The White Brook Valley is a scenic valley tucked into the easternmost part of the Zittau Mountains, where the Czech-German border runs right along the valley floor. It's a quiet corner for hikers who enjoy rock formations, old forests, and a genuine sense of remoteness.

The valley climbs gently southward from 290 to 478 meters above sea level, ringed by six peaks - Mühlsteinberg, Straßberg, Loupežnický vrch, Podkova, Popova skála, and Sedlecký Špičák. The western slopes are more rugged, with cliffs over 100 meters high and scattered rock groups, while the eastern side is gentler and less structured. Spring and summer bring lush mixed forest greenery, autumn paints the hillsides gold, and winter turns the quiet snowy slopes into a haven for cross-country skiing. Large spruce stands have suffered heavily from bark beetle damage, though pockets of near-original mixed forest still survive.

How to get there

• From Hartau (village edge) - trail leading up the valley, about 3.5 km to the pass on the main ridge, easy to moderate difficulty
• Three cross-border trails allow crossing the border on foot, skis, or by bike

Practical information

• The upper valley once held protected zones for nesting peregrine falcons, eagle owls, pygmy owls, and black storks
• 16 drinking water wells still operate in the valley, part of Zittau's water supply built between 1874 and 1876
• Popular destinations include the Fuchskanzel on the German side and Popova skála (Pfaffenstein) on the Czech side

Interesting fact: the summit of Loupežnický vrch once held a castle guarding a medieval trade route from Bohemia to Zittau - destroyed in the 15th century and later erased entirely by a basalt quarry.