Výpřež is a quiet mountain saddle at 769 m above sea level, tucked just 1.5 kilometers from the famous peak of Ještěd. It's the spot where the road connecting Liberec and Český Dub crosses the Ještěd ridge, and a lively crossroads for hiking trails of every color.

The saddle itself is almost treeless, with only patches of spruce forest here and there, while the undergrowth is carpeted with blueberries and wavy hair-grass. The open terrain offers partial views in several directions, making it a pleasant stop along the way. In summer it draws hikers and cyclists passing through, while in winter the landscape turns quiet and snow-covered, perfect for a peaceful walk. The whole area lies within the Ještěd Nature Park, keeping the surroundings pleasantly wild and undeveloped.

How to get there

• From Liberec or Český Dub via road III/2784 to the Výpřež saddle - accessible by car, with parking on site
• Via hiking trails of all colors crossing the saddle, including the Hřebenová trail built in the early 20th century

Practical information

• Car parking and a small refreshment stand on site
• A road leads from here to Ještědka and onward to the hotel with the TV transmitter on the summit of Ještěd

Look out for the old granite obelisk, once a signpost along the historic Hřebenová trail - a Marian image used to hang here too, and long before that, merchants had to unhitch extra horses to help pull their carts up the steep climb, which is exactly where the name Výpřež comes from.