Winter Wonderland

The Jizera Mountains are a true paradise for cross-country skiers: their beautiful landscape is criss-crossed by cca 180 kilometres of groomed trails, which host the iconic Jizerská 50 cross-country ski race every year.

The cross-country ski trails begin just a short distance above the chalet and are groomed by machine every day. You can check the latest trail conditions in our online newsletter, The Spyglass, which you will find in the navigation bar at the top of the page.

The Tanvaldský Špičák ski resort is located right in the village below and offers two chairlifts and five slopes of varying lengths and difficulty levels. Within walking distance of the cottage are the Detoa and Mariánská Hora lifts for children and beginners.

For even more skiing, the Harrachov ski resort, famous for its ski jumps, is about a 20-minute drive away, while Rokytnice nad Jizerou, home to one of the best ski resorts in the Czech Republic, can be reached in roughly 30 minutes.

Straight from the cottage, you can follow marked trails to some of the Jizera Mountains’ most iconic places, including the steep Mariánské schody steps, the Jedlová waterfalls, the remains of the Burst Dam and one of the many lookout towers for which the region is famous.

Just a few kilometres away, the Krkonoše Mountains begin, with a whole realm of hiking trails of their own. How about taking the train to Harrachov and walking back through forests and meadows all the way to Three Does Cottage? It makes a wonderful trip in both summer and winter. And not to forget the rock formations of the Bohemian Paradise, just a stone’s throw away...

The Jizera Mountains have an extensive network of several hundred kilometres of paved or surfaced cycle paths. They will take you to secluded, mysterious peat bogs, mountain lodges serving excellent lunches, high-altitude reservoirs that are still in operation, and even to the remains of one that burst its dam long ago.

And should you feel like adding a little adrenaline to your day, head for the trails in the bike park on Tanvaldský Špičák. In summer, a chairlift from the village below us will take you and your bike up the mountain.

Tired of walking, or has the weather disrupted your plans? Delve into the fascinating history of the Jizera Mountains by visiting local glassworks, museums, châteaux and castles.

Discover the stories of the region’s glassmakers, traditional crafts, industrial heritage and the people who shaped the character of this landscape over the centuries. There is plenty here for lovers of history, architecture and traditional craftsmanship.

For centuries, The Jizera Mountains have been closely associated with the glassmaking tradition. Glassworks, cutting workshops and small family-run studios sprang up in the mountain valleys, and their products found their way all over the world.

To this day, you can discover the stories of local glassmaking families, visit glassworks and museums, or take home a small glass treasure as a reminder of a region where sand, fire and human skill are transformed into delicate beauty.