Čertův kámen, Kořenov

Čertův kámen ("Devil's Stone") is a rock outcrop tucked into the forest on the slope of Černý vrch, the highest summit of the Soušská hornatina range in the Jizera Mountains (Jizerské hory). It sits within the cadastral area of the Jizerka settlement, part of the municipality of Kořenov in the Jablonec nad Nisou district, close to the Czech-Polish border. It's a spot for travelers who are happy to leave the marked paths behind and prefer the quiet of the forest to crowds at the region's better-known viewpoints.

Where exactly is Čertův kámen?

The rock lies roughly 150 meters south of the summit of Černý vrch (1,029 m), between the Jizerka settlement to the southeast and the Smědava mountain hut to the northwest — each about two kilometers away. Its approximate coordinates are 50°49′50″N, 15°17′55″E. The surrounding landscape is typical of the Jizera Mountains: broad, rolling highland plateaus covered in spruce forest, punctuated here and there by granite outcrops rising above the tree line.

How do you get to Čertův kámen?

No marked hiking trail leads directly to the rock — it's one of the few natural landmarks in the area reached only by unmarked footpaths branching off the forest roads that circle Černý vrch. The easiest starting points are near Jizerka or the Smědava hut, from where forest roads climb toward the summit area, leaving only a short unmarked stretch to the rock itself. Carrying a proper hiking map of the region is worth it — in the dense forest it's easy to walk past the outcrop without noticing it.

What's notable about the rock itself?

Čertův kámen is known mainly among climbers: several routes lead up it, rated between III and VII on the UIAA difficulty scale. At the top, a summit logbook has been kept in a metal container since 1968, letting climbers and hikers who make it up record their name and the date — a small ritual that has quietly continued here for decades.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Around Černý vrch and Čertův kámen lie several other characteristic rock formations of the region — Pytlácké kameny, Vlašský hřeben, and Zelený kámen — which can be strung together into a longer rock-hopping route through the Jizera Mountains. Not far away is the Rašeliniště Jizerky nature reserve, one of the more valuable high-altitude peat bogs in the Czech part of the Sudetes, an easy add-on for the same outing. In places, gaps between the trees around the summit open up views over the surrounding hills.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Čertův kámen located? On the slope of Černý vrch in the Jizera Mountains, in the municipality of Kořenov, about 150 meters south of its summit.

Is there a marked trail to the rock? No. It's reached via an unmarked footpath branching off the forest roads around Černý vrch.

Is Čertův kámen suitable for climbing? Yes, several climbing routes rated III–VII UIAA lead up it, and it's popular with climbers from the region.

Where's the best place to start the hike from? From the Jizerka settlement or the Smědava mountain hut — both about two kilometers from the rock.

What else can you see nearby? The nearby rock formations Pytlácké kameny, Vlašský hřeben, and Zelený kámen, plus the Rašeliniště Jizerky nature reserve.