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Best backpacking trails in Bavarian Forest Nature Park

Best backpacking trails in Bavarian Forest Nature Park

4.3(131 reviews)

·

Bavaria
: 
#6 of 21 nature parks

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The Bavarian Forest Nature Park borders the Upper Bavarian Forest Nature Park to the north and both the Czech border and the Bavarian Forest National Park to the east. The park with its Danube floodplains, high-altitude spruce forests and raised bogs has existed since 1967, making it one of the oldest nature parks in Bavaria. The defining landscape element of the park is the forest - it covers 50% of the nature park. It is a refuge for many endangered animal species such as capercaillie, lynx, otter, corncrake and freshwater pearl mussel.

A special highlight in the Bavarian Forest Nature Park is the NaturparkWelten - a museum experience in the Bayerisch Eisenstein border station. There are 7,000 kilometers of hiking trails and 35 nature experience trails waiting for visitors. Information is available at 6 nature park information points.

Top sights

Untere Wasserstube
Untere Wasserstube
Waterfall
Obere Wasserstube
Obere Wasserstube
Waterfall
Rißlochfälle
Rißlochfälle
Waterfall
Großer Arber
Großer Arber
Peak
Waldholzkugelbahn
Waldholzkugelbahn
Attraction
Tretbootverleih
Tretbootverleih
Attraction

Top trails

  1. #1 - Danube Cycle Path (D-Route 6) Stage 12: Regensburg - Straubing

    4.6 (15)·Easy·31.4 mi·Est. 11–12 hr
    Stage 12 of the German Danube Cycle Route. The motto of this day's stage is pure nature. The route from Regensburg to Straubing on the edge of the Bavarian Forest awaits with romantic wine villages and untouched nature reserves. The Danube meanders through hop fields, meadows and wooded areas and offers wonderful panoramic views. The small villages also invite to linger and stop for a bite to eat. Highlights: - Friesheim wine village - Stöcklwörth, Pfatterer Au and Gmünder Au nature...

  2. #2 - Grosser Arber - Kleiner Arber - Kleiner Arbersee

    4.4 (19)·Hard·9.3 mi·Est. 5.5–6 hr
    Panoramic hike in the Upper Bavarian Forest Nature Park, Bavaria. The start and finish of this hike is the summit station of the Grosser Arber mountain railway (for a sportier challenge: start at the valley station of the mountain railway). From here it is a good seven kilometers to the Kleiner Arbersee, which is best known for its floating islands. With the exception of an ascent to the Chamer Huette, the route is quite relaxed overall. Highlights of the hike: - Big Arber - Little Arber -...

  3. #3 - Goldsteig Northern Route Stage 13: Eck to Großer Arber

    4.3 (23)·Hard·9.6 mi·Est. 5.5–6 hr
    Demanding section of the north route Goldsteig in the Bavarian Forest National Park, Bavaria. The 13th stage of the Goldsteig: Northern route is one of the most strenuous, but offers fantastic views and a wonderful panorama. Due to unspoilt forests, wild nature and wild blueberry bushes, strenuous ascents alternate with pleasant descents. The route leads over eight “thousands” to the stage destination Großer Arber. Highlights: - Eight-thousand-meter tour - Bayerwald Tierpark - Kleiner...

  4. #4 - Goldsteig South Route Stage 16: Sankt Englmar - Hirschenstein

    4.3 (13)·Moderate·4.5 mi·Est. 2–2.5 hr
    This scenic route is stage 16 of the Goldsteig South Route, a long-distance trail in Germany, running from Sankt Englmar to Grandsberg. The path leads over alpine-like meadows up the Predigtstuhl before traversing forested paths over the Knogl summit and past the historic Ödwies forester house to the Hirschenstein observation tower. Hikers spend the night at the Menauer mountain inn near Grandsberg, as wild camping is strictly prohibited along the entire route. Natural water sources require...

  5. #5 - Wanderlinie Pestwurz

    4.6 (10)·Hard·5.1 mi·Est. 2.5–3 hr
    Wonderful hiking route from Buchenau, Bavaria. This hiking route starts in Buchenau from the hiking car park and leads to Hochschachten, which is located in the Bavarian Forest National Park. The symbology of the path is a plant symbol (butterbur) in black on a white square background. Highlights of the tour: - high shafts - Slipper felt - cabbage shafts - Hirschbach - Lindberger Schachten

  6. #6 - Donau-Radweg (D-Route 6) Etappe 14: Niederalteich - Passau

    5.0 (2)·Moderate·33.6 mi·Est. 12–13 hr
    Stage 14 of the German Danube Cycle Route. On the last stage of the Danube Cycle Path, another 55km have to be overcome from Niederalteich to the destination Passau. The last part of the long-distance cycle path, like the entire tour, is a balanced combination of nature and history. Highlights: - Niederaltaich Benedictine Monastery - "Donaualtwasser Winzerer Letten" nature reserve - Historic Vilshofen

  7. #7 - Goldsteig Northern Route Stage 15: Bayerisch Eisenstein - Großer Falkenstein

    3.8 (5)·Hard·8 mi·Est. 4.5–5 hr
    Idyllic section of the north route Goldsteig in the Bavarian Forest National Park, Bavaria The 15th stage of the Goldsteig: Northern route begins at the hiking park in Bayerisch Eisenbach and first leads to the Trifter-Klause Schwellhäusl. We continue along imposing trees and through the mountain spruce forest to the stage destination, the Großer Falkenstein shelter. Highlights: - Sundial at Schwellhäusl - Hans-Watzlik-Hain primeval forest adventure trail - Ruckowitz shafts - Great Falkenstein

  8. #8 - Goldsteig Northern Route Stage 14: Großer Arber to Bayerisch Eisenstein

    5.0 (1)·Moderate·7.4 mi·Est. 4–4.5 hr
    Picturesque section of the north route Goldsteig in the nature reserve Großer Arbersee and Arberseewand, Bavaria On the 14th stage of the Goldsteig: north route you can enjoy the view from the Arberschutzhaus again before a steady descent leads to the stage destination Bayerisch Eisenstein. On the way you hike on natural forest descents along the Arbersee shore and up to the Seebach loop in the Regental. Highlights: - Great Arbersee - Aberseewand - NaturparkWelten in the border station -...

  9. #9 - Donau-Radweg (D-Route 6) Etappe 13: Straubing - Niederalteich

    3.4 (5)·Easy·30 mi·Est. 10.5–11.5 hr
    Stage 13 of the German Danube Cycle Route. It continues on the edge of the Bavarian Forest on the penultimate day tour of the long-distance cycle path from Straubing to Niederalteich. On the 350-meter-long Danube bridge near Reibersdorf, cyclists can enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding area. Highlights: - 350 meter long Danube bridge near Reibersdorf - Bogenberg - Irlbach Castle

  10. #10 - SOUL TRAIL 55K

    5.0 (1)·Hard·33.7 mi·Est. 18–19.5 hr
    The route traverses the hilly landscape near Deggendorf in the Bavarian Forest. The path follows a combination of soft forest soil, root-covered sections, and wider gravel tracks. Dense mixed forests and open clearings characterize the surroundings near the Rusel area. The terrain includes continuous ascents and descents through the wooded region. Natural water features and small streams occasionally cross the landscape. The area is also associated with a recurring trail running event.
Showing results 1–10 of 68
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Visitor info

Accessibility
Facilities

The Sonnenhaus information center in Zwiesel is open daily from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. Naturparkwelten is always open Wednesday to Sunday from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., during the Bavarian vacations and from July to October from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best trail to hike for backpacking in Bavarian Forest Nature Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best trail to hike for backpacking in Bavarian Forest Nature Park is Danube Cycle Path (D-Route 6) Stage 12: Regensburg - Straubing, which has a 4.6 star rating from 15 reviews. This trail is 31.4 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,797 ft.

What is the longest backpacking trail in Bavarian Forest Nature Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest backpacking trail in Bavarian Forest Nature Park is MTB tour: Trans Bavarian Forest. This trail is estimated to be 421.9 mi long.

How many backpacking trails are in Bavarian Forest Nature Park?

There are 68 backpacking trails in Bavarian Forest Nature Park.These backpacking trails have an average 4.3-star ratingfrom 131 AllTrails community reviews.

Which backpacking trail has the most elevation gain in Bavarian Forest Nature Park?

Goldsteig (Fernwanderweg) has the most elevation gain for backpacking trails with 71,184 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is MTB tour: Trans Bavarian Forest, which has 59,517 ft of elevation gain.

Activities

Attractions

Suitability

Points of interest