Vlčí hora (591 m a.s.l.) is a beautifully shaped conical peak in the Šluknov Highlands of northern Bohemia, topped by a historic lookout tower dating back to 1889 — the oldest brick observation tower in the entire region. It is the highest point of the Rumburk Highlands and offers one of the finest panoramic views in this quiet corner of the Czech Republic.
The summit is forested with beech and scree woodland, broken up by dramatic outcrops of dark grey tephrite rock. The hiking trails are peaceful and unhurried — this is not a busy tourist magnet, but a genuinely rewarding little mountain. Spring and autumn are especially atmospheric, with the beech forests turning golden in October. From the tower platform you get a sweeping 360° view over the Šluknov Highlands, the Lusatian Mountains, Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland, and the Jizera Mountains to the east.
How to reach the summitThe main European watershed runs right across Vlčí hora, meaning streams on one side flow eventually to the Baltic Sea and on the other to the North Sea — a small but remarkable geographical fact for a 591-metre hill. Local legend also tells of a bandit named Jacob Raschauer who supposedly owned a red waistcoat gifted by the devil that rendered him invisible, letting him roam these forests undetected for years.