Czech Paradise with kids (Malá Skála and surroundings) – part 2

You don’t have to die to get to paradise. There’s one in Czechia, and you can enjoy it while you’re still alive 😊. Kids liked our trip to Vranov and Besedice rocks and and they liked canoeing and the trail along the Jihlava river even more.

Canoeing on Jizera river

Our canoeing day was the highlight of the trip. We rented boats for this adventure. One of the rental agencies is in the camp itself, so we just arranged it the evening before (it was May and still the low season; I would recommend earlier arrangements during summer holidays).

In the morning, we went to the agency office to pay for the boats and check the gear (paddles, life vests, and waterproof barrels for our belongings). The agency then transported the boats and the gear upstream to the departure point. We transported ourselves by train.

The destination is called Spálov. The rails follow the river, and the journey takes about 25 minutes (about 12 km). You just need to keep in mind to change trains in Železný Brod. This part was the highlight for my son, who loves trains in all forms. The fact that we went by train, and not only one, just made his day.

Spálov is a charming spot where the Jizera and Kamenice rivers meet. We got our canoes and gear and set off into the current. The stream was quite fast at the beginning and there were a few rocks coming out of water.

The bets were taken as who will be the first to capsize the boat and swim in the cold water. We managed to go through without any accident. It was the worst part at the beginning …. as we paddled further downstream, the river offered a mix of gentle rapids and calm stretches.

The river flows through beautiful landscapes, including the rocky formations and deep valleys. , Kids spotted various wildlife along the way. Unfortunately I didn’t take the camera with me as I was too scared to drown it.

There are several spots suitable for a picnic or a quick swim (well, not in April, but July would do 😊). It took us about 4 hours to get back to the camp.

It wasn’t all seen through rose-colored glasses, though. The water level was quite low, and there were passages where the adults had to get out of the canoe and push and pull. For the kids it was fun as they stayed inside. But they probably learned some new words when they heard me as I got my feet in the water for the first time… But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger 🙂

Kids loved this activity. We competed with other canoes, formed canoe chains, and played various “spotting games.” The highlight came at the end just next to the camp where we finished the journey. There is a weir with the section in the middle specially made for canoes going downstream. It is like a giant slide and we tried several times – just go down the stream and then pull the canoes back up along the weir.

A few safety words in the end. This passage of the Jizera River is considered safe and suitable for families. However, there is always a certain danger linked to any water sport. So, life vests in the canoe at any point are a must (even though the water looks shallow).

We were a group of people with some experience in this activity. It is easy to arrange the canoe and gear rental, but if you are not sure, it is always better to have it organized by a professional. There are several agencies offering this kind of service.

Rieger’s Trail along Jizera River

On the last day, we walked the Rieger’s Trail along the Jizera River. We took the direction from Spálov to Semily. The departure point was at the same bridge where we started canoeing the day before. To get there, we took the car this time as we were going home just after the walk.

The trail leads along the red tourist route through the Jizera Valley Nature Reserve. It offers a mix of gentle slopes and more challenging sections. There are 15 information boards along the way describing geology, nature conservation, fauna and flora, hiking, and technical attractions of the area. The info is in Czech as well as in English.

On the route, there is a 77-meter-long suspended walkway, the Spálov hydroelectric power station, the Antal Stašek well and Böhm’s lookout. The trail also features a 12-meter tunnel carved into the rock.

On the opposite side of the river, we saw the first Czech via ferrata “Vodní brána” (Watergate), a climbing route equipped with fixed ladders and cables. We didn’t try it this time.

The walk itself is great and full of adventure; however, the kids were not that thrilled. They were already tired after the long weekend, so we didn’t manage to walk the whole loop intended (red Rieger trail along the Jizera River to Semily and then back to Spálov by the blue trail – about 12 km).

We just walked the first part along the river (3 km) to the outskirts of Semily and then turned back and walked the same path back. There is an option to walk to Semily train station and go back by train. But the train station was still another 2.5 km away, so it didn’t make any sense for us.

I think that the whole trip was a success, kids loved it and adults as well. It was my first time in this part of the Czech Republic and I am quite sure it is not the last time. There is a lot of things around which are worth exploring 🙂