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Trip to Chalupská Slat
The Chalupská Slat near Borová Lada is one of the most beautiful and accessible peat bogs in Šumava. If you are staying at the Helena Honesová Pension in Horská Kvilda, you have this natural unique virtually around the corner. We have prepared a complete guide to this trip - how to get there, what to expect and why you should not miss the Chalupská Slat.
Journey from Pension Helena Honesová
From the Pension Helena Honesová in Horská Kvilda it is approximately 18 km by car to Chalupská Slať. The journey takes about 25 minutes and leads through Kvilda and Borova Lada. The route is simple - from Horská Kvilda you go down to Kvilda, from where you continue towards Borová Lada. Just before the village of Borová Lada you turn to the parking lot, which is located right at the beginning of the nature trail to Chalupská slať.
Parking is paid (tens of crowns per day) and in the summer season we recommend starting earlier in the morning, when the parking lot is half empty and you will meet a minimum of people on the trail.
What is Chalupská Slat and why is it so special
Chalupská Slat is an upland peat bog situated in the shallow valley of the Vydří Brook at an altitude of 910 metres, north of the village of Borová Lada. Its main attraction is the largest peat pond in the whole Czech Republic - a dark, almost black water surface surrounded by untouched nature.
The Šumava peat bogs, including the Chalupská slata, began to form 9 000 to 10 000 years ago at the turn of the Ice Age and the Interglacial. For thousands of years, dead plants were layered here, which did not decompose in the waterlogged environment but turned into peat. The result is a unique ecosystem that is unparalleled in the Czech Republic.
Floating peat islands form on the surface of the pond - one of the most fascinating natural phenomena you can observe in Šumava. These islands move slowly on the surface and create an ever-changing landscape.
Nature trail: What awaits you on your walk
There is a short nature trail leading to the pond, which is less than a kilometre long. It takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes of comfortable walking. The trail follows wooden footbridges and walkways that protect the fragile peat ecosystem while allowing safe passage for families with children.
Along the route you will find information panels explaining how the peat bog was created, what plants and animals live here and why this place is so valuable. You will learn about the typical Sumava vegetation - peat bog, bog pine, bog pine and rare mosses that grow here.
Much of the trail is accessible for strollers, making it an ideal hike for families with young children. Entrance to the nature trail is free.
What it looks like at Chalupská Slata
Imagine absolute silence, broken only by the occasional bird call. Around you is a soft, green landscape covered with low pines and bushes. The air smells of pine needles and wet peat. And then a view opens up before you of a dark pond with floating islands - a scene that looks like it belongs in Scandinavia rather than the centre of Bohemia.
In spring and summer, the honeysuckle blooms here, its white tufts creating a fairy-tale atmosphere above the peat bog. In autumn, the whole bog turns warm shades of brown and gold. In winter, you will see a snow-covered plain with charred trees - a perfect Šumava postcard.
Practical tips for your trip
- Trip time: expect a total time of about 1.5 hours (round trip by car + walk along the trail).
- Difficulty: very easy, even small children and seniors can do it.
- Best time to visit: all year round. In spring and summer the honeysuckle blooms, in autumn the landscape is ablaze with colour, in winter it is snowy and quiet.
- What to bring: Comfortable shoes (the trail is paved, but it can get wet), mosquito repellent in the summer, camera.
- Combination with other trips: you can combine the Chalupská Slat with a visit to Borová Lada or continue to Soumarský Most and Povydří.
