Bavarian Forest: Wildlife, Hiking Trails and Glassmaking

In the Bavarian Forest, you can discover wildlife, plant life and geological history at specific locations. At the animal enclosures in the Lusen National Park Centre, you can observe around 40 mammal and bird species across more than 200 hectares in spacious, naturalistic enclosures and aviaries. Plants and rocks also have their own dedicated areas: the plant grounds around the Hans-Eisenmann-Haus cover four hectares and showcase several hundred plant species in their natural habitats and communities. The geology grounds offer insights into the region’s geological history; some of the rocks on display are more than 500 million years old.

Nature at the Lusen National Park Centre

At the Hans-Eisenmann-Haus, the permanent exhibition “Paths into Nature – A Story of Forests and People” introduces visitors to the secrets of Bavarian Forest National Park. Outside, the animal, plant and geology grounds focus on different aspects of nature: mammals and birds, plants in their communities, and rocks with their long geological history. This lets you include a range of nature topics in your itinerary without limiting yourself to just one type of outing.

The 1,300-metre-long treetop walk at the Lusen National Park Centre offers another perspective. It rises up to 44 metres above the forest floor and provides views into and across Bavarian Forest National Park. The National Park Centre also has a seven-kilometre circular trail for an exploratory walk, with shortcuts available. The grounds are suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs, cleared in winter and freely accessible year-round. Check the latest notices about maintenance work before your visit, especially if accessibility is important to your plans.

Hiking and getting around

Two different figures can help you plan your hikes: the Bavarian Forest Nature Park has around 7,000 kilometres of marked hiking trails, while around 1,100 kilometres of long-distance trails run through the Bavarian Forest. Local hiking trails in the Nature Park are marked with green signs and white lettering. Nine hikes along the Viechtach–Gotteszell railway line also offer a specific connection between hiking and the railway.

For hikes in the Nature Park, you can use the Waldbahn railway and GUTi bus routes, making point-to-point walks or sections of circular routes possible. In the Bavarian Forest National Park region, four Waldbahn lines serve the area. Igelbus buses complement the rail network, reaching key National Park facilities and trailheads. Before setting out on a point-to-point hike, it is advisable to check the latest trail and timetable information.

Cycling and seasonal experiences

Cycling routes are also part of what Bavarian Forest National Park offers, with more than 200 kilometres of well-marked cycle paths. Cycling tours from Bavarian Forest National Park can be used to explore the neighbouring Šumava National Park. There are border crossings for cross-border trips at Bayerisch Eisenstein, Finsterau and Gsenget. Check the availability of the crossings and the conditions on the relevant routes before your trip.

Bavarian Forest National Park offers a varied programme of guided tours and events almost all year round. The programme varies by season, so check which tours and events are planned for your visit before you travel. This lets you plan around the time of year rather than assuming the same programme is available for every travel period.

Glassmaking traditions nearby

Nearby, the Frauenau Glass Museum complements the nature-focused attractions with the glassmaking traditions of the Bavarian Forest. The museum explains how glass is made and refined, the different areas of work in a glassworks, and everyday life in a glassmaking village in the past. Its exhibition spans different eras: from sand-core glassware of early civilisations and medieval prunted glass to Art Nouveau vases decorated with flowers and machine-made glass from the industrial age.

The glassmaking traditions of the Bavarian Forest are associated both with historic glassmaking towns and with present-day arts and crafts businesses. A visit to the museum in Frauenau offers a closer look at the material, its production and its history. This gives you a clear choice when planning your trip: nature experiences at the National Park Centre, hiking and cycling, or a visit focused on glass culture.

National Park visitor facilities

Bavarian Forest National Park includes the Falkenstein National Park Centre, with the Haus zur Wildnis, animal enclosures and a Stone Age cave, and the Lusen National Park Centre, with the Hans-Eisenmann-Haus, animal, plant and geology grounds, and a treetop walk. Other facilities include the St. Oswald Forest History Museum, the forest playground near Spiegelau and six information points. All these facilities are free of charge and have step-free access. If accessibility is essential to your plans, check the current status of the facility you intend to visit.

Discover more destinations: Kelheim, Main-Spessart, Bavarian Swabia, Schwandorf, Chiemsee, Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, Neustadt A.D.Aisch-Bad Windsheim, Dingolfing-Landau

Go to the main travel overview: Bavaria.