Lackenberg

Lackenberg (known locally as Debrník, sometimes Plesná) is a border ridge of the Bohemian Forest towering above Prášily, one of the quietest villages inside Šumava National Park. Despite its German name, the mountain sits squarely on the Czech-German frontier and draws hikers approaching from both the Czech and Bavarian sides.

Where is Lackenberg and how high does it rise?

The summit reaches 1,337–1,338 m above sea level, in the northern part of Šumava within the so-called Železnorudská hornatina — a rolling, densely forested range that runs along the border with the Bavarian Forest. Geologically it is a structural ridge built of paragneiss and granodiorite, which gives it an unusually flat, rounded top rather than the rocky dome many other Šumava peaks have. Spruce forest once covered the whole mountain, but like other border summits it was heavily hit by bark-beetle outbreaks and windstorms, so parts of the slopes today show bare deadwood and young regrowth rather than closed canopy.

The real highlight: Lake Laka

The actual draw of this hike isn't the summit itself but Lake Laka, tucked beneath Lackenberg at 1,096 m above sea level. It's the highest-lying of all the glacial lakes on the Czech side of Šumava, and also the smallest — roughly 2.5–2.8 hectares in area with a shoreline of about 870 m. What sets it apart is a scatter of floating peat-moss islands that drift across the water's surface with the wind, a feature you won't find on any of the other Šumava lakes. For most visitors, Laka — not Lackenberg's summit — is the actual destination.

How do you get there?

The shortest approach starts in Nová Hůrka and follows a blue-marked trail for just over 4 km one way. From Prášily, the red-marked route runs about 9 km (a longer loop version stretches to roughly 17 km with 470 m of elevation gain), while from Železná Ruda you can take the green trail up to Debrník itself and continue on the red route over the Nad Polomem pass, about 10 km in total. All these paths run through Šumava National Park, so the usual protected-area rules apply: stay on marked trails, and swimming in the lake is off-limits.

When is the best time to visit?

Late spring through summer (May to September) is the most reliable window, with dry trails and the floating islands on Laka at their most visible. Autumn, especially October, brings golden forest color and noticeably fewer visitors. In winter the route is often snowbound and better suited to snowshoes or cross-country skis — Prášily itself is a well-known base for cross-country skiing across this part of Šumava.

Frequently asked questions

Are Lackenberg and Debrník the same mountain? Yes. Lackenberg is the German name, Debrník (occasionally Plesná) the Czech one, for the same summit straddling the Czech-German border.

Can you drive close to the summit? Not directly — the nearest car parks are in Prášily and Nová Hůrka, and the rest of the route is on foot along marked hiking trails.

Is swimming allowed in Lake Laka? No. The lake lies within the national park and is strictly protected — swimming and entering the water are prohibited.

How long does the hike from Prášily take? Counting the round trip on the red trail (roughly 18 km), plan for a full day — about 5–6 hours of easy walking with a stop at the lake.