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The gorges can be reached from four places: Hřensko, Mezná, Mezní Louka and Růžová. Guarded car parks are available in Hřensko and in Mezní Louka.
From Hřensko there is a path along the Kamenice River, under rock ledges with three tunnels. The path is flat and 1.5 km long.
From Mezná follow the green-marked tourist trail, a very steep climb through open terrain leads to a forest, then through the trees along a path bordered tightly by rocks to the romantic, shaded Kamenice river valley. When you get to the Mezní Bridge, cross over to the left bank. If you walk upstream from here you will reach the boat launch at Wild Gorge (Divoká soutěska). Or you can walk downstream which leads to the upper boat launch at Edmund Gorge (Edmundova soutěska).
From Mezní Louka take the blue-marked trail, which starts through a pleasant, high forest and nearly flat. After 2 km leave the blue trail and turn right heading downhill till you reach the Kamenice River. Along its right bank, near the “Wellspring of Happiness” (Pramen štěstí) you reach the upper boat launch of Wild Gorge (Divoká soutěska).
From the northern part of the small town Růžová follow the green trail along a forest path, which starts out flat and then descends steeply down a stepped path, which brings us again to the Mezní Bridge. From here we can go right to Wild Gorge (Divoká soutěska) or left to Edmund Gorge (Edmundova soutěska).
If you would like to visit two of the most beautiful places in Czech Switzerland in one day – the gorges and Pravčická brána – we can recommend the following route:
Starting point: Hřensko
Duration: 5 to 6 hours (minimum 15 km walk + 1.5 km by boat)
Difficulty: a light hike that leads to good, well-marked hiking trails; except for the initial climb to Pravčická brána it is mostly slightly rolling terrain, flat or downhill.
Refreshments: there is a restaurant named “Falcon's Nest” (Sokolí hnízdo) and a snack bar under Pravčická brána, a hotel and refreshment stands at Mezní Louka, a pub and snack bar in Edmund Gorge (Edmundova soutěska), a restaurant and a bed & breakfast in Hřensko.
Sights :
- Pravčická brána (www.pbrana.cz),
- rock formations above “Gabriel's Trail” (Gabrielina stezka),
- Wild Gorge (Divoká soutěska) and Edmund Gorge (Edmundova soutěska).
From Hřensko follow the red trail right after the road until you get to the tourist crossroads of Tři prameny. From here it starts to climb to Pravčická brána. Turn left along the forest path and it's a steep climb up the rock walls. Above the serpentines we reach the foot of the separate rock formation of Malý Pravčický kužel, which is a favourite destination of rock climbers. The final segment of the climb leads along a hanging bridge and then a man-made tunnel.
After a tour of the area we return to the main marked trail and continue via the articulated traverse along the rocks. This section, prepared in 1892, is called Gabrielina stezka. The trail winds layer by layer around the flanking vale and constantly presses against rock formations, occasionally opening to nice views. Above us progressively passes by the well-known rock formations: Velký Pravčický kužel, Homole cukru, Křídelní stěna, etc. Finally we link up with the wider path and descend through the forest to Mezní Louka.
From here we continue along the blue trail through a pleasant forest 1.5 km to the tourist crossroads “Nad soutěskami”. Here we turn right (unmarked), descend along a beautiful rocky cliff to the northern valley of the Kamenice River. A man-made trail along the river, with mighty sandstone walls towering overhead leads us after a while to the upper boat launch in Divoká soutěska, which was built at the mouth of the picturesque Kachní potok. The following segment of the gorge is not passable by dry land. The only way to continue is by boat.
After about 600 m along the river by boat we continue along Divoká soutěska around Mezní bridge through several man-made tunnels and rock galleries to a pub and the upper boat launch in Tichá soutěska. Here we continue another 1 km by boat and go beneath an artificial waterfall. From the end of the boat ride there is nothing left but a pleasant walk back to Hřensko another 1.5 km.
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