Bavarian Forest National Park - Meet the giants in the primeval forest's wilderness

The Giant trees in the Bavarian Forest National Park. You can find the Giants at the Watzlik-Hain trail

The Bavarian Forest National Park is a realm, where not man, but nature rules. Being Germany's first founded National Park, the Bavarian Forest National Park belongs to the most visited vacation areas in our country. Together with the Sumava (Bohemian Forest of Czech Republic) National Park, adjoining it to the east, the Bavarian Forest National Park is the largest contiguous area of protected forest in central Europe, where nature has been left completely to its own devices. Here you can experience the fascination of 'letting nature be nature'. Each year, thousands of visitors cycle and wander in amazement through the Bavarian Forest National Park and breath Germany's cleanest air in the boundless wilderness.

Key highlights - Bavarian Forest National Park

Bisons in the Bavarian Forest National Park vivarium

The Bavarian Forest National Park is full of special adventure trails revealing many nature experiences. For example the Watzlik-Hain trail taking you through the last vestiges of pristine mixed woodlands and mountain forests of the Bavarian Forest National Park with ancient fir-trees, pines and beech-trees reaching up to more than 50 m hight. It is home to the lynx and fox, deer and wild boar, otter and badger, as well as 50 species of woodland birds, which can be best observed in the wildlife enclosure right in the heart of Bavarian Forest National Park.

But the region around the Bavarian Forest National Park has got much more for everyone's taste. Enjoy farm holidays with your whole family in tiny villages, join riding tours through romantic scenery or just spend a relaxing day playing golf. As the 'Glass road' (themed road) passes the region of Bavarian Forest National Park, it is famous for artistic glass blowers and painters, so you won't go home without a nice handmade gift. Cities like Frauenau or Zwiesel, just nearby the Bavarian Forest National Park, have great glass museums and shops offering extraordinary fine art pieces.

Accommodation - Bavarian Forest National Park

In the Bavarian Forest National Park

Besides private offerings of holiday flats and nice hotels there are lots of comfortable mountain huts offer delicious food and accomodation for overnight stays in the Bavarian Forest National Park (with advanced reservation).

Around the Bavarian Forest National Park

Little towns like Zwiesel, Frauenau or Spiegelau are within easy driving distance of the Bavarian Forest National Park. All provide a full range of accommodation from campsites to luxury wellness hotels.

Key activities - Bavarian Forest National Park

With over 300 km of walking and hiking trails, 200 km of cycle paths and some nordic walking routes the Bavarian Forest National Park is a paradise for sport enthusiasts. Nature lovers should join one of the ranger guided tours, they are all for free in the Bavarian Forest National Park.

Trails in the Bavarian Forest National Park

• Watzlik-Hain trail in the Bavarian Forest National Park: leads through the primeval forest with the giant trees to the hut "Schwellhäusl" with playground and animals


• Schachten & Filze trail: 2,5 km along former mountain pastures and high moorland on the upper levels of the Bavarian Forest National Park


• Seelensteig (meditation trail): 1,3 km plank path illustrating natural processes in the Bavarian Forest National Park


• Rock exploration area of Bavarian Forest National Park: a rocky mountain hiking loop through ancient forest with steps cut into the rocks and lookout points

Family activities in the Bavarian Forest National Park

• wildlife enclosure of the Bavarian Forest National Park: 7 km path around the enclosure provides good observation points for watching bisons, birds, wild boars and bears, lynx and wolves


• adventure place: game and nature experience for children and the whole family - playgrounds, barbecue places, lots of events in the Bavarian Forest National Park

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Berchtesgaden National Park Next National Park to the Bavarian Forest National Park is the Berchtesgaden NP - 3.5 hours by car