Bavarian Forest National Park National Park
Germany's first national park protecting primeval forest
Germany's first national park on the Czech border, the Bavarian Forest preserves mixed spruce and beech woodland across low mountains; visitors come for hiking trails, wildlife observation and the park's visitor centres and interpretive paths.
Bavarian Forest National Park at a Glance#
Address: Bavarian Forest National Park (Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald), Bavaria, Germany; visitor centres in Neuschönau and others
Website: https://www.nationalpark-bayerischer-wald.bayern.de/
Admission: Park entrance free; some attractions within (visitor centres) may charge
About Bavarian Forest National Park#
Bavarian Forest National Park (Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald) is a large protected area in eastern Bavaria established in 1970 as Germany’s first national park and set aside to restore and protect temperate forest ecosystems. The park covers roughly 24,000 hectares of forested highlands and mountain ridges and places emphasis on natural regeneration and old-growth beech and spruce stands.
Trails and designated visitor routes lead into extensive wilderness zones where forestry has been largely withdrawn and natural processes such as decay and regeneration are encouraged. The park supports native wildlife populations and has been the focus of species reintroduction and monitoring projects in recent decades, with opportunities for hiking, wildlife observation and environmental education.
Located along the Czech border, the park adjoins the Šumava/Bohemian Forest region and forms part of a broader Central European forest landscape. The nearest larger Bavarian towns are Grafenau and Zwiesel; access is by regional roads into the national park’s visitor centres.
- Founding: Established in 1970 as Germany’s first national park, the area is managed to allow natural processes to dominate large tracts of forest.
- Cross-border connection: Forms a continuous conservation landscape with the neighbouring Czech Šumava/Bohemian Forest across the border, creating an extended cross-border wilderness area.
How to Get to Bavarian Forest National Park#
Train to Plattling or Zwiesel, then regional buses toward Ludwigsthal or Neuschönau. Driving from Munich is about 2-2.5 hours on the A92 and B85; use designated park parking areas.
Tips for Visiting Bavarian Forest National Park#
- Drive or take regional trains to reach trailheads; parking can fill quickly on summer weekends.
- Visit the tree-top walkway (Baumwipfelpfad) in the Bavarian Forest National Park to get a panoramic sense of the forest canopy.
- Bring binoculars for birdwatching-capercaillie and other large forest birds inhabit the park.
Best Time to Visit Bavarian Forest National Park#
Late spring through autumn for walking and wildlife; winter for snow activities.
Weather & Climate near Bavarian Forest National Park#
Bavarian Forest National Park's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -6°C to 17°C. Abundant rainfall (1407 mm/year), wettest in July.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -6° - 0° | -9° | 130 mm | overcast | 95% | 5.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.6h |
| February | Poor | -6° - 0° | -9° | 97 mm | overcast | 92% | 4.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.0h |
| March | Poor | -4° - 3° | -6° | 113 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 4.9 m/s | 0.5 low | 11.7h |
| April | Poor | -1° - 6° | -1° | 89 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Acceptable | 4° - 12° | 6° | 97 mm | overcast | 77% | 3.9 m/s | 1.2 high | 15.0h |
| June | Acceptable | 7° - 15° | 11° | 136 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 1.5 high | 15.8h |
| July | Good | 9° - 17° | 13° | 161 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 3.7 m/s | 1.5 high | 15.5h |
| August | Good | 9° - 17° | 13° | 119 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 3.5 m/s | 1.2 high | 14.1h |
| September | Acceptable | 6° - 13° | 7° | 105 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 4.0 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 2° - 9° | 2° | 95 mm | overcast | 86% | 4.4 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Poor | -3° - 3° | -5° | 114 mm | overcast | 92% | 4.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.1h |
| December | Poor | -5° - 1° | -8° | 151 mm | overcast | 94% | 5.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
