Educational trail Smraďoch (Stinky)

Distance: 6 km

This is a part of the natural reservation of the same name that has been made accessible (forest highland peat bog). The trail has been in use since June of 1976. It begins 5.4 km from Mariánské Lázně at the parking lot at the roadway (160 meters beyond the Nimrod forest restaurant). You can get there from the roadway leading from Mariánské Lázně (direction Prameny) or by marked tourist trails (blue, red). From the parking lot, follow the forest path (67 m) to the actual beginning of the educational trail, and the entire trail is along a raised wooden walkway. The entire length of the educational trail itself is 76 meters. The trail includes two lookout platforms (lookout onto mofette gable – mud volcanoes, and gas seeping from Zelený Pond).

The entrance panel is made up of two parts – regulations for visitors to the protected landscape region, and hiking map sections of the area with other points of interest marked. At the end of the trail, on a lookout platform, is an information panel (how mineral springs and mofettes are formed, information on the Smraďoch natural reservation). The name Smraďoch, literally „the stinky one“, is for a good reason – in addition to the carbon dioxide gases emitted here, there is also a mild amount of hydrogen sulfide. It’s enough, though, to make the entire area smell like rotten eggs. The trail is handicapped accessible.

The trail itself, and getting to the trail, requires no special equipment or clothing, and is easy. The footpath from Mariánské Lázně, though, requires normal outdoor clothing and itself is slightly difficult. The panels on the educational trail are in Czech, German, and English.

The Farská Kyselka mineral spring is close by and freely accessible

Parameters of the educational trail:

length 75 m, time required 20 minutes, 2 stops
Public transportation: Mariánské Lázně (about 6 km from town center)

Marked trails:

1. From Mariánské Lázně along the red trail around Teplé spring area
2. From Mariánské Lázně along the blue trail

Bicycle trail:

Mariánské Lázně loop No. VI