Malá Deštná

Malá Deštná is a forested peak rising to 1,090 m above sea level in the Central Sudetes, in the middle section of the Orlické hory (Eagle Mountains) in the Czech Republic, right above the village of Deštné v Orlických horách. It is the third-highest summit in the entire range, surpassed only by Velká Deštná (1,116 m) and Koruna (1,101 m), with which it forms the main mountain ridge. The hill was formerly known as Doupnitá hora.

What does the summit look like, and what can you see from it?

Malá Deštná is an elongated, dome-shaped hill, completely covered in forest, situated on the northern edge of the so-called Deštné ridge. The dense tree cover means views from the top itself are only partial — for a full panorama, hikers usually continue a few hundred metres toward neighbouring Velká Deštná. A geodetic survey point sits on the summit dome, a remnant of older triangulation measurements.

What kind of nature surrounds the peak?

In the saddle between Malá Deštná and Velká Deštná lies the Jelení lázeň nature reserve, protecting waterlogged spruce forest and peat-bog pools typical of the higher parts of the Orlické hory. It's a landscape characteristic of this border range between Czechia and Poland — raw, damp mountain forest sheltering rare bog-adapted plant species.

What historical traces survive on the eastern slope?

On the eastern flank of Malá Deštná, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a former glassworks known as "Na Cikánce." The workshop operated between 1669 and 1761, drawing on the surrounding forests for fuel and on local quartz sand as raw material. Excavations at the site confirmed sustained production activity in this remote, hard-to-reach mountain terrain — a reminder of the region's long tradition of glassmaking.

Which hiking trails cross the summit?

A red-marked trail, the Jiráskova horská cesta (Jirásek Mountain Trail), runs across the peak. Laid out in 1921 and named after the Czech writer Alois Jirásek, it follows the main ridge of the Orlické hory, linking Vrchmezí, the Zieleniec saddle, Malá Deštná, Velká Deštná, and continuing on to Rokytnice v Orlických horách. The most convenient approach to Malá Deštná starts from the Šerlich saddle, home to the historic Masaryk's lodge — a popular starting point for both hikers and cyclists.

What else is worth combining with a visit to Malá Deštná?

Just a few hundred metres away, on neighbouring Velká Deštná — the highest peak of the entire Orlické hory — a new 19-metre lookout tower opened in 2019. It offers sweeping views over the Czech and Polish Table Mountains, Králický Sněžník, and the Krkonoše (Giant Mountains). At the foot of the ridge lies Deštné v Orlických horách, a well-known Czech ski resort popular in winter for downhill and cross-country skiing, and in summer as a base for ridge-top hiking.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Malá Deštná? The peak reaches 1,090 metres above sea level, making it the third-highest summit in the Orlické hory.

Are there views from the top? Views from the summit itself are limited by dense forest; the nearby lookout tower on Velká Deštná offers the full panorama.

How do you reach the summit? Most commonly from the Šerlich saddle, following the red-marked Jiráskova horská cesta trail along the ridge toward Velká Deštná.

What is there to see nearby? The Jelení lázeň nature reserve with its peat bogs, and the archaeological remains of the 17th–18th-century "Na Cikánce" glassworks on the eastern slope.