Čertův odpočinek

Čertův odpočinek ("Devil's Rest") is a rocky viewpoint on the slope of Černá hora (Black Mountain, 1084 m) in the Jizera Mountains, within the cadastral area of Bedřichov in the Jablonec nad Nisou district. It's a small but distinctive rock formation that fits naturally into a walking route across the surrounding ridgeline.

What will you see there?

The rock sits roughly 300 meters southeast of the Černá hora summit and owes its shape to a hollowed, chair-like surface — hence the name. The top of the formation is marked by characteristic rock basins and grooves, a common feature of the granite outcrops scattered across the Jizera Mountains, where centuries of frost weathering and erosion carved soft depressions into the stone. A local legend explains the name differently: devils being driven out of the mountains supposedly sat down here to rest, and the imprints of their tails and backsides are said to have shaped the hollows still visible in the rock today.

The spot has long been valued as a good vantage point over the surrounding Jizera Mountains landscape. These days the view is gradually being swallowed by a growing spruce forest, so the panorama isn't as open as it once was — but the rock formation itself remains an interesting stop and a popular addition to any hike through the area.

How do you get there?

A yellow-marked hiking trail leads directly to Čertův odpočinek. The most convenient starting point is Bedřichov itself — a well-known base for exploring the Jizera Mountains, close to other peaks such as Holubník (1071 m) and Ptačí kupy (1013 m). The trail runs through typical spruce forest and climbs gently toward the Černá hora ridge. Depending on the exact route chosen, the walk from the village center usually takes no more than one to two hours.

When is the best time to visit?

May through October is the most reliable window, when trails are dry and easy to walk, and the spruce forest doesn't add snow-related visibility problems on top of the tree cover. Bedřichov is also a well-known cross-country skiing hub in winter, but reaching the rock itself on foot (rather than on skis) can be trickier then, since forest paths are often snow-covered. Autumn is a particularly scenic alternative, when the surrounding Jizera Mountains forests take on their fall colors and the trails see fewer visitors than in peak summer.

What can you combine it with?

Čertův odpočinek works well as one stop on a longer ridge hike across Černá hora and the neighboring summits. For anyone interested in the region's geology and unusual rock formations, it makes a fitting addition to other similar granite outcrops nearby — the Jizera Mountains are full of oddly shaped rock features carved by centuries of weathering.

Frequently asked questions

How high up is Čertův odpočinek? The formation sits on the slope of Černá hora, just below its 1084 m summit, roughly 300 meters to the southeast.

Can you drive there? No — only a marked hiking trail (yellow markers) leads to the rock. You'll need to park in Bedřichov and continue on foot.

Is the view from Čertův odpočinek still good? The spot used to offer a wide panorama of the surrounding area, but a growing spruce forest has been gradually blocking the view, so visibility today is more limited.

Where does the name "Devil's Rest" come from? According to local legend, devils being chased out of the mountains stopped here to rest, and the imprints of their bodies and tails left behind the hollows still visible on the rock's surface.