Bavarian Forest
Museumsdorf
Zwiesel
Bodenmais
Regen
Cham
Outdoor Adventures
Hotels & Restaurants

Outdoor Adventures in the Bayerischer Wald

Hiking, Cycling, Canoeing, and Skiing in the Bavarian Forest, Germany

The lovely nature of the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest), Germany is a haven for hikers, cyclers, canoeist, and cross-country and downhill skiers.

Town Walks in Cham

The tourist office in Cham conducts guided town walks from early May to late October on Tuesday at 10:30 am.

Countryside Hikes in the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest)

Several long-distance, multiple-day hiking trails pass through the Bavarian Forest. The East Bavarian Tourist Office can provide details of different organizations that arrange hiking with luggage transfers on the various routes.

The Pandurensteig is a 173-km/107-mile hiking trail that follows the route of the Hungarian Pandure Commando that left a trail of destruction on their march from Passau via Cham to Waldmünchen in 1742 during the War of Austrian Succession. For decades after, their name caused shivers and panic but now their once feared saber is used to mark this hiking route that follows sections of the 140-km/87-mile-long Pfahl quartz reef.

The Böhmweg is a four-day, 54-km/34-mile route from Deggendorf via Regen and Zwiesel to Bayerisch Eisenstein. Extensions into the Czech Republic are possible.

Guided Countryside Hikes in the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest)

From May to October, on most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, the tourist office in Regen conducts guided hikes in the surrounding countryside. Hiking times range from 90 minutes to just less than five hours but sightseeing and restaurant stops often make for a full day excursion.

From May to October, the Bodenmais tourist office arranges almost daily hikes in the surrounding countryside ranging from two hours to a full day of hiking.

Cycling in the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest)

Many cycling routes of various lengths and inclines run through the forests, valleys, and hills. Mountain biking is particularly popular while many easy routes follow the streams in gentle valleys.

In Bodenmais, Sport Weinberger, Jahnstraße 20, tel 09924-902-273, conducts guided mountain bike tours on most Wednesdays from May to October at 2 pm. Rental bikes are available.
The Zwiesel area is particularly popular with mountain bikers. The dedicated routes range mostly from medium to very challenging but some routes are very easy and suitable for families with small children.

Germany’s largest mountain bike park is MTB-Zone Bikepark Geißkopf, Unterbreitenau 1, 94253 Bischofsmais. It has several trails ranging from suitable for children to very difficult (black). A cable car takes bikers back up the mountain. Opening hours are mid-May to end October, Thursday to Sunday from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Admission is €2 plus fees for using the lift. Bikes and safety equipment can be rented on site.

Many hotels have bicycles for guests but rental shops also abound:

in Zwiesel - Zweirad Sporrer, Anger Straße 46-48, tel 09922-1318; or Radsport Leitl, Theresienthaler Straße 25, tel 09922-802-157;
in Bodenmais - Sport Weinberger, Jahnstraße 20, tel 09924-902-273; and
in Regen - Zweirad Sporrer, Zwieseler Straße 15, tel 09921-904-344

Historical Trains in the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest)

Bayerisch-Eisenstein, close to Zwiesel and Bodenmais, is on the frontier with the Czech Republic (the border crosses through the train station). The Localbahnmuseum Bayerisch Eisenstein, Bahnhofstraße 44, 94252 Bayerisch Eisenstein, tel 09925-1376, has around 20 historical steam locomotives that are frequently used for excursions in the region.

Opening hours are 11 am to 3 pm, daily from July to mid-September, Thursday to Sunday in May, June, mid-September to early November, and weekends only in February and March.

Canoeing & Kayaking on the Regen in the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest)

The Regen is navigable by canoe from the Blaibacher See (Lake), upstream from Cham, to its confluence with the Danube in Regensburg.

The 106-km/66-mile route is usually dived into five stages.

From Blaibach to Cham (22 km/13.7 miles),
to Roding (22.5 km/14 miles),
to Nittenau (23.5 km/14.6 miles),
to Ramspau (19.5 km/12 miles),
and finishing in Regensburg (20.5 km/12.7 miles),

Aqua Hema, Camping Kanu, Oberes Dorf 7, 93444 Blaibach, tel 09941-4128, rents boats and offers guided half and full-day tours. Free camping is available in Cham for clients. Boat rentals are also available from Ludwig Zankl, Tiefental 12, 93468 Miltach, tel 09944-2823.

Winter Sports in the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest)

Cross-country skiing (Langlauf) is the most popular winter sport in the Bavarian Forest. More than 2,000 km/1,240 miles of trails (Loipen) are prepared each year with some trails crossing into the Czech Republic.

The Bayerwaldloipe (Bavarian Forest Trail) is a 150-km/93-mile trail connecting the Arber with the Dreisessel area.

The Großer Arber is the highest mountain in the region and offers reliable snow. Although downhill skiing is less popular in the Bavarian Forest than in the Alps, one of the slopes here hosts World Cup slalom races. The other slopes range from easy (blue), to medium (red), and difficult (black). A fun park is available for snowboarding. The cable car can transport 1,400 people per hour resulting in very few queues.

Slopes are open daily from 10 am to 4:30, with floodlit skiing on Wednesday and Friday from 6 to 9:30 pm. Day tickets are €24 and €12 for a full flood-lit session. Various multiple-day and combination tickets offer large discounts. Excellent public transportation is available from nearby towns such as Bodenmais, Bayerisch Eisenstein, and Zwiesel.

Many hotels have rental equipment for guests. Sport Weinberger, Jahnstraße 20, 94249 Bodenmais, tel 09924-902-273, rents all kind of winter sport equipment and has its own schools teaching downhill and cross-country skiing as well as snowboarding

Next:

23 February 2008