Perfect for hiking: These are the most beautiful national parks in Germany

Traveling around the world to admire Canada’s nature may be tempting, but it’s not the best idea for the climate. The good news: Beautiful places are right on our doorstep! We tell you in which German national parks you can hike fantastically.

National parks are regions that are under special protection from human influence. There are a total of 16 national parks in Germany. You are protected from pollution and left to your own devices, trees, animals and plants can flourish freely. To ensure this, there are certain rules to be observed in all national parks.

Only if all visitors follow the rules can the national parks continue to exist in their beauty. So only follow signposted hiking trails, don’t leave your rubbish behind and keep your dog on a leash. Do not light a fire for any reason, including grilling. And keep as quiet as possible at all times. Drones and other remote-controlled aircraft are prohibited in national parks.

Bavarian Forest – the oldest national park in Germany

The Bavarian Forest was founded in 1970 and is therefore the oldest national park in Germany. Together with the Czech Bohemian Forest National Park, it forms the largest contiguous forest area in Central Europe.

With a bit of luck you can observe a lot of wild animals here: wild cats, wood grouse, peregrine falcons, otters, dormice, black storks or honey buzzards – be sure to keep a good lookout!

Berchtesgaden National Park – impressive Alpine panorama

The Berchtesgaden National Park is also in Bavaria and impresses with its magnificent Alpine landscapes. Hikers and mountaineers get their money’s worth here, for example with the 2,713 meter high Watzmann.

However, it is not only the peaks that are famous for their picturesque beauty; the beautifully situated Königssee in particular has achieved worldwide fame. The Berchtesgaden National Park is also home to many animal species. Here you can encounter marmots, mountain hares, rock ptarmigans or golden eagles.

Black Forest – wild waterfalls

The Black Forest National Park is located in southwest Germany. The area in Baden-Württemberg impresses with reddish-brown rock formations and wild waterfalls. The forests are on the oldest low mountain range in Europe and are considered the most important German habitat for the woodpecker. Red deer, wild boar, pine martens, roe deer, tawny owls and alpine shrews also feel at home here.

Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park – where bats live

The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park is located in Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate. Only in 2015 were the beech forests declared a national park. The Hunsrück high forest is home to the largest population of wild cats in Europe, bats, deer and special bird species such as the black woodpecker and black stork also feel at home in Germany’s youngest national park.

Eifel National Park – the only national park in NRW

Also in western Germany is the Eifel National Park. It is the only national park in North Rhine-Westphalia to date and is characterized by dense deciduous forests, streams and lakes. More than 2,000 endangered animal and plant species are at home in the mixed beech forests, including common toads, beavers and fire salamanders.

Kellerwald-Edersee National Park in Hesse

The Kellerwald-Edersee National Park is located in the state of Hesse and its name already reveals the most important excursion destination in the park: the Edersee. The beautiful body of water is a must for every visitor.

The 10,000 different species of mushrooms, plants and animals also make the national park a special attraction. Many rare birds are at home here, including the eagle owl, the pygmy owl and the common raven.

Hainich National Park in Thuringia

The Hainich National Park in Thuringia extends over 7,513 hectares. A visit is particularly worthwhile in spring, when nature is transformed into a veritable sea of ​​blossoms. You can discover the largest unused deciduous forest area in Germany from a completely new perspective on a treetop path. You might also come across one of the seven different species of woodpecker or 14 species of bats that live here.

Saxon Switzerland Rock National Park

In the midst of bizarre rock formations you can walk on breathtaking hiking trails in the Saxon Switzerland National Park. It is the only rock national park in Germany – no wonder that it has become a popular holiday destination, especially for climbers. In addition, rare animals such as lynx, grass snake or adder can be observed.

Harz National Park

The Harz National Park extends around the Brocken mountain, which also makes hikers’ hearts beat faster. The Harz is the largest forest national park in Germany and comes up with mosses, rocks and streams. It is located in both Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Several attractions await visitors: nature adventure trails, wildlife observation stations, lynx feeding and seven forest restaurants.

Brandenburg National Park Lower Oder Valley

Brandenburg’s Lower Oder Valley National Park is located on the Polish border and extends over 10,323 hectares. The national park is particularly popular with visitors because of the many opportunities for hiking, cycling and canoeing. The picture is characterized by swamps, moors, water bodies and forests. In addition to beavers and otters, migratory birds such as black-tailed godwits, white storks, whooper swans and the rare aquatic warbler feel at home here.

Müritz National Park in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania

The Müritz National Park in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania impresses with a large number of large and small bodies of water, moors and reed beds as well as beech and pine forests. Whether by bike or on foot, visitors experience a very special landscape here. If you are lucky, you might spot an osprey or white-tailed eagle, cranes or black storks.

Smallest national park in Germany: Jasmund on the island of Rügen

The smallest national park in Germany is the Jasmund on the island of Rügen, it only covers an area of ​​3,003 hectares. Jasmund has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, and the chalk cliffs are among its most famous sights. In addition to beech forests, there are even orchids to discover. Visitors can enjoy the view of the vastness of the sea from the highest point on the island, the Königsstuhl.

Lagoon Area National Park

The third national park in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is the Boddenlandschaft, which impresses with dunes, wind flats, salt marshes and forests. Animal watchers get their money’s worth here when the north-eastern area becomes a resting place for cranes in autumn. And wild boars, gray seals and moufflons are also at home here.

Three national parks can be found in the far northwest of the country

The Lower Saxony Wadden Sea, the Hamburg Wadden Sea and the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea. Salt marshes and dunes are typical of the Wadden Sea, as are gray seals and harbor seals. Even the endangered porpoise likes to be seen here. All three national parks are part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

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