Varied crossing of Rachel Mountain

Stages:
Igelbus stop Aufichtenwaldsteg – Klingenbrunn Bahnhof – Großer Rachel – Rachelsee – Föhraufilz – Jägerfleck – Igelbus stop Aufichtenwaldsteg
 
Tour description:
From the Igelbus stop Aufichtenwald-Steg (735 meters above sea level) we are hiking with the signpost Hauptwanderweg ‘Baumgruppe’ (Main hiking path) on the left-hand side in direction of Klingenbrunn train station. Alternatively, from the parking lot Naturkneippanlage: In direction of Naturkneippanlage Spiegelau, a short track along the paved road until a trail branches off to the right side and crosses the Schwarzach on a wooden bridge. Then we keep left to enter the Hauptwanderweg ‘Baumgruppe’ (Main hiking path).

At first, the path runs parallel to road and stream. After some time, we cross the road and walk to the left, in order to reach the Moorwald-Steg (LIFE + project) along the Waldhüttenbach. Information boards present flora and fauna around this renatured stream. We continue along the railway tracks and past the small village of Klingenbrunn Bahnhof. Next, we reach a parking lot (Flanitzebene - 760 meters above sea level).

Here we change our hiking sign and continue with ‘Bärlapp' (Clubmoss) towards Rachel. Initially the narrow path leads us parallel to the forestal road, but bends to the left quite soon. At a junction, we keep right until the path approaches the Flanitz. Along this stream, we walk uphill steadily. Soon we reach another forest road and keep left. After a short distance, the 'Bärlapp' (Clubmoss) branches off to the right and leads us up the slope. One last time we cross a forestal road. Then our path leads steadily upwards for quite some time through mixed mountain forest.

From about 1200 meters of height, we can recognize how the mountain mixed forest slowly merges into pure mountain spruce forest of high altitude. Finally, we reach a forest road after a longer ascent. We follow it to the left and after a few hundred meters the Waldschmidthaus (1360 meters above sea level – currently closed) is in sight. You can make a short detour from here (about 50 meters) to viewpoint Seeblick. From the lodge we finally climb about 100 meters across the rocks towards Rachel peak (1453 meters above sea level).

With the new marking ‘Auerhahn’ (Capercaillie) we start the longer and almost alpine descent on the other side of Rachel mountain. Crossing boulders, we move downhill steadily. At a crossroad, a detour (about 100 meters) to the Rachelkapelle is worthwhile. Following the ‘Auerhahn' (Capercaillie) we reach the Rachelsee, which offers opportunity for some break. From there we take the same way back for a short distance. Then we continue on a trail. It eventually turns into a forest path and leads us downhill. Finally, the 'Auerhahn' (Capercaillie) turns right onto a forest trail, which we follow until another crossroads.

At the crossroads behind the shelter Feistenberg (965 meters above sea level), we keep  following the ‘Ahornblatt’ (Maple leaf) towards Föhraufilz. At the next crossroads we continue walking straight until we finally reach the impressive bog. An observation tower provides insights into this mystical landscape (attention, slippery when wet). At further intersections, we follow the 'Ahornblatt' (Maple leaf) in direction to Spiegelau. Hiking past the small village Jägerfleck, we finally reach the Forest Playground Spiegelau.
 
At the crossroads in the Forest Playground Area, where a big signpost is located, we follow the Hauptwanderweg ‘Baumgruppe’ (Main hiking path) towards Klingenbrunn Bahnhof. We follow the path, cross a road und at the next junction head right, still following the Hauptwanderweg ‘Baumgruppe’. Soon we reach the Igelbus stop Aufichtenwaldsteg (735 meters above sea level).
Alternative to the parking lot: At the crossroads in the Forest Playground Area, follow the Hauptwanderweg ‘Baumgruppe’ (Main hiking path) towards Klingenbrunn Bahnhof. At a junction we leave this marking and go straight towards Naturkneippanlage. We cross the river Schwarzach on a wooden bridge and after a short distance, we reach the parking lot Naturkneippanlage.

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

Very hard an exhausting tour with big difference in altitude. Currently no refreshment point in Waldschmidthaus.

Parking area Naturkneippanlage
Schwarzachstraße 42
94518 Spiegelau

Parking area Naturkneippanlage

Igelbus stop Aufichtenwaldsteg
Rachelbus (Linie 601)
For timetables see: www.bayerwald-ticket.com

• Hauptwanderweg 'Baumgruppe' (Main hiking path)
• Bärlapp (Clubmoss)
• Auerhahn (Capercaillie)
• Ahornblatt (Maple leaf)
• Hauptwanderweg 'Baumgruppe' (Main hiking path)

Did you know it?

Renaturation: For the Holztrift (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.

Rachelsee: The Rachelsee is the only natural lake in the Bavarian Forest National Park. It was formed at the end of last ice age by glacier activity in a kar. The end moraine of the glacier formed a natural dam, which stored meltwater. In the 19th century, the natural dam was enhanced by humans, in order to simplify timber drift. Today, the lake covers an area of 5.7 hectares and is about 13 meters deep. Due to the acidic (high silica) parent rock (gneiss), as well as the acidity of surrounding spruce forest, the lakes water is naturally acidic (Ph-value approx. 5). So comparatively few aquatic organisms live in it.

Igelbus stop Aufichtenwaldsteg

Igelbus stop Aufichtenwaldsteg