We start in Děčín – the lowest situated town in the Czech Republic, founded more than 1000 years ago. Thanks to its location Děčín is also called the Gate of Northern Bohemia. On a rocky cliff above the influx of the Labe and Ploučnice we will find a castle, originally built on the site of Přemyslid Castle. We will see here a well preserved Long Ride – 10 m wide, 292 m long path lined on both sides by 7.5 m high walls, which represent an interesting solution of the castle entrance. The Rose Garden and the Loreta Hospital were established in the 17th century. A typical feature of the town, besides the castle, is the Tyršův bridge over the Elbe River. It is a steel bridge supported by original stone pillars, which replaced the former chain suspension bridge from 1855. An important monument is also a stone bridge over the Ploučnice River decorated with sculptures of St. Vitus, Wenceslas and Jan of Nepomuk. We begin at the crossroad Děčín – Tyršův bridge and immediately after the start we must take a very steep uphill climb and follow the road that will take us to Červený Hill (Red Hill). The famous Pastýřská wall will certainly get our attention. It is a rocky viewing post above the Tyršův bridge with a restaurant visible from far distances (built in 1905 as a replica of the castle). After about 500 m, our climb will slowly ease and we will follow the road along the forest under Pastýřská wall. When we enter the inhabited section we begin to descend and turn right towards the red sign, which intersects the road. After a steep downhill ride to the valley near the pond we must once again undergo a short but very steep climb. This hard section is about 2 km long. We will reach the Sněžník village after about a 9 km long climb mostly through forest then on a forest path and finally, on a paved road
From the mountain village of Sněžník we take a downhill ride to Hraniční bouda (Border hut), where we make a turn towards Děčínský Sněžník. Slowly we climb up the hill and before the top we will get a chance to test our physical strength once again. After we pass by the rocks and reach the edge of the table mountain, we will notice on our left side a path going to the Dresden viewing post. On the top of the mountain we travel through a slightly rugged landscape reminding us of the book "Lost World" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. We arrive at a stone viewing tower and a restaurant where we can enjoy a well-deserved rest and refreshments. Děčínský Sněžník is a huge sandstone table mountain. The viewing tower on top (built in 1864, and 30 m tall) offers magnificent panoramic views of Bohemian and Saxony Switzerland, the Lužické Mountains, Czech Central Mountains and Krušné Mountains. To go back from the Border hut we go down around a stylish hotel Švýcarský dům (Swiss House) and then out of the village. At a bus stop near Owl gate we take a sharp right turnand follow bike trail No. 23 towards Děčín. During our comfortable downhill ride we pass by a turn going to the Kristin Hrádek Hotel (originally a hunting castle) and after a short while by another turn going to Wolf's Lake (refreshments available). At the 1st intersection we take a left turn towards the Maxičky Hoteland pass by a public swimming pool covered with trees and continue through a timber processing village. A short climb to Podmokelský Forest is replaced with a downhill ride through a deep valley, all the way to the Dolnožlebský Brook. Near a small pond with a wooden rest area and a crossroad we shall leave the paved road and join a stone forest path. The valley of Dolnožlebský Brook is gradually turning into a deep rocky canyon, and the final steep downhill slope will raise your adrenaline level and test your braking skills. During the exciting downhill ride to Dolní Žleb we will be amazed by the huge continuous sandstone walls on the other bank of the Elbe River. In the village we will pass under the railway track and join bike trail No. 2 connecting German Bad Schandau with Děčín. If you wish, you may go along the Elbe River to see the former border crossing Schöna – Hřensko (the lowest point on the Elbe River (115 m) in Bohemia). On our way we will notice the Belvedere Hotel standing on the top of one of the rock formations, the Děčínská Tower or Obří hrnce (Giant cooking pots) near the influx where Suchá Kamenice joins the Elbe River. We leave Dolní Žleb and pass around the sculpture of St. Vojtěch. While riding to Děčín we will get a chance to admire giant sandstone rock formations (Kamzičí hrot – Chamois tip, Růžová palice – Pink bat/club, Rudolfův kámen – Rudolph's stone, etc.) A small road in Čertova Voda (Devil's Water) village that we took before will turn right underneath the railway track but our bike trail continues straight forward. A gravel-treated road, which will again join the road behindHorní Žleb , will take us to the Tyrš bridge in Děčín. Total length 49 km
