Bavarian Forest National Park

The Bavarian Forest stretches along the borders of German Bavaria and Czech Bohemia. The Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest) National Park is located in the center of this landscape, around the Falkenstein, Rachel and Lusen Mountains. The park is 51 square miles, and with the Sumava National Park in nearby Czech Republic forms the largest protected forest region in central Europe.

Most of the park’s land is spruce and fir forest, covering steeply sloping ground. Small areas of peat bog and the Rachelsee, the only natural lake in the park, are the only remnants of the glaciers that once covered the area.

Animal life includes brown bear, lynx, otter, red deer, and roe deer. Birds include common buzzard, eagle hawk, hawk owl and seven types of woodpecker. The Tier-Freigelande center has walks among wildlife enclosures containing the native animals of the forest. You can see several animals that are no longer found wild in the forest, including wolves and bison.

There are more than 185 miles of footpaths throughout the park that provide access to all the different landscapes. In the winter, cross-country skiers can use the paths. There are a number of marked trails for cyclists. Guided walks and instructive excursions are available at the visitor's center.