Bicycle tour to the Schachten

Stages:
Frauenau - Trinkwassertalsperre Frauenau - Hochschachten - Buchenau - Trinkwassertalsperre Frauenau – Frauenau

Tour description:
We start on the cycle path ‘6’ in Frauenau towards Trinkwassertalsperre Frauenau. After about 2 kilometers, we pass Oberfrauenau and continue cycling to the Trinkwassertalsperre, which we reach shortly afterwards. We continue straight ahead along the southern edge of the Trinkwassertalsperre. Reaching the end of the Trinkwassertalsperre, we keep to the right and continue following the cycle path ‘6’ towards Hochschachten. Now begins a long and partly steep ascent until the cycle path makes a sharp left turn at an altitude of almost 1,000 meters above sea level. From here, the trail runs flatter. At the bicycle parking area below the Hochschachten (1,110 meters above sea level), we already reached the highest point of our tour. A shelter invites you to have a rest in case of bad weather.

If we are not tired yet, we should lock our bikes and explore the Schachten (mountain pastures) and Filze (raised bogs) by foot. The approximately 2,5 kilometer trail with the marking ‘Wolf' (50 meters in altitude, 45 minutes) is reserved for hikers and leads from the bicycle parking area Hochschachten across the Hoch- and Kohlschachten past the Latschenfilz, which can be accessed on a boardwalk. The Latschenfilz with its raised bog ponds - like Latschensee - is a representative of the saddle-raised bogs on the Bohemian Forest plateau. The bogs mark the watershed of the rivers Elbe and Danube - that means, the catchment area of the Trinkwassertalsperre ends right here.

Back on the bike, we head almost steadily downhill towards Buchenau. At the beginning, we still continue the cycle path with the number 6, but at the next junction we turn left and follow the cycle path number 14. Arriving in Buchenau, we pass the castle and continue on the cycle path 14 which again leads to the Trinkwassertalsperre. Now we cross the top of the dam and ride down into the valley of the mountain stream Kleiner Regen. In the shady valley we comfortably let our tour come to an end. On the edge of Frauenau we turn left and orientate ourselves on the cycle path 6 to return to our starting point.

Correct on the go – all the time:

• Beware of falling trees and deadwood! The use of the path is at your own risk. In case of strong wind, please leave the forest for safety reasons.
• Cycling in the national park is only allowed on marked cycle paths and public roads!
• Please do not leave any rubbish in the nature! Also dog waste bags and handkerchiefs don’t belong into nature. Please help to keep our wild forest clean. Thank you!

Always ensure to have good equipment: card, helmet, something to drink, first aid kit, tire repair kit, bad weather clothing.

Tour of medium difficulty. Good stamina required. Long ascent at the beginning.

Hauptstraße
94258 Frauenau

Großparkplatz (big parking area) in Frauenau

Waldbahn stop Frauenau (railway station)
(approx. 600m away from the starting point in the village center)
For timetables see www.bayerwald-ticket.com

• Radweg 6 (Cycle Path 6)
• Radweg 14 (Cycle Path 14)

The circular trail to discover the Schachten (mountain pastures) and Filze (raised bogs) has the marking 'Wolf'. There is a bicycle parking at Hochschachten from where you can start the circular trail 'Wolf' by foot.

Did you know it?

Raised bogs are mystical islands within a sea of woodlands. Bogs of peat mosses dominate the picture alternately with water-filled pools and bog ponds. . The peat mosses are home to competitive species, such as bog rosemary (andromeda polifolia), Cranberry (oxycoccus palustris) and tussock cottongrass in late summer. To the plats within the raised bogs, only rainwater is available - they are cut off from other sources of water and nutrients by several meters of peat.

Frauenau (village center)

Frauenau (village center)