The Jeseniky range takes up roughly half of northern Moravia, in the form of two quite different ranges the rugged Hruby Jesenik rises to 1000 - 1500 metres in the northwest corner of the region. Here is
Moravia' s highest peak, the 1491 metre Praded, from which on a clear day one can allegedly see both the Krkonose of eastern bohemia and the Tatras of central Slovakia. The surrounding Hruby Jesenik Protected Landscape Region is still home to deer and wild boar.
In comparsion the Nizky jesenik to the southeast is just rolling foothills, topping off at about 700 metres.
The Hruby Jesenik is a paradise for winter skiing and ski touring. There are plenty of good walks in summer, though at higher elevations the damage to its spruce and larch forests from acid rain, drifting from Ostrava and southern Poland takes the edge off the experience.
The River Desna peters out before the real climb into the central mountain range of Hruby Jesenik. A bus from Sumperk, the local capitol, runs roughly every two hours via the last train station. Kouty nad Desnou, to the saddle of Cervenohorske sedlo and beyond. The tourist board may talk of mountain meadows and pastures but the reality is low-lying scrub and moorland.
Below and to the east of Praded is the picturesque Silesian spa resort of
Karlova Studanka 
strung out along the valley of
the bubbling River Bila Opava. The whole spa is dolled with cold springs and attractive dark-thrown weather boarded spa buildings many with cream shutter and balconies for enjoying the fresh mountain air.
The mountain saddle of Ramzovske sedlo above the district town of Jesenik is a starting point for trips to the stupendous part of the Jeseniky ridge. A cableway provides access to an unmaintained but very popular route to Keprnik and Cervenohorske sedlo. The lower section of the cableway serves at the same time as the main transportion vehicle for an intimate skiing area which offers its visitors a host of pleasant downhill runs and a welcome distraction in the form of snowtubing.
In the vicinity of the Ramzova skiing area, on the opposite side of the saddle, there is an array of ski-lifts leading to meadow terrains suitable for intermediate skiers. The list of skiing opportunities in the environs of Ramzovske sedlo is, however, much longer. The mountain hamlet of Petrikov, which nestles in a picturesque valley, offers three ski-lifts and pistes of medium difficulty. Further
ski-lifts and pleasant meadow terrain can be found in nearby Ostruzna. The aforementioned ski-lifts beginning in Ramzova, Petrikov and Ostuzna provide access to
cross-country skiing trails leading along the border ridge to Paprsek or to Smrk. The majority of them are regularly machine-maintained.
Guide 
