Circular hiking trails start from the market square in Waidhaus; the Bäckeröd leisure complex is home to an outdoor pool and vitality park. These provide two clear points of reference for planning: walking trails and leisure facilities in one location. The Dufthang and artworks at the border bridge add their own distinctive touches.
Hiking from the market square
Seven circular hiking trails, each 8 to 13 km long, start from the market square in Waidhaus. One specifically named route, the nearly 13 km circular hike “Around the Sulzberg,” also starts at the market square. Its length is close to the upper end of the range given for the seven trails. If you are choosing by distance, you can use this range as a guide; if you are looking for a specifically named circular route, “Around the Sulzberg” is one concrete option.
Outdoor pool and vitality park in Bäckeröd
The outdoor pool at the Bäckeröd leisure complex has 2,000 m² of water for swimmers and around 1,000 m² for non-swimmers. It operates seasonally, so check the specific opening times before planning your visit. The leisure complex also has a 62-meter-long giant water slide.
The vitality park is designed for children and young people, with a climbing and balancing course and a rope-net climbing pyramid. A 3 m-high bouldering rock with different levels of difficulty adds to the climbing options. The vitality park is free to access via the main entrance to the leisure complex; check the access information before your visit for any changes.
Bee information and barrier-free access at the Dufthang
At the Dufthang, bilingual information boards with QR codes explain bee-friendly trees, plants and herbs, as well as the lives of bees. The information covers several aspects of bees: plants that benefit them and their way of life. The entire Dufthang site is barrier-free. Before your visit, check whether the local access information has changed.
Art at the border bridge
There is an artwork on each side of the motorway bridge at the Waidhaus border crossing. Both works relate to the eventful history and strict separation of the two countries. Alongside its nature and leisure attractions, Waidhaus also offers this historical border theme.
In the wider destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab
The wider destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab offers additional regional attractions. The district of Neustadt an der Waldnaab lies in the Upper Palatinate Forest destination, where activities include hiking, cycling, museum visits and swimming in numerous bathing waters.
The Bockl is a 52 km route from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn along a historic railway line. It can be used on foot, by bike or on inline skates; it is mostly paved and traffic-free, and its gradients rarely exceed 3 percent. The starting point in Neustadt an der Waldnaab can be reached directly by train. Trains run every hour to the terminus of the Nuremberg–Neustadt an der Waldnaab line; from there, you can transfer directly to a bike. Check the timetable before travelling.
In Parkstein, the Parkstein Volcano Experience combines geology with an hourly depiction of a volcanic eruption, which visitors can experience across three levels. As schedules may change, check the times before travelling. In 2003, the Parkstein basalt cone was included in the list of Bavaria’s 100 most beautiful geotopes, and in 2006 it was awarded the designation “National Geotope.”
Another cultural highlight in the wider destination is Speinshart: the abbey church is one of the most significant Baroque buildings in southern Germany and is distinguished by its Italian High Baroque furnishings. Together with the preserved historic monastic village of Speinshart, the monastery is considered a cultural asset of European significance. A public church tour takes place at 3 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays; check the current time before travelling.
If the circular trails, Bäckeröd and the Dufthang are your priorities, look for hotels in Waidhaus. For other destinations in the wider area, plan according to the location you wish to visit.
Discover more destinations: Kirchenthumbach, Weiherhammer, Waldthurn, Vorbach, Eschenbach In Der Oberpfalz, Pleystein, Moosbach, VohenstrauĂź
Go to the wider travel overview: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.
