It's best to start this trip in the picturesque mountain village of Mezná. Most tourists choose to enter the rocky crevices from Hřensko. We shall start here and take the shortest route to see the most interesting passages and sights of the entire trip. If you are sure that your children are strong enough, you may proceed farther still. But keep in mind that you may always go back easily. From Mezná we take a steep walk down on the so-called "Long Stairway" down to the bottom of the canyon, where we will find the Limiting Bridge, which will take us to the other side of the Kamenice River. On our way down we notice a small rocky chapel built in memory of the killing of a timber merchant called Johan Clar. He was robbed at this location. Right after the Mezní můstek (Limiting Bridge) we take a right turn and after paying a fee to the Town of Hřensko for letting us enter the Quiet Ravine, we may head straight for adventure. The first kilometre in this direction is the most interesting. The road often leads us along narrow ledges above the river and through several rather long tunnels. This is an ideal opportunity to test the courage of your older children. Only the ones who go alone through the entire tunnel and come out on the other side will get the "Prize for the Brave". Those who fail here will get a chance to prove their courage in the next tunnel. Then we enter a flat area, where we can get refreshments in a nice wooden house - a former restaurant. Here you may reward your "brave highlanders" and continue towards the most attractive section. This is undoubtedly the ferry boat ride. After paying the fare the ferryman will take us for a romantic cruise to see the charming natural beauty of the gorge. No wonder that tourism has a long tradition here. This site was open to the public for the first time in the 19th century! The owner of the estate at that time, Prince Edmund Clary-Aldringen had this trail built. The trail passes through tunnels in the rocks, over bridges and weirs. Tours through the gorge began in May 1890, when a restaurant was also opened here. The popularity of these gorge tours was greatly increased with the introduction of ferryboat rides, which helped to overcome the otherwise impassable 1 km long section. Upon the completion of the cruise you must decide how to proceed further. You can take the ferryboat back in the same way. If that is the case, your trip will be 2.5 km long. If you want to continue with us, then follow the yellow sign through the gorge. When we pass through the last major tunnel we will take an easy and pleasant 2 km long walk around gurgling rapids of the Kamenice River. Observant visitors may notice a number of rare species here. For example, the kingfisher, dipper, grey wagtail, black stork and water bat. Occasionally, you may see river otters. The gorge ends near the former mill, which has been turned into a restaurant with the catchy name Klepáč (The Clapper). Here we may eat our fill and choose our way back. We recommend following the same road back. Besides the steep climb starting at the Limiting Bridge and ending at Mezná the walk is pretty comfortable and easy. The other option is to walk for 2 km along the edge of the road until we reach the Three Springs crossroad sign and then follow the yellow sign. This trail mostly goes uphill above Bílá Bělá all the way to Mezná. Meadows on the northern edge of Mezná offer fascinating views of the Pravčická Gate, Pravčický Mine and Křídelní stěna (Wing Wall). If visibility is good, do not hesitate to walk about 100 metres from the crossroad in Mezná. You may be inspired to take another trip. This time to the Pravčická Gate.
Edmund's ravine: boats sail daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (the last boat to Mezní Louka leaves at 5:30 p.m.) Adults: 75 CZK, children and the elderly 30 CZK Difficulty 1-2. The total length of the recommended trail is 6.5 km.
