Boating on the headstream of the Vltava River is a special treat

The first zone of Šumava National Park is an off-limits area dedicated to flora and fauna protection. But while hikers are not allowed to enter the primeval forests, boaters may admire its beauty from the Teplá Vltava, or “warm Vltava“ a headstream in the Bohemian Forest and one of the two main sources of the Vltava River. However paddling through this pristine stretch of the Vltava is a privilege for a restricted number of people.

“I’m Šimon and this is my sister Eliška. We were here last year and it was great fun. There are some weirs along the way so we overturned. We all fell out of the boat and I can tell you it certainly wasn’t warm. But I love water so that’s ok.”

Photo: Barbora Němcová, Radio Prague International

Only seven boats are allowed on the headstream of the Vltava River from the Soumarský Bridge near Lenora. Olympics gold medal winner, slalom canoeist Lukáš Pollert has been going to this romantic stretch of the Vltava with his friends since 2008.

"It was created as a kind of “daddy’s time with the kids” event during the first week of the holidays. It suits us that there are a limited number of boats, so there are very few people here. It is incredibly peaceful.”

Boaters must register to enter this protected stretch of the Vltava and pay a fee. Vladimír Dvořák, head of the boating program explains.

"When booking electronically, the fee is CZK 600. On the spot, it is 700 crowns. But it is only possible when there is enough water, that is, above sixty centimeters."

Teplá Vltava|Photo: Leonhard_Niederwimmer, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Only seven boats are allowed on this stretch of the river every hour and there is no question of debating this rule or bypassing it.

"The reason for that is simple. The section between the Soumarský Bridge and Pěkná is a natural habitat for freshwater pearl mussel, which is a critically endangered species, so we really need to protect it. The breed requires a near-pristine environment and they are easy to damage, easy to step on, so that’s why we minimize the number of boaters we let into this area.”

So how difficult is it to gain access to this stretch of the river? Vladimír Dvořák says it also depends on the weather –and the amount of rain.

"We have about the same number of registrations every year, about three thousand boats are allowed in on a good year –when the water level is high. When the water level is low, we issue a ban on boating and rafting. Last year was critical in this respect, there was a big drought and we had to restrict the number of boats we let in. So instead of the usual 3,000 we could only let in some 1,500 boaters from July to October. “

https://splouvani.npsumava.cz/

This year –thanks to a rainy spring and summer the water level is high. So people interested in boating along this stretch of the Vltava can register on the website of the national park administration.