Bohemian Switzerland with a Stroller

Is your life currently revolving around four wheels, and do you feel like you can’t get everywhere you’d like to go with a stroller? Well, just know that the nobility who commissioned the first hiking trails in Bohemian Switzerland in the 18th and 19th centuries went on excursions there in much larger carriages, drawn by horses, while wearing heavy, cumbersome gowns…
So don’t worry about a thing—feel free to head out to Bohemian Switzerland with your stroller.

Here are a few tips for places where both you and your kids will have fun, even on wheels.

The “Česká silnice” Nature Trail

The parking lot in Vysoká Lípa is the starting point for many hikes, with or without a stroller. Parking here is a bit easier than in nearby Jetřichovice, which is much better known among tourists. From the parking lot, follow the yellow trail; it will soon lead you to a fork in the path toward Šaunštejn—which you’re better off skipping with a stroller—and head right along the red trail. You’ll soon join the Česká silnice. It runs through the valley where the “Saxons” once invaded Bohemia; today, however, you’ll stroll along flat asphalt and exchange friendly greetings with German citizens crossing into our territory from the other side. Along Česká silnice, there’s an educational trail with a total of 12 stops marked by information boards, where you’ll learn plenty of interesting facts—not just about local history. One of the highlights of the Česká silnice Educational Trail is Uhlířova chaloupka, where a famous scene from the fairy tale *The Proud Princess* was filmed.
You can hike along the Česká silnice trail there (6 m) and back (6 km), which, depending on your pace, will take anywhere from three hours to half a day—though you can turn around at any time and head back to civilization. The trail begins in Vysoká Lípa, as we’ve already mentioned, and leads to Zadní Jetřichovice.

Nature Trail in Srbská Kamenice

With kids, you never stop learning, so why not try another nature trail, this time in Srbská Kamenice, one of the most beautiful villages in Bohemian Switzerland. You’ll appreciate the free parking at the trailhead, the flat terrain, and the very easy route that doesn’t force you to check your phone every minute. What’s more, the trail passes by many attractions for the little ones, including a rural agricultural museum, a playground with carved wooden features, and a total of 13 beautifully designed informational signs that have the potential to quench the intellectual thirst of parents. By the end of the trail, you definitely won’t be out of breath, and you’ll have to decide whether to park your stroller at the Arba Spring and climb up to the Lookout Above the Pond or head straight to the Green Pub, which is famous for its playground. And come to think of it, you can actually park at the Zelená hospoda (there’s more space there) and walk the trail in the opposite direction. For those who feel that a kilometer and a half there and a kilometer and a half back along the Kamenice River isn’t enough, there’s also a detour to the Forest Theater, of which the village of Srbská Kamenice is particularly proud, and where plays are still performed to this day. For this extra hike, it’s best to leave the stroller in the car and carry your child on your back, in a sling, or in a baby carrier.

Trails Around Růžová

The landscape around Růžová consists of meadows, pastures, and tree-lined paths. The locals realize that all this beauty exists thanks to centuries of human care. And they make sure that future generations, too, can lie down dreamily on a field ridge beneath a blossoming cherry tree, relax on a bench with a view, or nibble on currants, gooseberries, or aronia berries during a walk…

The Fruit Trail is part of a longer loop leading around Pastevní Hill with the Růženka lookout point. If you’re using a standard stroller, it’s best to stick to the paved sections—you won’t be bored, as the views of the countryside are beautiful. In the upper part of the trail, above Růžová and the impressive tree-lined avenue, there’s an ideal attraction for older children: a pump track suitable for both bikes and balance bikes. And once you’ve made your way through this cottage paradise all the way to Nový Svět, you can cool off in the biotope or enjoy something icy at the cozy snack bar, which is open during the season at the area’s unique natural swimming area. You can also visit the local farm with the Apollo Riding School, the Rubens Soap Factory with its café beach and barefoot path, or the Rosehill Indian Village. There’s plenty to see here, surrounded by nature yet in a small corner of the world—just head out in a different direction every day. You can stay, for example, at Pension Arosa with its nearby beautiful and quiet Arosa Garden. Or at the stylish Trapani House & Camp.

Discover the Beauty of Rumburk

Are you planning to take a stroller all the way up to the “Šluknov Hook”? Rumburk will surprise you with its cozy cafés; we recommend Bohemian Coffee House, where you can start your day with the kids with some homemade pancakes. From Rumburk, be sure to head up to Dymník Hill with your stroller. There, you’ll discover a new sport, soccer golf, which will come in handy once the kids get a little older and you want to tear them away from their screens and get them out into nature and moving. But even the roughly three-kilometer journey from Rumburk to Dymník itself can be filled with fun. From Dobrovský Square, take a stroll through the historic preservation district on Šmilovského Street and admire the famous half-timbered cottages—you won’t find so many of them (18 in total) gathered in one place just just anywhere. A little further on, you’ll come across a skatepark where the more adventurous can really let loose—even with strollers—but your older kids will likely have more fun there with scooters, balance bikes, skates, bikes, or skateboards. Continue along Sukova Street past the campground and sports hall, and you’ll find yourself among meadows at the foot of Dymník. At the summit—about a 1.5-km walk away—you’ll find the Dymník Resort with a dining restaurant, a lookout tower (bring a baby carrier or sling), the Tree of Life, and the aforementioned soccer-golf course. For baby carriers, scarves, and sports strollers, we also recommend the Dymník Nature Trail with its 14 stops.

Kyjov Valley

The unique “Křinice River Valley Nature Trail: With All Your Senses”—created by the Bohemian Switzerland National Park in cooperation with the State Environmental Fund—offers, as its name suggests, an experience of nature through your own skin, eyes, ears, and touch, rather than the usual informational signs. As the name suggests, the trail runs along the Křinice River, following the red trail between the Kyjov Valley and Zadní Doubice trailheads. It is designed for cyclists, wheelchair users, and strollers, and along the way you’ll discover such features as “talking wood,” “Devil’s Stone,” and a “water listening device.” A walk along the Křinice River, which remains frozen year-round, is especially wonderful during the summer months, as it offers plenty of cool shade and many spots to stop for a picnic and water play in the shallows along the riverbanks. From the Kyjov Valley, it’s just a stone’s throw to the village of Vlčí Hora, home to the most fragrant Czech aromatherapy cosmetics, Nobilis Tilia. Don’t miss a visit to the local showroom, tea room, and herb garden. For great food and drinks, be sure to stop by the Falkenštejn Brewery on the square in Krásná Lípa or, a short distance away, at the Lípa Restaurant, which is part of the Lípa Resort. Treat yourself to a sweet ending to a delicious lunch or dinner at the U Frinda café, which you’ll also find right on Krásná Lípa’s town square. And if you still have energy left after your trip, we recommend visiting the interactive exhibition at the House of Bohemian Switzerland, where you’ll learn about the nature and history of this unique region in a fun way.

Česká Kamenice Area

If you find yourself in Česká Kamenice with a stroller, take a popular trip to Mlýnky-Brand Miniature Park. Replicas of historic houses from Česká Kamenice dating from the first half of the 20th century are arranged along a small stream. Admission is free, and younger children will love this miniature town. What’s more, the walk from the center of Česká Kamenice to the attraction takes you past the unique Astronomical Clock with its metal and glass figures, which highlights the region’s glassmaking history and opens up a whole new topic that might lead you here again next time, on the border between the Lusatian Mountains and Bohemian Switzerland. If you’re visiting in the summer, stop by the municipal swimming pool on your way, which has a well-stocked snack stand, or try the hand-operated ferry.

Děčín

In Děčín, you can safely take your stroller just about anywhere; don’t even worry about the climb up Pastýřský Hill and the adjacent zoo. The Děčín bike path running along the Elbe River is also perfect for long strolls with a stroller—or even on roller skates. The area’s sporty moms love to cruise along it, whether heading toward Ústí nad Labem or toward Germany, and in recent years you can count on an ever-improving selection of refreshment stops—from fast-food stands to, for example, seasonal restaurants with garden seating, right across from the playground.