Šumava National Park: Hikes, Getting There, When to Go (2026)

Šumava is the largest national park in Czechia: 68,342 hectares of forest, peat bog and glacial lakes on the Bavarian border. From Prague a direct R16 Berounka train reaches Špičák station in 3 hours 22 minutes, close to the park's two best-known lakes. Go between May and October: in November most visitor centres are shut, and the Zelené linky bus season ended on 11 October. Around Prague checked routes, rules and opening hours on the Šumava National Park website and timetables in IDOS on 2 November 2026.

What Šumava is

The national park was created on 20 March 1991. The Šumava Protected Landscape Area (99,480 hectares) surrounds it as a buffer zone. The highest point on the Czech side is Plechý at 1,378 metres, and forest covers about 80% of the park. Across the border the Bavarian Forest National Park continues the same landscape, and there are 18 crossings along the border with Bavaria and Austria.

The park is long and narrow, so a trip means picking one area: the lakes near Železná Ruda in the west, Modrava, Srní and Kvilda in the centre, or Boubín and Nová Pec in the south. From Prague, one area is the most you can see in a day.

How to get to Šumava from Prague

Times come from IDOS for early departures on 5–8 November 2026. A new timetable starts on 13 December, so check again before you travel. IDOS flags a service restriction on the R16 trains, so open the train's details first. The direct adult fare shown in IDOS was 327–375 Kč.

Direct trains back leave Špičák at 10:28 and 16:28 and Železná Ruda-Alžbětín at 10:15 and 16:15. For a day trip, arriving at Špičák at 9:27 and leaving at 16:28 gives you 7 hours (our calculation). The lake loop takes under 3 hours.

By car, these areas are 155–180 km from central Prague, about 2 h 10 min to 2 h 30 min without traffic. That is our calculation with the OSRM router on OpenStreetMap data. Parking at the Srní and Kvilda centres costs 50 Kč per started hour.

Best Šumava hikes

Figures come from the park's own route pages. It has two pages for the lakes with slightly different numbers, hence the range.

• Černé and Čertovo lakes. The easiest choice without a car. The lakes sit in a nature reserve, so stay on marked trails. From 15 June to 15 September you can add 1.5 km to the lookout tower on Špičák.
• Povydří. The Vydra river gorge, closed to cyclists. The route runs downstream and the park calls the return upstream very demanding, so plan a pick-up at the end. About 200 m near Čeňkova Pila is also rough.
• Boubín. Old-growth forest inside a closed reserve; the trail stops at the lake dam at 920 m. The tower on Boubín summit has been closed since 5 July 2025, with no reopening date.
• Plešné lake. We found no route page on the park website. CzechTourism gives a green-marked trail of about 7 km from Jelení or 10 km from Nová Pec. The lake lies at 1,089 m.
• Wildlife. Srní has a wolf enclosure of about 3 hectares with a 300 m raised boardwalk. Kvilda has deer and a lynx. Entry to both centres is free.

When to go

We give no climate figures for Šumava because we could not verify official ČHMÚ normals for its mountain stations. The park's webcams are the quickest way to check for snow.

In winter you can walk on tourist trails that the snow groomer does not use. The park recommends Špičácké sedlo–Černé jezero, Modrava–Tříjezerní slať–Rokyta (7 km), Kvilda–Bučina (7 km) and Čeňkova Pila–Turnerova chata (4 km). It warns that the full lake loop gets deep snow and becomes impassable. Do not walk on groomed ski tracks, and keep dogs and sledges off them. Bílá stopa publishes the ski trail maps.

Buses inside the park

The main Zelené linky are 979 Železná Ruda–Prášily–Modrava–Kvilda, 980 Horská Kvilda–Kvilda–Bučina and 683 Nová Pec–Jelení Vrchy. Lines 979 and 980 ran daily from 1 July to 31 August 2026. The 2027 timetable is not out yet.

The Turista Plzeňskem a Bavorskem day ticket was 240 Kč, or 360 Kč for a family of up to five. The South Bohemian JIKORD+ Bavorsko was 290 Kč and 440 Kč. Bike buses take 5–22 bikes, and seats can be reserved in advance.

Park rules

• You may walk off marked trails, except in the first zone, in reserves and in tranquillity areas (klidová území).
• From 6 January to 31 December 2026 about 6,000 hectares between the Vltava source and Plesná are limited to marked trails only. Trilingual signs mark the area.
• Some sections open only at set times. Rozvodská cesta (Pod Malým Špičákem–Špičák) is open from 15 June to 15 September.
• Camping and fires are allowed only in villages and on marked campsites. The seven emergency overnight sites allow one night, 18:00–9:00, with no fires and no booking.
• Swimming in the glacial lakes is banned. The park said in 2019 that fines can reach thousands of crowns.
• Off roads, cycle only on marked routes. Keep dogs under control. Drone flying is heavily restricted.
• Berries may be picked in the second and third zones, but not with a comb.
• You enter the forest at your own risk; the park warns about falling trees and branches. In an emergency call 1210 (Mountain Rescue) or 112.

Planning and booking

Before you go, check the official pages for current closures and car parks, plus IDOS for connections. České dráhy sells train tickets. Stodůlecký most is currently closed, and the lookout tower at Soumarské rašeliniště is in an emergency state.

Guided trips are arranged directly with local guides listed on Průvodci Šumavou, and the fee is agreed with the guide. Park contact: +420 388 450 111, [email protected].

Šumava National Park: frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can you visit Šumava as a day trip from Prague?

Yes, if you take the direct train to Špičák for the lakes. Leave at 6:05, return at 16:28, and you have about 7 hours there. Kvilda, Modrava and Srní take 4–5 hours each way, so plan two nights.

Is there an entrance fee for Šumava National Park?

The park is open to the public and we found no admission ticket on its website. Entry to the Srní and Kvilda centres is free. You pay for parking and for the guided deer enclosure walk at Kvilda (50 Kč in summer).

What is the best hike in Šumava for a first visit?

The loop around Černé and Čertovo lakes from Špičácké sedlo: about 8 km, medium difficulty, reachable by train.

Can you swim in Šumava lakes?

No. Swimming in the glacial lakes is banned.

Is November a good time to visit?

Only for a quiet walk. The Srní and Kvilda centres and most information centres are closed, and the summer bus season is over.

Who do I call in an emergency?

Mountain Rescue on 1210, or 112. The park also recommends the Záchranka app, which shares your location.

Sources: park basic data, visiting rules, restricted-access area, winter walking trails, route pages, visitor centres, emergency overnight sites, swimming ban, Šumava Mountain Rescue, CzechTourism on Plešné lake.

See also: 7 hiking trails in Czechia, Bohemian Switzerland day trip, Cesky Krumlov day trip, Skiing in Czechia 2026/27, Prague walking tours.

Photo: Černé jezero lake in Šumava. Lubor Ferenc, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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