical climbs, runnable descents, and a mix of surfaces: forest singletrack, packed dirt, loose clay shale, and rocky sections to keep you on your toes.
Key highlights:
- Vltava Riverside Trail – A calm, flat start along the river, perfect for easing into the run. Quiet, partly shaded, and very runnable.
- Ascent to Hradiště – The first proper climb. It’s steep and scrambly in parts, but the views pay dividends.
- Hradiště Observation Tower – A 360° panorama over Modřany Gully. Total photo op.
- Hálkův Memorial – A stone monument in the forest, dedicated to Czech poet Vítězslav Hálek—worth a quiet pause.
- Šance Climb & Ravine – A wild, rugged ascent on loose shale with dramatic rocky features.
- Šance Plateau – Rolling meadows, ancient oaks, and wild lavender in season.
- Modřanská Rokle Descent – A gentle forested drop back into the city. Shady, peaceful, and a perfect cooldown.
Along the Vltava
We pick up the river trail in Braník, in Prague 4, and leaving the city’s hustle behind, the low-elevation trail offers distant views of the gully’s hills and peaks as we run towards them.
The trail closely follows the river Vltava, with substantial sections on uneven flagstones, the remains of towpaths, from the days of intensive logging down-river.
Terrain like this, with regularly uneven surfaces, builds ankle strength, foot flexibility and muscle memory. During springtime and throughout the summer, the trail is littered with wild flowers.
It offers sweeping views of Chuchle Grove, on the west side of the river, and the Church of St. John of Nepomuk—a charming baroque chapel, originally built in the 18th century.
Zbraslav
Reaching Zbraslav, we follow yellow trail markers beneath the “Závodu míru” bridge. Steps lead up to the bridge’s southern ramp, and we cross into Zbraslav proper. There, we rejoin the yellow trail into Břežanské Valley—where the real climbing begins.
Ascent grade increases steadily on a hard-packed trail, often eroded and rocky. Towards the summit at Hradiště, the terrain turns technical. The area is famous for its exposed layers of Proterozoic bedrock, limestone, siltstone, greywacke, and clay shale—a geologist’s dream and a runner’s quad test.
This first climb is a sampler of the gully’s diverse terrain. The south-facing viewpoints are magic—English and sessile oaks create a serene, shaded canopy.
Hradiště (389 metres)
At the summit, the Hradiště Observation Tower dares you to go higher. On clear days, you can spot Vyšehrad Fort and even Prague Castle on the horizon.
By this point we’ve climbed about 240 metres, and at around 12 kilometres in, we’re halfway through. Only one major climb left, and it’s the gnarliest of the lot.
Into the Šance ravine
Descending yellow and blue trails into the southern forest, we drop into the Břežanské Valley. Right opposite lies the unmarked Šance Ravine. No signage—just follow the path of least resistance up.
This climb is steep, technical, and at times, more of a scramble than a run. But the reward is solitude—and if we’re quiet, we might spot a herd of deer, sometimes with a 10-pointer leading the way.
Šance (385 metres)
Climbing Šance, we pass ancient Celtic fortifications—once a Boii tribe stronghold, now half-hidden among the trees.
At the top, it’s all oaks and lavender. Trails are rarely used here—it feels wild and deeply peaceful.
Šance is the perfect counterpoint to Hradiště, with a false summit just to keep things spicy. But once you reach the top? Sweeping vistas and pure satisfaction.
Downhill all the way
From Šance, we roll downhill through shaded forest trails. The last stretch through Modřanská Rokle is a joy—cool, green, and silent. A trail runner’s dream finish.
Trail tips
- Water: refill spots are rare, so bring enough.
- Shoes: grip matters on the loose clay shale of the Šance climb.
- Poles: handy in winter, or if you like a bit of extra push on the climbs.
- Navigation: the main trails are marked, but the Šance ravine isn’t—follow the path of least resistance up.
Route facts
- Distance: 23 kilometres
- Elevation gain: 450 metres
- Start point: Braník (Prague 4), tram stop Pobřežní cesta (request stop)
- Highlights: Vltava Riverside Trail, Hradiště climb and views, observation tower, Šance ridge and ravine, Modřanská rokle descent
Run it yourself
The full Modřany Gully route, with navigation, practical information and the other Prague adventures, is in T-RUN Prague.
