About this place
Rašeliniště Jizerky is a national nature reserve in the Jizera Mountains, sitting right next to the mountain settlement of Jizerka within the municipality of Kořenov. It protects one of the most valuable peatland complexes in the Czech Republic — a broad, flat basin ringed by forest where the landscape has changed remarkably little over the centuries.
Where exactly is the reserve located?
The reserve lies north of Kořenov and northwest of the settlement of Jizerka, within the Jizera Mountains Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Jizerské hory). It occupies a wide, flat basin at an elevation of 850 to 880 metres above sea level, enclosed by the peaks of Bukovec, Pytlácké kameny and Černý vrch. The protected area covers 114.87 hectares, making it one of the larger peatland complexes in the region.
When was it protected and why does that matter?
The area was declared a reserve back in 1960, reflecting how early its ecological value was recognised. Today the territory falls within Zone I of the Jizera Mountains Protected Landscape Area — the strictest protection category, reserved for land with the highest natural value and requiring the greatest degree of care. That status brings tight restrictions on human activity and strict control over visitor movement.
What is actually being protected here?
The reserve safeguards raised bogs, transitional mires and sphagnum moss wetlands, alongside species-rich bent-grass meadows and acidophilic spruce forests. These wetlands spread out around the meandering Jizerka stream and its tributaries, forming a mosaic of habitats typical of high-altitude Central European peat bogs. Such ecosystems are extremely sensitive to changes in water regime, which makes their preservation here, largely undisturbed, of real scientific and ecological importance.
What is the climate like?
Conditions around Rašeliniště Jizerky are considered extreme — not just for the Jizera Mountains, but for the Czech Republic as a whole. Average annual temperatures barely reach 4°C, and winter readings regularly drop below -30°C. It is precisely this harsh climate, combined with the basin's shape and poor water drainage, that allowed peat to accumulate slowly over thousands of years and produced such an extensive mire system.
How can visitors experience the reserve?
Because of its top-tier protection status, the reserve can only be visited along designated routes. Access is possible via the marked Jizerská silnice (road) or along the Tři izeríny educational trail, which runs through Bukovec, Jizerka and the reserve itself. The route lets visitors observe the characteristic peatland vegetation up close without disturbing the fragile ecosystem.
Why is it worth visiting?
Rašeliniště Jizerky appeals to anyone looking to experience raw, untouched mountain nature. The expansive bogs, meandering stream and surrounding forest create a landscape rarely found elsewhere in this part of Europe — a glimpse of how the region looked before large-scale human alteration. It is also a key stop for nature lovers hiking through the Jizera Mountains, combining scenic value with environmental education.
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors walk off the marked trails inside the reserve? No. The reserve falls under Zone I protection, so movement is only permitted along designated routes such as the Tři izeríny trail.
How large is the reserve? Rašeliniště Jizerky covers an area of 114.87 hectares.
Since when has the area been protected? The reserve was established in 1960.
What is the nearest settlement? The closest settlement is Jizerka, part of the municipality of Kořenov.
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