Nature Trail - Čertův mlýn

Nature trails in the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO) whose establisher is the Beskydy CHKO Administration

1	Introductory board – shows the route of the nature trail	6	Panoramic Map
2	Lake “Mořské oko” (Sea Eye)	7	Klíny Natural Reservation
3	Kněhyně - Čertův mlýn National Natural Reservation	8	Program 2000
4	Forests 1	9	Martiňák Cottage
5	Forests 2

Introductory board – shows the route of the nature trail (1)
Two nature trails start at Pustevny that try to educate about the natural wonders and history of these locations.

Radegast Nature Trail starts 200 m higher and leads along the ridge of Radhošť to the chapel, from where it returns to Pustevny along a different route. It has a total of 10 stops.
Čertův mlýn (Devil’s Mill) Nature Trail, the first board of which you are standing at, leads in the opposite direction along the red tourist signs over the slopes of the Čertův mlýn massif. It passes under the ski jumps, along the Mořské oko (Sea Eye) lake, continues under the National Natural Reservation (NNR) of Kněhyně - Čertův mlýn and the Klín Natural Reservation to the cottage at Martiňák. The nature trail has a total of 9 stops. The route is approximately 7 km long and does not have great changes in elevation.

Lake “Mořské oko” (Sea Eye) (2)
It was created under a log cabin on the southern slope of the Tanečnica saddle, at a height of 980 metres above sea level, by cleaning out and deepening the wetlands. This was carried out by the members of the Radhošť Mountain Unit in 1894. The forest pool is an important element in the reproduction of amphibians. The alpine newt, smooth newt and the Carpathian newt, in particular, abound here in the spring. Other species that can be seen at this location include frogs – the common toad, yellow-bellied toad and European common brown frog.
Besides amphibians, certain reptiles live near Mořské oko (Sea Eye) – the viviparous lizard, slowworm, grass snake and the common viper. Invertebrates that will capture our attention are dragonflies, of which the most striking are the broad-bodied chaser and Aeschna cyanea.
Currently, this location is being taken care of by the Czech Union for Nature Conservation in Valašské Meziříčí together with the Beskydy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO) Administration and lesy České Republiky (The Forests of the Czech Republic). The repeated deepening of the much-clogged pool and the installation of information boards and wooden railings was carried out during 1999 and 2000.

Kněhyně - Čertův mlýn National Natural Reservation (3)
NYou are at the edge of the Kněhyně - Čertův mlýn National Natural Reservation. It was created in 1989. Here on an area of 195 ha, protection of the unique remaining natural forest vegetation of an alpine type is maintained (the peak and adjoining steep slopes of Kněhyně - 1257 metres above sea level, and the Čertův mlýn massif - 1206 metres above sea level). The greater part of the oldest tree level is mostly dead as a result of age, the effects of air pollution, and natural impacts (climate, insects, and mushrooms). The natural making young of tree species is occurring under the protection of fallen trunks and dry trees. The profuse rock outcrops and pseudo-karst phenomenon are interesting features.
Extensive forests provide great conditions for many birds, e.g. the hazel grouse, three-toed woodpecker, white-backed woodpecker, stock pigeon, common raven, and red-breasted flycatcher. Even several specimens of Caucasian black grouse live here. Occasionally, even the brown bear wanders through this area. Great conditions and the necessary peace are found here by our largest bisulcate animal – the red deer.

Forests 1 (4)
The forests, which you are walking through, are administered by the State Forests of the Czech Republic. They endeavour to cultivate forests that not only produce wood but also bring their visitors health, peace, relaxation, and enable one to engage in various forms of recreation. The basic forestry strategy is to constantly, in a sustainable manner, and effectively husband forests with the objective of creating a stable, species diverse forest that fulfils production functions – i.e. a source of wood, forest mushrooms and fruit, and non-production functions – i.e. water management, soil conservation, and climatic, recreational, landscaping, aesthetic, and hygienic functions.
Lesy České republiky, s.p. (Forests of the Czech Republic, State Company) manages 1.4 mil. hectares of stands in the ownership of the State, 28% of which is located in protected landscape areas, 17% in natural parks, and 2% in natural reservations, and natural monuments.
The Vsetín district has the third largest percentage of forested area in the Czech Republic (52.3%), and the largest supply of wood. Forestation in the Czech Republic amounts to 0.25 of forest per every resident.
By behaving responsibly towards nature, even you help create a healthy environment.

Forests 2 (5)
The are communities of flowering and sycamore beechwood in the lower and southern sections of the Kněhyně - Čertův mlýn NNR. European beech is the species that dominates, and less represented are the sycamore maple, European silver and the Norway spruce. One can find Dentaria enneaphyllos, Dentaria bulbifera, baneberry, European wild ginger, and wood sanicle growing in the undergrowth. One can also often see species of acid beechwood and spruce groves, such as loose silky-bent, bilberry, whorled Solomon’s seal, greater woodrush, and the May lily.
One can see in the adjoining mountain spruce groves, besides ferns, Ranunculus flammula, Rumex alpestris, wood stitchwort, and mountain sow thistle.
The mountain spruce groves at the highest elevations primarily consist of Norway spruce, European mountain ash is also relatively profuse. At the herbal level, one can mainly find ferns (Athyrium alpestre, male fern, Dryopteris remota, Lastrea limbosperma). Locations that have plenty of light harbour the rare moravian Aconitum firmum.

Panoramic Map (6)
Panoramic Map:

In front of you, the view of Rožnov’s Bečva river valley and the opposite Vsetín peaks opens up, This wide valley, called the Rožnov trench, divides the Vsetín peaks from the Radhošť highlands of the Moravia-Silesia Beskydy. It is an important transportation artery connecting the Czech Republic and Slovakia via the Bumbálka saddle.
From its sources to its confluence with Vsetín’s Bečva in Valašské Meziříčí, the Rožnov Bečva is 36 km long and its river basin covers an area of 254 square kilometres. Streams flowing into it are swift running but relatively short. From the right they are the Mečůvka, Kobylská, Kněhyně, Rozpitý, and further the Kaní, Vermířovský, and Zuberský stream. From the left there are Hluboký, Kyvňačka, Soláňka, Hážovický stream, and Maretka.

Klíny Natural Reservation (7)
If you set out along the green signs to the Čertův mlýn ridge, after about 1.5 km you will reach the Klíny Natural Reservation.
This reservation was created in 1955 as an illustration of natural forest vegetation with locations having a primeval character in fir-beech degree on steep rocky slopes. The land is furrowed with up the 8-metre deep stream channels in the shape of the letter V.
Vegetation mainly consists of beech, and in second place is Norway spruce. Occasionally one can see sycamore maple. European silver is already rare. Characteristic undergrowth consists of Dentaria bulbifera and Dentaria enneaphyllos, baneberry, sweet woodruff, early dog-violet, unspotted lungwort, Jupiter’s sage, and yellow archangel. In forest detritus and ravine communities one can find perenial honestry, hard shield fern, dog’s mercury, and touch-me-not balsam. Slopes of streams are home to moravian Aconitum firmum, yellow-flowered veratrum, and white butterbur.
Great environmental conditions exist near streams for the spotted salamander. Birds that appear are the black stork, northern goshawk, hazel grouse, and nutcracker.

Program 2000 (8)
The public interest Program 2000 ensures that forests fulfil the functions of water management, soil conservation, and also recreational and landscaping functions. During the realization of this Lesy ČR (Forests of the Czech Republic) took the initiative and also joined in these activities that improve and accentuate the recreational functioning of forests.
Recently, visitors to the Beskydy more and more often come across amenities that make their stay in the outdoors more pleasant. These are various signs, information boards, scenic panoramic views, shelters, places to rest, improved springs, etc. These structures have mainly been created thanks to the collaboration between and independent activities of Lesů ČR (Forests of the Czech Republic), Beskydy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO) Administration, the Czech Union for Nature Conservation, and Czech Tourist Clubs.
The network of marked trails makes touristic, naturalistic, forest, and historically interesting places accessible. Many types exist: primarily classic hiking paths, newer bicycle, and winter ones, but also some of the first trails for horses.

Martiňák Cottage (9)
The Čertův mlýn nature trail, the last board of which you are standing at, leads to the Martiňák cottage along the red tourist signs across the southwest slope of the Čertův mlýn massif and passes next to Mořské oko (Sea Eye) lake to Pustevny. The nature trail has a total of 9 stops. The route is approximately 7 km long and does not have great changes in elevation.
Already about 200 years have gone by since the inn of Mr. Martiňak was built. The inn experienced its greatest heyday after operation of the Ostrava-Čeladná railway line started. Back then, it was the only place on the route from Čeladná to Bečva where workers returning from work at the mills and mines in Ostrava could find refreshment. The Czech Tourist Club bought the inn in 1927. During the war, this was one of the main base camps of the partisans. In October 1944, the 1st Brigade of Jan Žižka stayed here. After the war, the inn had many owners. The cottage received the appearance it has today in 1972, when a new building was built on the old foundations.

| Author: MÚ Rožnov p/R | Date of publication 21. 07. 2004 | 7462 Read |