Großer Arbersee Lake

Address: Großer Arbersee, near Bayerisch Eisenstein, Bavaria, Germany (approx. coordinates 49.09877, 13.15561)

Hours: Open year-round

Admission: Free

Großer Arbersee is a mountain lake in the Bavarian Forest in Bavaria, Germany, located at the foot of the Großer Arber peak. The lake is associated with the Arber massif, the highest mountain in the Bavarian/Bohemian Forest region.

The lake is visited for short hikes and mountain scenery at the base of the Arber. Trails in the surrounding forest provide access to viewpoints of the lake and to routes that continue up toward the summit area of the Großer Arber.

The lake is a natural feature of the Arber area; it sits within a landscape long used for forestry and alpine recreation. Over time the area around the lake has been managed for conservation and outdoor recreation.

Geographically the lake lies in the Bavarian Forest near the Czech border, within the Arber massif area of eastern Bavaria.

Großer Arbersee can be reached by car from Bayerisch Eisenstein or Bodenmais; public buses serve the trailheads from nearby towns. A short hike on marked trails leads to the lake from parking areas.

• Start early to avoid afternoon cloud that often forms on the Bavarian-Bohemian border ridges.
• The boardwalk down to the Arbersee is steep; good footwear helps and the path can be icy in shoulder seasons.
• Combine the lake with a cable-car trip to Großer Arber for high vantage points over the Bavarian Forest.