Mauth: Trails, Moorland and Glass Art

The municipality of Mauth is located right next to the Bavarian Forest and Bohemian Forest National Parks. Specific trails, landscape features and cultural stops offer guidance for planning your trip: you can focus your stay on hiking, nature or traditional crafts. If you are looking for a hotel in Mauth, you can start by considering which of these aspects of the town you would like to shape your stay.

Hiking trails with different highlights

The Eisvogel Trail in Mauth is certified by the German Hiking Association. It follows Steinbach stream upstream to Steinbachklause, a historic timber-floating structure. The route therefore combines a hike with a clearly defined destination and a testament to historic timber floating. One section is closed from December 1 to March 31; a detour is signposted. Take this period into account when planning, and follow the detour if you are hiking during this season.

Another option is a stage of the VIA NOVA pilgrimage trail: it runs from Kreuzberg via Vierhäuser, Mauth and Finsterau to the state border. The trail markings for this stage are stated to be incomplete. So check the current route and trail-marking information before setting out.

Moorland and seasonal use

A short detour from the Finsterau tour leads to the restored Finsterauer Filz raised bog. An accessible nature trail runs through the bog on wooden boardwalks, with information panels about the local flora and fauna. Check current conditions before your visit.

In summer, the Finsterau cross-country ski trail is used as a roller-ski track and prepared for roller skiing, cycling and running. This seasonal use differs from the hiking trails described above. If you plan to use the track, check access locally beforehand.

Cultural stops in Mauth

In the center of Mauth, there is an audio station about Andreas Hartauer and the song “Tief drin im Böhmerwald.” It adds a cultural highlight alongside the trails and natural attractions.

At Glasbläserkunst Mauth, visitors can watch demonstrations of traditional glassmaking and, with guidance, blow their own glass bauble. This combines watching with a hands-on activity. Please coordinate your visit with the provider in advance.

Freyung-Grafenau as a regional setting

In the wider travel destination of Freyung-Grafenau, the Bavarian Forest National Park stretches along the Bavarian-Czech border into the district of Freyung-Grafenau. The park opened on October 7, 1970, as Germany’s first national park. According to the 2024 zoning map, 75.37 percent of its area is designated as natural zone. These regional details complement Mauth’s direct connection to the two national parks with information about the history and zoning of the Bavarian Forest.

The Buchberger Leite is also part of the wider travel destination of Freyung-Grafenau. In the wild-stream gorge, steep rock ridges force the boulder- and cascade-filled Wolfsteiner Ohe into a deeply incised bed; remnants of ancient forest have survived in the moss- and fern-rich gorge woodlands. An eight-kilometer themed hiking trail, with information panels and an accompanying brochure, runs through the Leite between Freyung and Ringelai. Alongside Mauth’s trails and natural attractions, Freyung-Grafenau thus offers its own regional landscape and hiking context.

Plan your hotel search around your travel plans

When looking for a hotel in Mauth, you can use your planned activities as a guide: take the seasonal closure into account for the Eisvogel Trail, check the trail markings for the VIA NOVA stage, and coordinate your visit to the glassblowing workshop in advance. Consider which of these activities matter to your trip, then compare specific hotel offers using the details that are important for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Finsterau, Eppenschlag, Spiegelau, Grainet, Schöfweg, Sankt Oswald, Saldenburg, Schönberg

Back to the wider travel overview: Freyung-Grafenau.