Zaječí skok, Nature reserve in Jihlava, Czech Republic

Zaječí skok is a nature reserve on the right bank of the Jihlava River about two kilometres from Jihlava. Its southwestern side consists of five nearly vertical rock outcrops up to 30 metres high, formed of Moldanubian pluton with granite veins, below which the river flows in a meander.

The reserve was officially declared on 31 December 1933 by the Ministry of Education and National Enlightenment. Before that, at the initiative of Josef Ambrož, a professor at the Jihlava gymnasium, and the natural science club, it existed as a private reserve of the local landowner Leopold Kosovský. It was declared again in 1992 under Act 114/1992.

The name comes from a legend about a cruel knight from Plandry who, during a hunt, chased a hare over the cliff above the Jihlava River; the knight forced his horse to follow and died on the spot. A horse's hoof with a horseshoe is said to be imprinted in the rock as a reminder.

The reserve is accessible via marked walking trails, and the best time to visit is during warmer months when paths are dry and easy to walk. The area can become slippery on rainy days, so appropriate footwear is wise.

The site harbors rare moss species and specialized rock-loving plants that thrive on the steep, damp cliff faces and are found in only a few places in the region. This botanical distinction makes the spot noteworthy for nature enthusiasts and plant scientists.