Mountains of the Bavarian forest

The mountains of the National Park region invite you to walk and climb. They offer wonderful views far into Bavaria and, on the other side, into the Bohemian forest of the Czech Republic.

And when the weather is clear, the 200 kilometer distant alps seem almost close enough to touch and the endless sea of forest with all its mountains and valleys will fascinate any observer.

Let the pure mountain air blow away the cobwebs. Drink in the view over the mountains of the Bavarian Forest.

 

Accommodation:

By booking in advance, you can stay overnight in the mountain huts on the Great Falkenstein and the Rachel, at the Waldschmidthaus and in the Lusenschutzhaus and thus plan your own mountain peak tour.

Falkensteinhaus: Tel: 09925 / 90 33 66
Waldschmidthaus (Rachel): 0171 / 523 40 51
Lusenschutzhaus: 08553 / 1212

 

Arber:

The Arber (1,456 metres) lies to the north of the National Park, close to Bayerisch-Eisenstein. There are 4 outcrops of rock on its peak as well as 2 gleaming radar domes. Climbing upwards, you pass the tree line. When you reach the top, a wonderful view awaits. There are several paths for making a circuit of the peak and enjoying the panoramic views to the Alps.

 

Great Falkenstein

From the summit plateau (1,315 metres) with its simple cross on a stone base, a view opens up to the West and South West to the Arber and the mountains of the lower Bavarian Forest. Directly at your feet is the basin of the Zwieseler Winkel. The mountain hut at the Great Falkenstein was built in 1932 by the Bavarian Forest Waldverein. During the summer season it offers refreshments (self service) and overnight stays in dormitories.

The opening hours of the hut are posted at the start of the mountain paths. Opposite the hut there is a chapel dedicated to St. Francis, built by the Bavarian Forest Natural Park in 1987. 

Flyer and map of the Falkenstein area can be downloaded as a pdf file (1,7 MB) and printed out

 

 

Rachel

In a 2006 survey, the Rachel was voted the best loved mountain in Germany. The ancient forests around the highest mountain in the National Park (1,453 metres) have always been regarded as mysterious. Perhaps this is why the Rachel with its lake shrouded in legend has always been a popular destination.

Flyer and map can be downloaded as a pdf file (56 KB) and printed out

 

Lusen

3 marked circular walks and 2 trails access the vast mountain spruce forests of the high slopes of the Lusen (1,373 metres), as far as the magnificent mixed forests of the south facing "Steinfelsenhäng".

Flyer and map of the Lusen can be downloaded as a pdf file (145 KB) and printed out

The website of the Lusen mountain hut

 

 

Opening hours of mountain huts and other places serving refreshments in the National Park region:

• Schwellhäusl, Zwieseler Waldhaus: from 15.12. daily
• Scheuereck: until November, from 06.12. ; Closed Tuesdays
• Falkensteinhaus on the Great Falkenstein:
  daily until 31.10.; 26.12. – 06.01.; weekends until beginning of March;
• Waldschmidthaus on the Rachel:
  daily until 31.10., open from beginning of May
• Racheldiensthütte: daily until 09.11.; closed until beginning of May
• Lusenschutzhaus on the Lusen: 22.12. – 10.01. daily except 24.12.; until Thursday before Easter every weekend (Fri., Sat., Sun) open; from Thursday before Easter open daily until 31.10. 
• Nationalpark-Wirtshaus at the Infozentrum/Animal Enclosures in Neuschönau:
  from 26.12. open daily until approx. 10.11. 
• Schaufenster der Region at the Infozentrum/Animal Enclosures in Neuschönau:
  from 25.12. open daily until approx. 10.11. 
• Haus zur Wildnis, Restaurant open from 09.30 am till 06.00 pm (summertime) or 05.00 pm (wintertime);