Špičák

Špičák is a mountain saddle and resort area in the Šumava mountains, about 4 km from Železná Ruda, sitting between the peaks of Špičák (1,202 m) and Pancíř (1,241 m). It's a place with a curious geographic footnote: the main European watershed between the Black Sea and the North Sea runs right through it, alongside a full year-round offer of skiing, hiking and biking.

How do you get to Špičák?

The easiest way in is by car or train from Železná Ruda — it's only a few kilometres away, along a scenic stretch through the Šumava hills. One historical detail worth knowing: back in 1877, engineers drove one of the longest railway tunnels in the Czech Republic straight under the Špičák saddle. At 1,747 metres, it's still in active use today, carrying trains toward the Bavarian border. The area itself is well connected by hiking and cycling trails to both central Železná Ruda and neighbouring Hojsova Stráž.

What is there to see?

The centerpiece is the lookout tower on the Špičák summit — 26.5 metres tall, reached by 135 steps, with a viewing platform that holds up to 60 people at once. Entry is free. From the top, the view opens onto the forests and hills of Šumava, and on a clear day you can pick out the peaks of Boubín and Poledník on the Czech side, plus Javor across the border in Germany.

In winter, Špičák turns into one of the best-rated ski resorts in the country. The slopes run between 860 and 1,202 metres of elevation, with ten main pistes totalling more than 8 kilometres — everything from gentle, family-friendly runs to the steepest black slope in the whole of Czechia. The resort operates in cross-border cooperation with Germany's Großer Arber, making the combined ski area one of the largest outside the Alps on the continent. Cross-country and ski-touring fans get seven marked routes covering 48 km through the Šumava countryside.

When should you visit?

Špičák works as a year-round destination. Winter (roughly December to March) is peak season, dominated by downhill and cross-country skiing. Come summer, the same slopes host a well-developed bike park with modern trails, while dozens of kilometres of paths invite hikers and families out for the day. Spring and autumn are the quiet season for the lookout tower — fewer crowds, and often clearer visibility than during the busy months.

Who is Špičák for?

It suits families after an easy walk and a free view from the tower just as well as serious skiers and mountain bikers chasing the steep black run or the bike park's tougher trails. Railway history buffs have a reason to stop by too — the tunnel under Špičák is one of the best-known engineering landmarks of its kind in the Czech Republic.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the Špičák lookout tower free? Yes, admission is free, and the viewing platform holds up to 60 visitors at a time.

How high up is the Špičák ski resort? The slopes span an elevation range of 860 to 1,202 metres above sea level.

What can you see from the Špičák tower? The forests and hills of Šumava, and on clear days the peaks of Boubín, Poledník, and Germany's Javor.

Is Špičák worth visiting in summer? Yes — the resort runs a bike park and a network of hiking and cycling trails in summer, and the lookout tower stays open year-round.