Bavarian Forest — Arbersteig (Großer Arber)

The Arbersteig trail climbs the Großer Arber (1,456 m) in the Bavarian Forest National Park in eastern Bavaria, starting from either the Bayerisch Eisenstein train station or the Brennes car park, both reachable by road and rail from Regen or Zwiesel. The route covers about 12 km round trip with roughly 650 m of elevation gain, rated Moderate (T2-T3), following clear forest paths that climb steadily through ancient spruce and beech woodland typical of the Bavarian Forest before opening onto rockier, more exposed terrain near the summit ridge. Shade is abundant through the lower and middle sections of ancient primeval forest, giving way to open rock and low vegetation in the final approach to the summit, from where the panorama extends across the Bavarian Forest and into the Bohemian Forest (Šumava National Park) in the Czech Republic. Notable features along the way include stands of centuries-old trees left largely untouched by forestry, the Arbersee lake near the trailhead area, and wildlife such as reintroduced lynx that occasionally range through the park, best seen at the Tier-Freigelände enclosure near the Hans-Eisenmann-Haus visitor center rather than on the open trail. There is a mountain hut with refreshments near the summit in season, and the Hans-Eisenmann-Haus visitor center provides water and facilities near the trailhead area. Hikers pressed for time can turn around at the treeline before the final rocky ascent, still enjoying the primeval forest without tackling the steeper summit approach; in winter the same route is popular for snowshoeing rather than hiking.