Position of Harrachov on the west edge of Krkonoše enables to make trips to near-by Jizera mountains. The suggested route leads you through the valley of the river Jizera, over the mountain Bukovec, the settlement Jizerka and the village Kořenov back to Harrachov. It is quite long, it takes the whole day, even for trained tourist, but the altitude (excluding going up Bukovec ) is very reasonable. There is a possibility to diversify and shorten the trip by taking a train from Kořenov to Harrachov, Mýtiny.

Harrachov – Nový Svět (camp, glass factory) 670 metres above sea level (m.a.s.) – Mýtiny 3 km (+40) – bridge over Martinské valley 1 km (-80m) – under Bukovec 6 km (+170 m) – Bukovec + 1 km ( +100 m, -100 m) – Jizerka 1 km (-40 m) – crossroad Vlašský hřeben 3,5 km – Václavíkova studánka/well/ 2 km (-80 m) – Kořenov railway station 2 km (-150 m) – crossroad Mýto 2,5 km (-110 m) – Nový Svět 3 km (+90 m)

Total: 25 km, 8 – 9 hours

 Description:

We will start this hike at the crossroad near the hotel Karolína (between the glass factory and the camp) in Nový Svět, following the red marked tourist route. Blue marked route, coming from Anenské valley from the centre of Harrachov, will join the red one near the playground on the south-west of the town. We will ascend up to Harrachov railway station (we can use the train on the way back), go through the settlement Mýtiny (it belonged to Poland until 1959) and then descend on the quite steep path to the valley of the river Jizera which we will get over on a bridge for pedestrians. From here, Martinské valley, we will ascend on the road along the river Jizera to an interesting historic railway bridge of railway route Tanvald – Harrachov.

Then along forest path (still on the right shore and following red route) and river bed of Jizera with rapids to the foot of Bukovec. There the path is getting narrow and it is steeper. It is worth to make a turn and go up to the top of the basalt cone that is very exceptional phenomena in the Krkonoše-Jizera area ( there have been uncover basalt columns on the south-east of the foot). When climbing up to the top of Bukovec (1005 m.a.s.) you go through beech forest that gave the mountain its name. From the top we are able to see north and west of Jizera mountains and east of Krkonoše because of withering spruce forest away. Then we descend back to the tourist route. We can visit mountain settlement Jizerka with remainders of two glass factories, a small museum in wooden former school. Refreshment is provided by chalet Pyramida or a restaurant under Bukovec, where the ones who do not want to go down to the settlement can stop over.

Now it is time to go back. We will exchange the red route for the blue one and go towards south-west over long Vlašský hřeben/ridge/ with a view to the water reservoir Souš. We turn left to the yellow marked route, going under the top of Zámky (1002 m.a.s.), turn to look out) and through the seclusion Václavíkova Studánka. You can get there by a shorter way from Jizerka along mountain road ( not marked), going to the village Polubný. From Polubný we will get to Horní Kořenov to the railway station. The journey by train in a nice part of the route to Harrachov – Mýtiny is pleasant end of our hike.

But if the train does not arrive in short time or you have enough time and energy you can descend to Martinské valley and follow the same route as in the morning to Harrachov or it is better to reach the crossroad Mýto and continue to Nový Svět through the valley of Mumlava ( either on foot or by bus).