Suchý vrch (428 m a.s.l.) is a modest but charming hill near Staré Splavy, in the Doksy area of the Liberec Region. It makes for a pleasant short hike for anyone exploring the popular Máchův kraj lake district and looking to add a bit of forest and elevation to their trip.

The hill sits at the eastern end of a ridge formed by three summits - in the middle rises the neighboring Strážný vrch (468 m), while the western end holds the tallest of the three, the partly quarried Maršovický vrch (499 m). Geomorphologically, the area belongs to the Ralská pahorkatina highlands, within the scenic Polomené hory range. The terrain is forested throughout, offering a calm, shaded walk rather than dramatic vistas. Interestingly, the hill was historically known as Holý vrch, a name still appearing on state maps as recently as 2002.

How to reach the summit

• From the parking lot by road I/38 near Staré Splavy - follow the red trail through Střední důl and the Vůbčářská roklina gorge, then branch off onto a forest path to the summit; easy to moderate difficulty
• Return via the Pod Braniborskou jeskyní junction, where the red trail meets the green trail, which passes the rock overhang known as Braniborská jeskyně before heading back to Staré Splavy

Practical information

• Consider a short detour to the nearby Braniborská jeskyně rock overhang along the marked trail
• There is no lookout tower or mountain hut on the summit - this is a quiet, forested destination rather than a viewpoint hike

A fun historical detail - the hill's current name, Suchý vrch (Dry Hill), replaced its older name Holý vrch (Bare Hill), which still appeared on maps as late as 2002, hinting at how the vegetation here has changed over time.