Beer and train hiking in the Bavarian Forest National Park in the ARBERLAND

The Bavarian Forest is a hiking paradise. Around the Great Arber and in the Bavarian Forest National Park you can enjoy the wonderful nature on numerous hiking trails. The “NP” stage of the beer long-distance hiking trail “Bier-Ge (h) nuss im ARBERLAND” is also ideal for hiking in the Bavarian Forest. You can plan this trip by public transport and without a car. The starting point Bayerisch Eisenstein can be reached every hour by forest railway. From there, the train hike leads through the Bavarian Forest National Park to the “Haus zur Wildnis” in the Falkenstein National Park Center in Ludwigsthal.

The Bavarian Forest Railway and the Czech Railway meet in Bavarian Eisenstein. Before you start your train hike through the Bavarian Forest National Park, plan some time to visit the historic border station. The Nature Park Worlds are located directly in the station building.

Bayerisch Eisenstein train station

You can get to know the diversity of the Bavarian Forest Nature Park better on five exhibition levels. Several exhibition areas also deal with the history of the railway in the Bavarian Forest and the border station. In the former 1st class waiting room you can eat in the Naturpark Wirtshaus or drop in for coffee and cake.

Naturpark Wirtshaus in the Bayerisch Eisenstein train station

The Localbahnmuseum is located a few meters from the main building of the station. In another article you will learn more about the sights and excursion destinations for railway fans in the Bavarian Forest .

“NP” stage of the long-distance beer hiking trail

The “NP” stage of the beer long-distance hiking trail begins right next to the Localbahnmuseum. NP stands for the Bavarian Forest National Park. The path runs along the quality hiking trail Buzzard to my first destination. The route is signposted with the bird of prey symbol.

Bavarian Forest National Park signage

The first part of the hiking trail leads approx. 150 meters up to the Hochbergsattel (850 meters). It is pleasantly cool here in the forest even on summer days. I like the fresh smell of the forest and the moss. The varied route to Schwellhäusl is about four kilometers long and leads almost exclusively over soft forest floor.

The hike is easy to master. The gentle inclines do not require any special skills, light sports shoes with a good profile are sufficient for this route. When choosing equipment, make sure that the trail can be muddy on short sections after rainy days.

Bavarian Forest National Park - Gerhard Liebenberger

Although the path is very well signposted, I overlook a junction shortly after the Hochbergsattel. I am probably too absorbed in my thoughts in the calm and relaxed environment.

The effects are not tragic, I make a small detour of about one kilometer and discover a light-flooded forest. Birds chirp in the trees. I feel really relaxed in the wonderfully peaceful surroundings!

Bavarian Forest National Park hiking

Rest at the Schwellhäusl

The Schwellhäusl, a former Trifterklause, is located at 675 meters, a little lower than Bayerisch Eisenstein (715 meters). The quaint Trifterklause is a popular destination in the Bavarian Forest. The excursion inn is only accessible on foot and is an ideal point for a break along the long-distance beer trail through the ARBERLAND.

When the weather is fine, you can enjoy a snack and hearty Bavarian dishes in the beer garden. In addition to the "sausage salad in a glass", there are also substantial dishes from the neighbors on the menu. I decide to go for the hunter roast with Bohemian dumplings for lunch.

A particularly popular attraction is the dark beer straight from the stone. That only flows in good weather. In 1982 the dark beer started to trickle out of the stone. The landlords did not want to tell me whether it was a natural wonder or whether the beer source was created by human hands.

In any case, visitors like the dark beer. It is brewed in the 1st steam beer brewery in Zwiesel. The lemonade flows next to the beer source from a tap under a glass ball.

The Schwellhäusl is located directly on a pond. The water used to be dammed up in this hermitage to transport logs. It was drained in a gush and the logs were carried away by the water. The foresters were able to transport the wood over long distances.

The reservoir, the "threshold", gives the destination its name. Hiking trails from different directions meet here. The Schwellhäusl is open all year round for hikers and day-trippers. The Schwellhäusl is closed between autumn and Christmas holidays, in November and December.

Hike to the Falkenstein National Park Center

From here you can walk along the long-distance beer hiking trail to the Falkenstein National Park Center with an open-air area and “Haus zur Wildnis”. The path is identical to the “Linde” hiking line through the Bavarian Forest National Park. You have to plan about 4.5 kilometers from the Schwellhäusl to the Waldbahn Ludwigsthal station.

You also have the option of taking a shortcut while hiking in the Bavarian Forest. Hike along the Schwellsteig to Brechhäusl and take the bus from there to the National Park Center. The path is about two kilometers long and leads through the forest without any steep inclines.

 A direct path (15 to 30 minutes' walk) or a tour of the wildlife enclosure (approx. 1 hour's walk) leads from the forest railway stop at Ludwigsthal to the national park center. Both paths together form a circular route.

Wildlife enclosure National Park Center Bavarian Forest

National Park Center “Haus zur Wildnis”

The “Haus zur Wildnis” in Ludwigsthal is the stage destination of the long-distance beer hiking trail through the Bavarian Forest National Park. Here you can observe the wild animals in the enclosure and learn a lot about the animals and plants of the Bavarian Forest National Park in the National Park Center.

House for the wild in the Bavarian Forest National Park

And what would be a milestone on the long-distance beer hiking trail if there was no beer? In the “Haus zur Wildnis”, the certified organic national park gastronomy focuses on sustainability when preparing the dishes. Here you can also taste the National Park Pils. Bernhard Bachl and his team offer two types of organic beer and 13 regional beers from five breweries. The menu also emphasizes vegetarian dishes.

National Park Gastronomy Bernhard Bach

Those who prefer to enjoy the sweet side of life after the hike can look forward to homemade ice cream and chocolates from their own pastry shop.

National Park gastronomy pastry shop

In a showcase I discover fresh strudel and tarts. For me this is a comfortable end to this train hike in the Bavarian Forest. The forest railway runs from Ludwigsthal to the starting point every hour.

National Park Gastronomy Gerhard Liebenberger

Are you looking for more inspiration for hikes in the Bavarian Forest and along the long-distance beer trail through the Arberland? In another excursion tip you will find a video about another tour for train and beer walking through Bavarian Canada .

Train hikes with the forest railway in the Bavarian Forest National Park

Tips for hiking in the Bavarian Forest

Hiking maps, other hiking routes and tips for hikes in ARBERLAND and for the long-distance beer hiking trail “Bier-Ge (h) nuss in ARBERLAND” can be found directly at Arberland .

Trains of the Waldbahn for railway hiking run on four lines every hour until late at night through the Bavarian Forest. Almost all municipalities in the district provide their overnight guests with a free GUTi ticket for the Waldbahn. With the Waldbahn day ticket you can also use the Waldbahn and public transport at low cost.