Rieger Trail

This nature trail through the Jizera valley leads takes in the Gallery natural monument and the Jizera Valley and Bítouchov nature reserves.

Route length: 5 km

Route itinerary: Semily – Bítouchov – Jizera valley – Podspálov

Description of route: The original nature trail of the Jizera Valley state nature reserve was opened in October 1983. The trail follows the red markers of the Rieger Trail and can be walked in both directions. The boards along the route provide visitors with basic information about the natural riches and history of the reserve. The new nature trail along the Rieger Trail between Semily and Spálov was opened up to the public on 9 October 2008. The new nature trail contains a total of 15 stops, dedicated to nature conservation, fauna and flora, geology, hiking and places of technical interest in the valley. The information panels, with texts in Czech and English, are accompanied by illustrations and photographs.

One interesting part of the trail is the 77-metre-long hanging gallery built 5.5 metres above the original level of the river. Another building worthy of note is the hydroelectric power plant in Spálov. Water is fed to the turbine by a 1,300-metre-long tunnel hewn into in the rock.

If you want to return to Semily by a different route, you can follow the blue markers through Spálov to the Morava crossroads and then take the yellow route along the Kamenice Trail to Semily. The route takes you past several viewpoints offering some beautiful vistas of the Jizera River and its valley.