Ridge Trail is a hiking and cycling route running through the Liberec Region and Landkreis Görlitz. Three parallel marked trails connect some of the most attractive ridge areas of the Jizera, Lusatian and Zittau Mountains, as well as the Černá Studnice Ridge and the Ještěd–Kozákov Ridge.
One of Central Europe’s most iconic long-distance routes is returning to the map in a modern form. The legendary Blauer Kammweg, or Blue Ridge Trail, linked mountain ridges across what is now Czechia and Germany more than a hundred years ago. Today, it is coming back to life as a network of hiking and cycling trails that builds on this historic tradition in the Liberec Region while offering clear waymarking and easy orientation in the landscape.
In the Liberec Region, Ridge Trail follows two main branches – northern and southern. Together, they connect the best of the Jizera Mountains, the Lusatian Mountains and the Ještěd Ridge, revealing the north in all its diversity.
The northern branch leads from the mountain settlement of Jizerka via Smědava and Hřebínek down towards the foothills, then continues through Chrastava and Hrádek nad Nisou into Germany. This is where Ridge Trail naturally connects to the trail network of the Zittau Mountains and gains its distinctive cross-border character.
The southern branch runs from Jizerka via Mariánskohorské boudy, Albrechtice and Smržovka to the Černá Studnice Ridge, then continues across the landmark of Ještěd towards the Lusatian Mountains. From there, it passes through picturesque villages and a landscape full of views all the way to the border with the Ústí nad Labem Region.
Ridge Trail is not just about kilometres and elevation gain. Above all, it is about experiences that naturally unfold one after another along the trail. Mountain views, quiet forests, rock formations and historic sites alternate along the route, giving each section its own atmosphere. You can look forward to views from Černá Studnice or Mount Luž, the striking Bílé kameny near Jítrava and stops at landmarks such as Lemberk and Grabštejn castles. Each part of Ridge Trail has a slightly different rhythm – from peaceful mountain sections to culturally rich places that draw you further into discovery.
