If you own a gravel bike, an MTB, or a rugged terrain footscooter like a Kostka, Bike Routes in Bohemian Switzerland are one of the most stunning areas in Central Europe. Not because of manicured city bike paths, but because of the raw combination of sandstone rocks, deep forests, forgotten settlements, and trails where you are more likely to encounter deer than humans.
Here is our handpicked selection of the Top 7 Bohemian Switzerland bike routes, perfectly suited for gravel, mountain bikes, and off-road scooters, along with some practical survival tips for riding in the National Park.
🗺️ Our Top 7 Bike Routes
1. Tokáň and Česká Cesta – The Royal Classic
- Route: Jetřichovice – Vysoká Lípa – Na Tokáni – Dolní Chřibská – Rynartice – Jetřichovice
- Distance: Approx. 22 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: The legendary Tokáň Hunting Lodge, deep forest sections in the heart of the national park, and brand-new views of sandstone walls opened up after the recent wildfire.
This specific route is highly recommended by the regional park administration as one of the most beautiful loops you can ride.
2. Kyjov Valley (Kyjovské údolí) – The Most Beautiful Canyon in the Region
- Route: Kyjov – Zadní Doubice – Kyjov
- Distance: 13 to 25 km
- Difficulty: Easy / Chill riding
- Highlights: Riding along the Křinice River, massive rock walls, and virtually zero car traffic.
Many locals consider the Kyjov Valley to be far more beautiful and peaceful than the tourist-heavy Hřensko. It is truly one of the most picturesque corners of the park.
3. Doubice – Saxon Switzerland – Tokáň
- Route: Doubice – Kyjov – Hinterhermsdorf – Zadní Jetřichovice – Tokáň – Doubice
- Distance: Approx. 32 km
- Difficulty: Moderate (Ideal gravel loop)
- Highlights: A seamless cross-border loop between the Czech Republic and Germany, featuring traffic-free forest tracks.
If I had to recommend just one single route for a feature story, this would be it. It perfectly alternates between deep forests, open meadows, abandoned settlements, and panoramic views.
4. Along the “Česká cesta” between Křinice and Kamenice
- Route: Kyjov – Zadní Jetřichovice – Česká cesta – Vysoká Lípa – Jetřichovice
- Distance: 35 to 55 km
- Difficulty: Moderate / Hard (Perfect for gravel)
- Highlights: This trail cuts through the wildest parts of the park.
Following the wildfires, this route gained a completely new character. Places that used to be covered by dense forest now open up incredible panoramas of hidden sandstone towers.
5. Hřensko and the Elbe Canyon Views
- Route: Hřensko – Mezní Louka – Zadní Jetřichovice – Bad Schandau – Hřensko
- Distance: Approx. 40 km
- Difficulty: Demanding
- Highlights: Massive viewpoints overlooking the Elbe River canyon, connecting Czech Bohemian Switzerland with German Saxon Switzerland.
Without a doubt, this is one of the most photogenic routes in the entire region.
6. The Tolštejn Loop
- Route: Srbská Kamenice – Jedlová – Tolštejn – Jiřetín – Chřibská – Tokáň
- Distance: 50+ km
- Difficulty: Hard (Hilly profile)
- Highlights: Historical observation towers and old mountain settlements.
Trek to Tolštejn Ruins is one is for a more athletic day in the saddle. Your reward will be sweeping views of both the Lusatian Mountains and Bohemian Switzerland.
7. Belveder and the Labské pískovce
- Route: Srbská Kamenice – Růžová – Labská Stráň – Belveder
- Distance: Approx. 30 km
- Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
- Highlights: A lesser-known route ending with fantastic views of the Elbe canyon.
The Belveder viewpoint is one of the oldest designated tourist lookouts in the Czech Republic.
🏆 If I Had to Pick Just Three:
- Gold: Doubice – Tokáň – Saxon Switzerland
- Silver: Kyjov Valley and Zadní Doubice
- Bronze: Jetřichovice Loop via Tokáň
This is where you will find the ultimate contrasts: burnt forests giving way to young birch groves, abandoned homesteads, old hunting paths, and the unique feeling of moving through a landscape that is currently being reborn. Honestly, witnessing this natural rebirth is a far more interesting story today than visiting the famous Pravčická brána itself.
🎒 FAQ: Everything You Need to Know Before You Ride
No. In the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, cyclists are strictly restricted to designated cycling trails or public roads where cycling is explicitly permitted. Many hiking paths, narrow rock ledges, and core nature protection zones are completely off-limits for bikes.
Only partially. The main paved roads are often hilly, and traffic can get quite heavy, especially on weekends. You will enjoy the region a million times more on a gravel bike, an MTB, or an off-road scooter that can easily handle forest logging roads and gravel sections.
The most famous tourist attractions—like the steep climbs to rock viewpoints or paths leading directly to natural rock bridges—must be done on foot. It is always smart to check the current park alerts for closures due to post-fire trail maintenance or windstorms before heading out.
Not all the way. The closest you can get on two wheels is via the bike paths to Mezní Louka or Hřensko. The final stretch up to the famous rock arch must be done on foot.
It is not the climbs. It is the tourists. Especially during summer, the main routes are packed with families, photographers, and day-trippers. On high-traffic sections, you need to slow down significantly. Expect people to suddenly stop dead in the middle of the trail to take a photo of a rock that has been standing there for the last few million years.
More than you think. The forests offer a pleasant shade, but refreshment stops are often miles apart. Between Kyjov, Tokáň, and Zadní Doubice, you can easily ride for a long time without any option to refill your supplies.
Yes, but don’t expect charging stations around every corner. You can find charging points mainly around Jetřichovice, Krásná Lípa, Hřensko, or Chřibská. For longer loops, it is only logical to head out with a fully charged battery.
Right now, it is probably more interesting than ever before. The fires uncovered vistas that had been hidden beneath dense forest canopies for decades. Brand-new views of sandstone towers, massive rock faces, and deep valleys have emerged. At the same time, you can witness the fascinating process of natural forest regeneration, with young birches, rowans, and pines aggressively growing back among the charred tree trunks.
If you want to experience Bohemian Switzerland without the crowds, be on the trail between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM. At that time, the morning mist still hangs low in the valleys, the forest smells of fresh pine resin, and you are more likely to run into a deer than a tour bus. After 10:00 AM, the hotspot locations start filling up fast.
Surprisingly, yes. The routes around Tokáň, Kyjov Valley, Zadní Doubice, and Krásná Lípa are among the finest terrain scooter rides in Central Europe. Long forest tracks, minimal car traffic, and constantly changing scenery make it a perfect combo for a laid-back exploration.
Most people drive in just to see one single famous attraction, snap a photo, and leave. However, the real soul of Bohemian Switzerland is hidden right between those tourist spots—on the empty road to Tokáň, in the morning silence of the Kyjov Valley, or on a remote forest trail where the only thing you hear is the wind in the trees. That is where a simple trip turns into a real story.
