Hiking in Děčín

After Königstein, Mac and I decided to switch things up a little with regards to our travels. Though we’ve travelled around quite a bit, neither of us has ever actually travelled solo. Don’t get me wrong, travelling as a couple is an amazing experience and I’m so glad to have Mac by my side as we explore different countries. But we both decided we were up for a challenge.

Conveniently we were at a good spot geographically to split up (just temporarily for solo travel! Not for real!). Mac went to Poland, and I went to Czech Republic! Specifically, I went hiking in Děčín! But more on that in a sec. We agreed to meet up in a week or two en route to the UK where we’ll wait out the limitations of our Schengen visa. So the next few posts will be from my experiences travelling solo in Czech Republic. And who knows, I might even convince Mac to write a post or two about his time in Poland!

Děčín, Czech Republic

Děčín is a small town in Czech Republic right near the border of Germany. It’s surrounded by hills (mountains? I never know where to draw the line), and the river Elbe cuts right through the centre of town. I’ll be honest, I didn’t actually spend much time exploring the city centre, I was too focused on hiking! I can tell you though that the library and tourism office (which is in the same building) both have very reliable WiFi 🙂

Accommodation options weren’t terribly abundant for my frugal preferences, but I managed to find a campground that offered family glamping tents for a reasonable price! My tent had two double beds (pallets) with legitimate (Ikea) mattresses.There was also a small table with 4 folding chairs, a lamp (aka electricity!!), and even a small side table. It was definitely one of the fanciest tents I’ve ever ‘camped’ in! The toilets and showers, and kitchen were a quick jaunt away – each housed in its own shipping container! Kemp Děčín was very cool and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a unique experience!

Hiking in Děčín

Shepherd’s Bluff / Pastýřská stěna

It’s hard to miss the huge white building atop the nearby hill on the river’s edge. The colourful buildings at the bottom are a friendly invitation to clamber up the side of this huge mass of sandstone rock. The easiest way to get to Shepherd’s Bluff is across the Tyršův most (bridge) which is just west from the centre.

Almost immediately after crossing the train tracks, you’ll start climbing what is seemingly an endless mass of stairs. But fret not! They will end soon enough and you’ll be rewarded with an incredible view of the city from above. The panoramic vista at the top offers views of the Elbe River as it snakes through town; the busy train tracks that service the whole country; and the colourful and always beautiful buildings of the city centre. You’ll also be able to see the castle, perched high on a hill in the city.

From the view point, you can backtrack a little and continue along a trail that weaves through the trees. On the opposite side of Shepherd’s Bluff is yet another view – this time the houses are few and far between, and in their place is a huge, bountiful forest.

There are many options for heading back down the ‘mountain’ – so choose your own adventure! I kept south and made my way past a playground and into a neighbourhood with a view before heading back towards the Tyršův most and into the city.

Practical Info

Distance: 7.5km

Total Vertical Climb: 280m

Quaderberg Trail / Děčínská výšina

Located on the north side of the city, near the hospital, is Děčínská výšina – or Quaderberg Park, or Stoličná hora (they kind of get a little carried away with names…). On this tabletop mountain are heaps of trails perfect for exploring. Right from the get go, you’ll hike up a bunch of switchbacks to your first lookout spot of the day. There is a small monument at this observation terrace and the surrounding space offers sweeping views over the city.

Following the red trail (a white square with a horizontal red stripe in the middle), you’ll reach another observation point. The pavillion – Labská stráž – provides a nice view of the forested hills as well as the Elbe River cutting through the valley. There’s also a picnic bench conveniently located here – perfect for a snack or lunch break!

Continuing along the red trail will eventually lead you to Růžový hřeben – one of many incredible sandstone ridges that line the valley. The views from here are absolutely stunning. There’s a bench here, so stop and stay a while!

From the cliffs, you can retrace your steps a bit back along the red trail towards the crossroads at Nad Loubim. Here, I took the green trail back town to Děčín. The change of scenery was nice, but be warned! It’s a long downhill stretch on what appeared to be a dried up river bed. I can definitely see many ankles being twisted in the rocks!

Practical Info

Distance: 13km

Total Vertical Climb: 330m

I absolutely loved my experiences solo hiking in Děčín. It was a city that previously wasn’t on my radar at all, but I’m glad I stopped there for two days to do some adventuring. From Děčín it’s an easy 2-ish hour train ride to Prague.

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