Through Finsterauer Filz towards Alte Klause

Stages:
Finsterau, Hotel Bärnriegel – Wistlberg – Finsterauer Filz – Alte Klause – Freilichtmuseum – Finsterau, Hotel Bärnriegel


Tour description:
We start our tour at the Igelbus stop Finsterau, Abzw. Freilichtmuseum in the village center of Finsterau. From there, we first hike along the street with the marking ‘Via Nova’ to Wistlberg (1060 meters above sea level).
Alternatively, from Freilichtmuseum (open air museum) when arriving by car: From Freilichtmuseum follow the cycle path markings towards Finsterau until arriving in the village.

From Wistlberg we walk straight, following the marking ‘Birkhuhn’ (Black grouse) in direction to Finsterauer Filz. Then the trail leads parallel to the cross-country ski trail, before we turn right. We finally reach the bog complex (1055 meters above sea level) via an unsurfaced path, which is a bit wider at first, but narrows gradually. On several information panels, we learn more about bogs as habitats, the former peat cutting and renaturation of the area.

At a crossroads, we follow the sign ‘Birkhuhn’ (Black grouse) to the left and meet a cross-country ski trail after a while. We cross it straight in order to reach Alte Klause (please do not damage the cross-country ski trail), still following the ‘Birkhuhn’ (Black grouse). The path leads through spruce forest next to a small stream.

The dense trees create a mystical atmosphere. Then we reach Alte Klause (1020 meters above sea level) and the forest thins again. In the past, a water-filled reservoir was used for timber transportation. However, today, hardly any traces of the timber drift can still be recognized at the Alte Klause. We can have a rest at a seating area.

We continue with the marking ‘Hauptwanderweg' (Main Hiking Path) in the direction of Oberes Reschbachtal. First, we cross the Reschbach on a bridge and then immediately continue left on a narrow path along the stream. While the Reschbach flows down the valley to our left, we walk along the ‘Hauptwanderweg’ (Main Hiking Path). The forest can be experienced in all its facets, from areas of windthrow and bark beetle infestations to dense old forests.

After walking along Reschbach for quite some time, we see a crossroads and turn sharply left, following the sign ‘Waldschaf’ (Forest sheep). After crossing a bridge behind this crossroads, we keep on following the 'Waldschaf' (Forest sheep) to the right. The path leads along an asphalted road and gently uphill to the Freilichtmuseum (open air museum) Finsterau (922 meters above sea level).

Auf dem letzten Abschnitt unserer Wanderung, ab dem Freilichtmuseum Finsterau, folgen wir der Radweg-Markierung ‚Nationalpark-Radweg‘ in Richtung Finsterau. Sanft bergauf entlang der Teerstraße wandernd lassen wir unsere Tour gemütlich ausklingen. Schließlich erreichen wir die Igelbus-Haltestelle Finsterau, Abzw. Freilichtmuseum.

On the last part of our tour from Freilichtmuseum (open air museum) Finsterau we follow the marking ‘Nationalpark-Radweg’ (National Park Cycle Path) towards Finsterau. Walking gently uphill on an asphalted road, we end our tour comfortably. Finally, we reach the Igelbus stop Finsterau, Abzw. Freilichtmuseum.

Correct on the go – all the time:

• Beware of falling trees and deadwood! The use of the path is at your own risk. At strong wind please leave the forest for safety reasons!
• Path regulations in order to protect endangered plants and animals in certain areas of the national park
• Please do not leave any trash! Dog poop bags or handkerchiefs do not belong in nature either. Please help to keep our wild forest clean. Thank you!

Always ensure to have good equipment: card, sturdy shoes, something to drink, first aid kit, bad weather clothing.

Tour of medium difficulty.
Path surface: 2.7 kilometers - cleared, 0.5 kilometers - rolled, 3.3 kilometers without any winter service
Please take care of cross-country skiers!
Refreshment point at Freilichtmuseum Finsterau (Please inform about the opening hours of the museum and restaurant).

Igelbus stop Finsterau, Abzw. Freilichtmuseum

Freilichtmuseum Finsterau
Museumsstraße 51
94151 Mauth

Igelbus stop Finsterau, Abzw. Freilichtmuseum
Winterigelbus line 604 A
For timetables see: www.bayerwald-ticket.com
Travel planner: www.bayern-fahrplan.de 

• Via Nova
• Birkhuhn (Black grouse)
• Hauptwanderweg (Main Hiking Path)
• Waldschaf (Forest sheep)
• Nationalpark-Radweg (National Park Cycle Path)

Did you know it?

Schwelle or Klause are artificial reservoirs that were built especially in the 19th century for timber drift. With their water, the tree trunks thrown into the mountain streams could be washed out of the forest. Some of them are under protection order now.
 
Filz is a common term for bog throughout the Bavarian Forest. Due to strict protection regulation, some of the Filz- or bog complexes in the national park are among the best-preserved and most natural bogs in Germany. Peat mosses and water-filled bog pounds dominate those areas. This peat mosses are home to competitive species, such as bog rosemary (andromeda polifolia), Cranberry (oxycoccus palustris) and tussock cottongrass in late summer. Animals like the common european adder (vipera berus) find their home here too.
 
Renaturation
Bogs and streams were under great human impact back in the days. Bogs were drained for example. For the Holzdrift (timber transport in the water) one needed streams as straight as possible with high flow velocity. For this reason, many streams were straightened in the Bavarian Forest and people built small reservoirs (Klausen). Today, the straightening is removed in some places, so that the streams can develop naturally again, they are “renatured". This has a positive impact on biodiversity of the streams and serves as flood protection.

Igelbus stop Finsterau, Abzw. Freilichtmuseum

Igelbus stop Finsterau, Abzw. Freilichtmuseum