Among water lilies on the winter Hévíz creek

The spring flow that feeds Lake Hévíti with 24°C thermal water in winter is so high that the lake’s water is renewed every three days. The Hévíz outflow leads away the excess water and discharges it into the Zala river along an approximately 10 km long route, from where it flows directly into Lake Balaton. We can paddle down this creek in winter when we do not disturb the protected water birds nesting here, nor the special plants flourishing in summer.

We start our route at the boarding place below the sluice, paved with stone bricks. After departure, a 2 km straight section follows, but we will not get bored for a moment, as we watch the water lilies and lotuses introduced into Lake Hévíz at the end of the 20th century, see fish and underwater vegetation in the clear water, and enjoy that in the cold winter our boat finally heats from below instead of cooling. The current is visible and can be felt but is not strong at all.

At the end of the straight section (along which the Berki promenade and nature trail also run), there is a right angle turn, followed immediately by an old sluice acting now as a sort of constriction, through whose gate we gently glide along with the accelerated current. From here a wider, more natural, more wild section follows. We pass under the bridge of Úsztatómajor, then soon paddle through a tunnel-like passage under the bridge of road 75. After a few turns, another long straight section follows, but due to the dense, lush vegetation, the creek does not feel like a channel at all.

At the halfway point, another bridge appears, and then we arrive at the 6th km where there is a landing on the right bank under another bridge, and the Fácános resting place with a rain shelter awaits us. The landing site is just a trampled shoreline which can be slippery, so we should not rush, and if there are several of us, help each other.

Continuing, no more bridges appear, and the usual dense vegetation accompanies us for 4 km all the way to the landing point under road 76. There on the right side, there is also only a landing site trampled in the reeds and rushes along the embankment, without developed infrastructure. After landing, mobile toilets installed at the road cross are available. If you wish, you can cross the road and walk to the Kis-Balaton visitor center about 500 m away, which is open in winter on weekends.