Discover the Wonders of the Jizera, Eagle, and Rychlebské Hory Mountains!
Exploring the Northern Ridges
You may have come across the Blue Scallop, which was an impressive scenic route that measured about 800 km during its peak in the First Republic era. This route stretched from Thuringia through the Ore Mountains, winding its way to Bohemian Switzerland and continuing through the Lusatian Mountains, Ještěd Ridge, and the Jizera Mountains to the Krkonoš Mountains, passing through the Broumov area and heading to the Orlické Mountains, reaching Králický Sněžník, and finally ascending to Praděd, the tallest peak in the Hrubý Jeseník region. In northern Bohemia, sections of this ridge have been revitalized, allowing you to walk, ride bikes, or even enjoy cross-country skiing along the path just like your ancestors did a century ago.
The hiking trails for the northern and southern routes begin at the border between the Czech Republic and Poland, specifically at the pedestrian crossing on the bridge over the Jizera River in Orla within the Jizera Mountains. The northern path leads through significant peaks like Smědava, Sněžné věžičky, and Ptačí kupy, reaching Oldřichov v Hájích, continuing to Albrechtice u Frýdlantu, Václavice, and Hrádek nad Nisou. At Hartau , the trail crosses over to Germany, moving towards Oybin and Jonsdorf, and then comes back to the Czech side at the Dolní Podluží/Waltersdorf border crossing, ending in Nová Hut.
The southern path commences in Jizerka, going through Desna, Tanvald, and Černostudníční hřeben to Milíře, and then it continues over Ještěd Ridge to Petrovice, eventually winding through the Lusatian Mountains and Krásnolipsko to Lückendorf, where it concludes at the Czech-German border. Along these trails, you will encounter rest areas with various attractions for children, informative panels and maps, shelters, bike racks, or benches. In the information centers scattered throughout the Liberec region, you can obtain detailed brochures with maps.
A comprehensive overview of long-distance hiking trails across the Czech Republic
The Ridge of the Eagle Mountains
You can certainly enjoy hiking in the Orlické Mountains, but be prepared to walk on long stretches of asphalt roads or well-maintained forest and dirt paths, which may make you wish you had ridden a bike instead. Regardless, expect to see numerous concrete “dugouts,” and many of them might be open during summer, which can make your schedule unexpectedly lengthy. During hot summer days, water is hard to find along the ridges; kiosks aren’t guaranteed, and springs are often dry, so be sure to bring extra supplies.
You can kick off your journey in Nové Město nad Metují; from here, the Jirásek Mountain Trail — named after the author Alois Jirásek — takes you through the Metuje Valley, passing through Peklo, heading to Nové Hrádek, and then into Olešnice v Orlických horách. After this village, you will climb to Vrchmezí (1,084 m) and join the main ridge. This ridge continues along the Czech-Polish border to Šerlich, where you will find Masaryk’s cottage, and moves further through Velká Deštná (1,115 m) past the Kunštát chapel to Pěticestí and still along the ridge past the lookout tower on Anenské vrch to the Hanička artillery fortress. At the Zemská Gate, the route crosses the Divoká Orlice River, marking the end of your hike through the Orlické Mountains. If you’re still eager for more or interested in exploring other military memorials, you can head past Mladkov , approach the Bouda artillery fortress, and continue to Suchý vrch and the town of Králíky.
Journey Along the Ridges of the Rychleby Mountains
In the Rychlebské hory, it is said that foxes still say goodnight under the open sky; however, on the main ridge, which largely aligns with the Czech-Polish border, you will encounter significantly more hikers than in the past. Nevertheless, this route is best for experienced hikers; if you are looking for restaurants or conveniences of civilization, you’ll have to carry everything you need for at least two to three days.
Your adventure through the Rychlebské hory kicks off in Bílá Voda, a village bordered on three sides by Poland. After starting, you’ll make a long climb to the peak of Blueberry Mountain (899 m), which features a lookout tower; the panoramic view is absolutely worth it, as it allows you to see Sněžka, Králický Sněžník, and the Orlické Mountains from different perspectives than usual. For the next several kilometers, the trails may not closely follow the ridge and may even dip deep into the valleys, but you can also choose cycling paths or routes on the Polish side of the border.
The trail connects back to the ridge at the peak Hobby (850 m), where you’ll take the red trail through the remnants of the former settlement Hraničky beneath Špičák hill (957 m). The following section leads through the most isolated areas of the mountains; follow the yellow trail to the highest mountain Spruce (1,125 m), where a substantial border stone indicates the spot where the borders of Moravia, Silesia, and Poland converge. This mountain is also an essential intersection for hiking paths, where only a beaten and unmarked trail meanders along the border stones. This path will take you over Brousek (1,116 m), where you can enjoy views of Králický Sněžník, guiding you down under Grass Mountain (1,125 m) and further to the Paprsek tourist hut. Following the nature reserve with its untouched forest, you’ll reach Polish Mountain (1,106 m), from where a designated trail continues alongside the state border to Kladský sedlo. Here, the Rychleby Ridge concludes, and the Králický Sněžník massif begins.
