About one kilometre east of Beckov, Bečkovský vodopád lies in the headwaters of a short, striking valley incision. The waterfall combines a distinctive landscape feature with a walk whose length and route are described in specific terms.
To the waterfall and onto the hiking trails
Bečkovský vodopád features a rock face with a plentiful, concentrated spring and a pseudokarst spring outlet, as well as a cascade. A short walk to the waterfall starts at the entrance to Beckov. It crosses a meadow and follows the edge of the forest; wooden signposts show the way. The Bečkov–Bečkovský vodopád–Bečkov route is 2.5 kilometres long in total.
From Bernartice, hiking and cycling trails lead either to Bečkovský vodopád or to Jánský vrch and the Krausova vyhlídka viewpoint. A yellow hiking trail marker initially follows the saddle between Bečkov and Bernartice, then branches off towards the Rybníček settlement and climbs from there to Jánský vrch. This offers a choice of different destinations and routes; trail markings may change, so it is a good idea to check the route before setting out.
Rocky Gorge and Landscape
Čertova rokle is a gorge-like valley incision at the upper end of Bečkov, between the steep slopes of Mravenčí vrch and Końská, near the border. A group of bizarre rhyolite rocks forms the entrance to the gorge in the forest at the foot of Vraní hory. Finding your way here differs from a walk with signposts: the path into Čertova rokle disappears in several places in the confusing woodland near the state border.
The wider landscape can also be traced through its ridges and valleys. In the region around Bečkov, the southern edge of Vraní hory forms a long ridge called Dlouhá stráň. Beyond the valley of Bečkovský potok and Ličná lies a northwestern spur of Jestřebí hory, including Janský vrch. The names refer to different features in the landscape, not to a single circular route.
Local History and Monuments
Bečkov was first mentioned in writing in 1361. In the past, its inhabitants made their living from farming, weaving and mining. The village’s history also includes a former limestone quarry: limestone extracted there was burned to produce lime in local lime kilns.
Beckov is home to a stone statue of Saint John of Nepomuk, donated by Johann and Franziska Bischof in 1902. Between Bečkov and Bernartice, a hexagonal chapel stands on a saddle. Below Dlouhá stráň, near the Polish border, there is a metal cross commissioned in 1851 by Johann Schmíd of Potschendorf and his wife.
The wayside shrine with its shallow niche is located near Bečkov’s former fire tower; the date 1836 is inscribed at its base. A stone cross is also among the local cultural monuments. Together with the statue and the chapel, these offer a distinct cultural and historical dimension alongside the trails and rock formations.
Accommodation and Trip Planning
Beckov can be reached by a road branching off from Bernartice. When looking for a holiday apartment, the starting point for your planned trip can be a practical factor for comparison: the entrance to Beckov for the waterfall walk, or Bernartice for the trails to the waterfall or Jánský vrch. This lets you plan your accommodation around the destinations you want to focus on.
Discover more destinations: Žacléř, Spindleruv Mlyn, Markousovice, Havlovice, Velké Svatoňovice, Marsov U Upice, Upice, Horni Brusnice.
Back to the main travel overview: Okres Trutnov.
