CZ, Jizerské Mountains – Crosskiing Season

We park in a public car park next to the Souš dam, the parking fee is CZK 50 per day. A bus also builds a bit further. We continue on foot for about one kilometer along Souše, which lies on the river Černá Desná. The river then flows through the landscape to the town of Desná, where it flows with the river Bílá Desná and with the name Desná it flows to Tanvald, where it flows into Kamenice.

After a short walk we get to the barrier next to the hotel Resort Montanie to start the cross-country ski trail. We cross-country ski for less than six kilometers on a wide route leading to the U Studánky signpost. From here it is possible to go either to the right to the famous mountain cottage Smědava, where we get along the plain ending with a pleasant descent after about 1.5 kilometers, or we can go left first to the Kasárenská signpost and from there continue over 3 kilometers with a slight climb to the mountain station Knajp. Both Knajpa and Smědava have an open window and you can have a snack here. From Knajpa, you can continue along the Jizerska Highway, further past the Jizera mountain, 1122 m above sea level, and take a three-kilometer descent to reach the Smědava cottage again by a circular path.

You can revive the ride along the Border Road and then return towards Souša, but also along the route leading to the Jizerka cottage. It is open too, but like everywhere else, you can't warm yourself inside. You can also park here, but for twice as much and the road by car to the car park is harder to navigate in worse weather, be sure to have the chains ready in your suitcase. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to pass a car in a ditch with a crew waiting to be towed.

GPS: 50°47'21.4"N 15°19'08.1"E

Text and photos: Veronika Schubertová