📜 A 106 km long river in the Czech Republic, originating in the Žďárské vrchy hills.
🔍 Popular for canoeing, kayaking, and rafting, offering varied sections from still water to challenging WW II-III rapids, with 93 km navigable.

Why Go

🏞️ Explore diverse river sections with varying difficulty levels.
🌲 Enjoy scenic stretches, especially the upper section and the 'Peklo' (Hell) section in a beautiful valley.
💦 Experience regulated flows from dams, with scheduled water releases for optimal navigability.
🚶‍♀️ Discover the 82 km long educational trail "Krajem Chrudimky" along the river.
🚴‍♀️ Cycle "Na kole za přehradami Železných hor" trail, guided by the Chrudimka river.

Why Avoid

⚠️ Upper section can be narrow, overgrown, and challenging to navigate.
🚧 'Peklo' section is rocky and often dry; beware of fallen trees and game reserve fences.
💧 Navigability is highly dependent on rainfall and dam releases; check water levels before going.
⛔ Be aware of recent warnings: fallen trees on Seč-Mezisvětí, Kalousov weir reconstruction, low footbridge in Chrudim, and dangers at Svídnice weir.
🥶 Winter months can be affected by freezing water gauges, impacting navigability.

🗺️ River Sections & Difficulty

• Upper Section (Hamry - Na Pilce, km 93.2 - 57.5): WW I - ZW, narrow, overgrown, fast current.
• Upper Section (Na Pilce - Seč Dam, km 57.5 - 50.7): ZW (still water).
• Middle Section (Seč Dam - Křižanovice reservoir, km 50.7 - 40.4): WW I, pleasant and undemanding.
• Middle Section (Křižanovice, km 40.4 - 37.2): ZWA.
• Middle Section (Křižanovice Dam - Svídnice Dam, km 37.2 - 30.4): WW II-III, 'Peklo' (Hell), challenging, rocky, often dry, flows through 1st zone of CHKO Železné hory.
• Lower Section (Svídnice - Slatiňany, km 30.4 - 25.1): WW I - II.
• Lower Section (Slatiňany - Labe confluence, km 25.1 - 0.0): ZW, easy, meandering through meadows.

📏 Navigability Conditions

• General: Limits for plastic canoes with moderately experienced crew. Kayakers may pass at lower levels; rafts/beginners need more water.
• Upper (from Trhová Kamenice): Navigable in spring/after heavy rain; min 83 cm at Přemilov gauge.
• Middle (below Seč): Depends on power plant releases (weekdays, some Sat mornings); min 105 cm at Padrty gauge. Planned release: September 13, 2025.
• Middle (below Křižanovice): Often dry; requires significant release (min 22 m³/s) or 90 cm at Svídnice gauge.
• Lower (from Svídnice): Depends on dam releases; min 50 cm at Svídnice gauge.
• Lower (from Tuněchody): Mostly navigable year-round; min 38 cm at Nemošice gauge.
• Note: Navigability in winter months can be significantly affected by freezing of water gauges.

🅿️ Access & Transportation

• Access Points: Hamry (km 93.2), Trhová Kamenice (km 72.9), Klokočov (km 57.5), Hořelec (km 47.5), Mezisvětí (km 40.4), Svídnice (km 30.3), Slatiňany (km 25.1), Chrudim (km 22.2), Pardubice (km 0.0).
• Transportation: Accessible by road at various points. Lower part served by the ČD railway line Pardubice-Chrudim-Slatiňany-Hlinsko v Čechách.

🏕️ Campsites

• Located at Seč and Paseky.

🏞️ Protected Areas

• The river flows through CHKO Žďárské vrchy and CHKO Železné hory.
• The 'Peklo' section is in the 1st zone of CHKO Železné hory.
• In Chrudim, the protected area "Ptačí ostrovy" (Bird Islands) is located on the right-bank millrace.

💧 Dams & Reservoirs

• Hamry Dam: Water supply reservoir, 17m high, 208m long, 3.617 mil. m³ volume.
• Seč Dam: Flood protection, energy, recreation; 42m high, 65m long, 21.8 mil. m² volume.
• Křižanovice Dam: Second largest water work, built 1948-1953, 28m high, 137m long, 2 mil. m² volume; purely for energy and water management.
• Křižanovice II (balancing reservoir): Associated with Křižanovice I.
• Práčov Power Plant: Largest hydropower plant in Pardubice region, built with Křižanovice.

🚶‍♀️ Educational Trails

• Krajem Chrudimky: 82 km long trail from Filipovský pramen to Chrudim, with over 30 info boards on nature and architecture.
• Na kole za přehradami Železných hor: 45 km cycling trail guided by the Chrudimka river.