Merklín Rocks

Merklín Rocks sit in the wooded slope above road II/221 between Hroznětín and Merklín. The area is attractive because many small granite features are packed into a compact hillside: blocks, little towers and broken walls. The printed guide presents it as a newer local area; the ČHS database now records it as a sizeable sector with dozens of routes.

What to See

Named features include Mamut, Věžička, Sněhulák, Placka, Gorila, Ploutev, Dívčí, Vochomůrka, Křemílek, Hradba and Strážce. Routes are generally short, technical and accessible, with difficulties concentrated in lower and middle grades. ČHS lists more than eighty routes, mostly sport climbing, although nuts and cams are often useful.

Practical Information

The approach is short, but parking must be considerate along the road before Merklín. The rocks are spread across several small groups, so a topo or map is useful. After rain, the forest slope can be slippery and less frequented blocks may hold moss and leaf litter.

Sources

• Lezec.cz – Merklín
• ČHS – Merklín
• printed guide Skalní oblasti v okolí Ostrova: Horolezecký průvodce 2013 (user-provided scans)