Hike along the ridges to Holubník

It is not advisable to have a big lunch in the pass of Oldřichov, because the path from rises relatively sharply for a long time to the ridge of Poledník (“Meridian”) (864 m asl). The path leads through dense forest with basically no views and attractions. The only attractions in the season here are clouds of blueberries. Unfortunately, also the top of Poledník (“Meridian”) is without any views.

After a while the path connects to the bike path (tourist crowds are multiplied immediately) and continues practically along the flat  plane at about 840 meters above sea level. After 7 kilometers from pass in Oldřichov you reach a significant crossroads Hřebínek with refreshments possibilities. Several pathways connect here (from Liberec and Bedřichov) and there are really crowds of people, especially cyclists.

After another kilometer and a half (already ascent) the path fortunately disconnects from the bike path and rises to the first more than a thousand meters high peak of the Jizera mountains from the west – to Ptačí kupy (“Bird clusters”) (1013 m asl). Here ends perhaps the most boring part of the whole crossing of the Jizera Mountains and begin nice views of the upland plain.

Views to the north direction are to the Frýdlantský výběžek (“Headland of Frýdland”) – remote region of the Czech Republic.

Southern horizon is in the afternoon backlit dominated by Ještěd and Bedřichov dam located on the river of Černá Nisa (“Black Neisse”).

At the top of Ptačí kupy (“Bird clusters”) you can wonderfully see vegetation of the Jizera Mountains in the local highest heights – mountain pines, spruce trees, rowanberries and blueberries stands.

You can nicely see from Ptačí kupy the comfortable path to the neighboring and the highest point of this ridge – Holubník (“Dovecote”) (1071 m asl). In the distance there are also other Jizera mountain peaks – Jizera and Smědavská mountain.

There is also a small peat bog on the ridge, so the path is reinforced. You can already see the top of Holubník (“Dovecot”) on the horizon.
 

The top of Holubník is traditional Jizera high mountain rock garden with a small wooden cross. You will wonder what an amazing view is from it.

There is perhaps the most beautiful view of the upland plain of Jizera mountains from Holubník and of all its highest peaks – in the distance Smrk (“Spruce”)  / highest peak of the czech part of the Jizera Mountains/ and further continuation of Vysoký hřbet Jizerský (Wysoki Grzbiet/” High Jizera Ridge”) already on the Polish side of the mountains: Stok Izerski, Vysoka Kopa. Nearby: Jizera, Smědavská and Černá hora.

There are a lot of dried trees on the upland plain in memory of air pollution from past years.

The path from Holubník only slightly decreases to the pass below Holubník, from where you can continue along the ridge to Černá hora or set off along the bike paths to the north (Smědava) or south (Josefův důl / “Joseph Mine”).