A tour around the third highest Jizerské peak, Černá hora, starting at Josefův Důl – 18 km

Černá hora is the third highest peak (after the Jizera and Smrk mountains) in the northern Bohemian protected nature zone of Jizerské hory. It is a picturesque landscape of low forested mountains pierced with occasional granite rock towers. Wide trails and mountain roads with gentle inclines cross the upland area, making this area equally popular with with hikers, cyclists and in winter cross country skiers.
The approach paths to Černá hora – particularly on the northwest flank – are lined with wooden walkways to protect the peat bogs, which are extensive in this part of Jizerské hory. On the summit are some scenic examples of classic granite towers, one of which can be ascended via fixed metal ladders to provide a panoramic view.
The suggested route onto the mountain starts in Josefův Důl village. If driving the closest parking is at the bottom of the winter ski lift (at the end of the village – the map assumes this starting point). If travelling by bus from Liberec or Jablonec there are bus stops along the road leading to this parking area, but the walk will be slightly longer if starting and finishing and the closest bus stop.
the tour can be taken either clockwise or anticlockwise, starting or finishing with the path that skirts the scenic Josefův Důl (this is used for drinking water, so no swimming or leisure activities are permitted on the lake). The advantage of taking the anticlockwise route (as shown in the map below) is that the descent path passes through the hamlet of Kristiánov, located in mountain pastures above 800m in altitude.
Kristiánov was once an important glass manufacturing center, founded in the 18th century and run by the legendary glass manufacturing family, Riedel, for over a hundred years. Most of the hamlet was destroyed by fire at the end of the 19th century, but a small exhibition is housed in one of the surviving timbered buildings from this period. This building also houses a nice snack bar, which is open in high season.
The total route, if starting from the ski lift parking area is 17.9 km with around 490m of height to ascend/descend. None of the paths are difficult and most of the ascent/descent is on an asphalt mountain road. For refreshments on the journey, in addition to the snack bar at Kristiánov, there is a snack bar – KNAJPA – 300m off the proposed route just to the east of Černá hora (see directions below). Finally, close to the parking area at the ski lift is the pleasant hotel/restaurant Perla Jizery, with a nice terrace.

Note: click ‘Show on Mapy.com’ to go to a full screen version of the route directly on the mapy.com site. This can be used for on line navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file.

Directions

Starting at the Josefův Důl – údolí Kamenice trail junction (next to the Perla Jizery restaurant) take the RED trail in the direction of Pod Čertovými kameny
The road winds up the mountain road reaching the Pod Čertovými kameny junction in 1.7 km. Here there is a viewpoint on the granite rocks
From the junction continue on the RED trail following the mountain road through the Peklo hamlet and then onto the forest track to reach the junction of U Knejpy after 4.9 km
At U Knejpy if wanting to visit the KNAJPA snack bar, divert to the right for 300m along the RED trail and then return back to the U Knejpy junction
Turn onto the BLUE trail in the direction of Kristiánov and after 1.7 km reach the junction of Rozmezí. Here, turn right onto the YELLOW trail in the direction of Černá hora
After 600m reach the Sněžné věžičky junction and here turn right onto the diversion trail which leads to the main granite towers on the mountain (including the viewpoint tower) in 300m
Return back to the Sněžné věžičky junction and continue n the YELLOW trail to reach the summit area in 700m
Continue over the summit on the wooden planking footpath still following the YELLOW trail downhill to reach the unsignposted junction with the RED trail
Here, turn left onto the RED trail to reach the hamlet of Kristiánov in 2.6 km
Continue on the RED trail for a further 500m to reach the Pitelkův pomníček junction and here turn left onto the YELLOW trail
Continue downhill on the YELLOW trail past the reservoir to return back to the parking area/Perla Jizery restaurant after 3.5 km