Bílá Smědá Waterfall in Hejnice

The Bílá Smědá Waterfall is a striking cascade on the Bílá Smědá stream, tucked deep in the Jizera Mountains (Jizerské hory) north of the town of Hejnice on the Czech side of the border. It sits on the northern slope of Mount Smrk (1,124 m), the highest peak of the Czech part of the Jizera Mountains, less than a kilometer above the point where the Bílá Smědá joins the Smědá river.

What will you see?

The main step is just over 3 meters high and splits into two fan-shaped branches flowing over a granite ledge. The left branch carries less water and can dry up completely in summer, while the right branch keeps flowing year-round. Together the falls carry more than 100 liters of water per second on average, making it one of the most water-rich waterfalls in the whole of the Czech Republic. About 200 meters upstream from the main fall, the creek forms an additional cascade system: an upper section 2 meters high with two clearly separated steps, and a lower section around 2.5 meters high made up of four smaller steps. The surrounding forest is a damp spruce woodland typical of the higher reaches of the Jizera Mountains.

How do you get there?

The most convenient starting point is the Smědava mountain cottage, less than a kilometer from the waterfall, with a parking area, a bus stop, and a restaurant for a meal before or after the hike. A red-marked trail runs from Smědava along the Štolpická cesta road, but the waterfall itself lies roughly 100 meters off this trail, with no dedicated marked path leading to it — the final stretch has to be covered on an informal forest track. Sturdy hiking boots are recommended, especially after rain, when the ground gets slippery.

When should you visit?

The best time to see the waterfall at its fullest is spring, right after the snow melts, or after heavy rainfall, when both branches carry the most water. In the drier summer months the left branch can dry up almost entirely, leaving only the right side flowing. Autumn and winter have their own charm, too — the cascades can freeze into striking ice formations, though reaching the site becomes harder when the forest path is covered in snow or ice.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is the Bílá Smědá waterfall? The main step is just over 3 meters high and splits into two branches flowing over a granite rock ledge.

Where's the best starting point for the hike? The Smědava mountain cottage, which has parking, a bus stop, and a restaurant, and lies less than a kilometer from the falls.

Is there a marked trail all the way to the waterfall? No — there's no dedicated marked path. The falls lie about 100 meters off the red trail that follows the Štolpická cesta road.

Does the waterfall flow all year round? The right branch flows year-round, but the smaller left branch, which carries less water, often dries up in summer.