Reischlberg

Reischlberg (Czech: Hraničník) is a 1,281-metre peak sitting right on the border between Upper Austria and the Czech Republic, part of the Bohemian Forest (Šumava/Böhmerwald) range. The summit lies southwest of the village of Láz, a part of the municipality of Nová Pec, making it a natural and easily reachable hiking destination for anyone based in that area.

What makes this mountain geographically special?

Reischlberg sits precisely on a continental watershed between the Danube and Elbe river systems. Rain falling on the Czech side drains into the Vltava (Moldau) and eventually the Elbe, flowing toward the North Sea, while water on the Austrian side feeds the Rehbergbach stream, part of the Danube system heading for the Black Sea. It's a striking fact for anyone interested in physical geography: a single ridge separating two entirely different sea basins.

What kind of nature surrounds the peak?

The Czech slope belongs to Šumava National Park, one of the oldest and largest protected areas in this part of Europe. On the Austrian side, administratively part of the municipality of Klaffer am Hochficht, the mountain lies within the "Böhmerwald-Mühltäler" Natura 2000 site, covering more than 9,300 hectares, and an Important Bird Area spanning over 22,000 hectares of forest. The slopes carry varied woodland: spruce-fir-beech forest higher up, acidic beech forest further down, and richer, herb-rich beech forest on the southeastern flank. This patchwork of forest types is one reason the area draws nature lovers and birdwatchers alike.

Which trails cross the summit?

The Nordwaldkammweg, a ridge trail running along the length of the Bohemian Forest, passes directly over the top of Reischlberg. The same stretch also carries a section of the European long-distance path E6, connecting the north and south of the continent. That makes the mountain a natural waypoint for multi-day hikers, not just a short walk from Nová Pec — you might pass it on a quick day trip or as one stage of a much longer ridge crossing.

What else is worth knowing about the area?

The Austrian flank of Reischlberg forms part of the Hochficht ski area, described as Austria's largest ski region outside the Alps. So the same mountain that draws hikers in summer turns into a winter sports destination — though the ski infrastructure sits mainly on the Austrian side, away from the protected Czech slope.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Reischlberg? The summit reaches 1,281 metres above sea level.

Where exactly is the mountain located? On the border between Upper Austria and the Czech Republic, in the Šumava/Bohemian Forest range, southwest of the village of Láz (part of the Nová Pec municipality).

Is the summit inside a national park? The Czech side belongs to Šumava National Park; the Austrian side lies within the Böhmerwald-Mühltäler Natura 2000 protected area.

What trails run across Reischlberg? The Nordwaldkammweg ridge trail and a stretch of the European long-distance route E6.

Can you ski there? Yes, the Austrian slope is part of the Hochficht ski area.

What is the mountain called in Czech? Hraničník.