Sněžné věžičky

Sněžné věžičky ("Snow Turrets") is a rock formation in the Jizera Mountains, located within the cadastral area of the town of Hejnice in the Czech Republic. The name also refers to a lower summit of Černá hora (Black Mountain) in the central part of the range, roughly 8 km southeast of Hejnice and about 3 km west of the Jizera peak.

What will you see there?

Sněžné věžičky isn't a single rock but an entire cluster of formations - rock towers, standalone boulders, rock walls, and frost-shattered blocks known locally as "mrazové sruby." The centerpiece is a group of three rock towers rising up to 10 meters high. On top of one of them sits a small viewing platform, fitted with a railing and reached via iron rungs set into the rock. From up there, the view opens onto the surrounding hills and forests of the Jizera Mountains.

The rocks stand about 1 km northeast of the summit of Černá hora, separated from it by a shallow saddle at roughly 1050 meters above sea level. That saddle holds the highest-altitude peat bog in the Czech part of the Jizera Mountains, Vánoční louka ("Christmas Meadow").

The northern section of Sněžné věžičky lies within the Černá hora nature reserve, and about 1 km to the northeast sits another protected area, the Na Čihadle peat bog reserve.

How to get to Sněžné věžičky?

The usual starting point is the town of Hejnice, from where marked trails lead into the Jizera Mountains toward Černá hora. The hike covers roughly 8 km one way through mountainous terrain, so it's worth setting aside a full day, especially if you also plan to reach the summit of Černá hora itself or continue along the ridge of the Jizera Mountains. Given the altitude above 1000 meters and the rocky ground, sturdy hiking boots are recommended.

When to visit?

The best months to visit run from May to October, when the trails are dry and passable and visibility from the platform is at its best. In summer, an early start helps you beat both the crowds and the heat of the climb. In autumn, the surrounding forests of the Jizera Mountains turn their characteristic colors, making the route especially rewarding for photography. In winter, the site can be hard to reach due to snow, and the iron rungs leading to the viewing platform may ice over, so climbing the tower requires extra caution at that time of year.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sněžné věžičky? It's a cluster of rock formations in the central Jizera Mountains, made up of rock towers, standalone boulders, and rock walls, with three main towers reaching up to 10 meters in height.

Can you climb to the top? Yes - one of the towers has a viewing platform fitted with a railing, accessible via iron rungs set into the rock face.

How far is it from Hejnice? The rocks lie about 8 km southeast of Hejnice, close to the summit of Černá hora.

Is the area protected? Yes - the northern part of the formation lies within the Černá hora nature reserve, and the nearby Na Čihadle peat bog is also a protected reserve.