A rugged gneiss rock crest rising above the forested ridges of the Žďárské vrchy.
Malinská skála
Malinská skála is a striking rocky peak and protected natural monument in the Czech-Moravian Highlands, forming part of the ridge that extends eastward from the famous Devět skal massif toward Dráteníčky. Composed of gneiss and shaped by long-term frost weathering and cryogenic processes, the summit reaches about 813 meters in elevation and is crowned by rock walls up to roughly 20 meters high, including named formations such as Výspa, Srnčí věž, Škuner and Buldok. The site is protected primarily as a geological monument: an isolated gneiss rock group accompanied by a boulder stream that documents the highest-elevation landforms of the Žďárské vrchy.
Beyond its geological significance, Malinská skála is one of the most accessible viewpoints in the Vysočina region. From the top, the surrounding upland landscape unfolds toward villages such as Blatiny, Křižánky, Samotín and Sněžné, while distant ranges including the Orlické hory, Králický Sněžník, Hrubý Jeseník and on exceptional days even the Krkonoše with Sněžka can be seen on the horizon. Forests of managed spruce with scattered beech cover the slopes, and rocky outcrops are draped in lichen communities, supporting a typical upland birdlife that includes tawny owl, Eurasian pygmy-hawk relatives, nutcracker, crossbill, raven and eagle owl.
Declared a natural monument in 1987, Malinská skála remains a popular destination for hikers, cyclists, climbers and cross-country skiers, and serves as a key node on the trail linking the area's most characteristic rock scenery.
