Discover Waidhaus: Hiking, Water and Border Art

Circular hiking trails starting at the market square, water areas and climbing activities at the Bäckeröd leisure complex, along with the accessible Dufthang, give Waidhaus a varied character. Artworks at the motorway bridge at the border crossing add to this. As you plan your trip, consider whether you mainly want to go hiking, visit the outdoor swimming pool, or explore nature and culture.

Circular Trails and Water in Waidhaus

Seven circular hiking trails, each 8 to 13 km long, start at the market square in Waidhaus. The “Around Sulzberg” circular hike also starts there and is just under 13 km long. This puts the route at the upper end of the stated range; the local circular trail network also offers shorter routes to choose from.

The Bäckeröd leisure complex is located at Frankenreuther Straße 15 in Waidhaus. Its outdoor swimming pool has 2,000 m² of water for swimmers and around 1,000 m² for non-swimmers. It operates seasonally; check the specific opening dates before your visit. The complex also has a 62-metre-long giant water slide.

The Vitalpark at the Bäckeröd leisure complex complements the water activities with opportunities for children and young people to get active. These include a climbing and balancing course and a rope-net climbing pyramid. There is also a 3-metre-high bouldering rock with various difficulty levels. The Vitalpark is free to access via the main entrance to the leisure complex.

Bee Information and Art at the Border Crossing

At the Dufthang, bilingual information boards with QR codes explain bee-friendly shrubs, plants and herbs, as well as the lives of bees. The entire site is accessible. If this is important for your plans, briefly check whether access conditions have changed before your visit.

There is an artwork on each side of the motorway bridge at the Waidhaus border crossing. Both works relate to the region’s eventful history and the strict division between the two countries. In Waidhaus, alongside opportunities for activity and nature, you will also find an artistic connection to the history of the border region.

More Perspectives in the Wider Destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab

In the wider destination of Neustadt An Der Waldnaab, the Bockl offers a unique way to enjoy a longer route actively. The 52 km route follows a historic railway line from Neustadt an der Waldnaab to Eslarn. You can travel it on foot, by bike or on inline skates; it is mostly paved and traffic-free. Gradients along the route rarely exceed 3 percent.

The Bockl’s starting point in Neustadt an der Waldnaab is directly accessible by train. Trains run every hour to the terminus of the Nuremberg–Neustadt an der Waldnaab line; from there, you can transfer straight to your bike. Check the timetable before your trip if you plan to use this train connection.

Parkstein also offers a distinctive focus within the wider destination: the basalt cone was included on the list of Bavaria’s 100 most beautiful geotopes in 2003 and received the “National Geotope” designation in 2006. At Vulkanerlebnis Parkstein, a volcanic eruption is staged every hour, which visitors can experience on three levels. Check the show schedule before your visit.

Speinshart offers another cultural highlight. The monastery church is one of the most significant Baroque buildings in southern Germany and is distinguished by its Italian High Baroque furnishings. The monastery and the preserved historic monastic village of Speinshart together form a cultural heritage site of European importance.

Find Accommodation That Suits Your Travel Plans

Base your search on the activities you have planned and check that your accommodation is conveniently located for the places you intend to visit.

Discover more destinations: Vorbach, Eschenbach In Der Oberpfalz, Moosbach, Weiden In Der Oberpfalz, Grafenwöhr, Eslarn, Kirchendemenreuth, Trabitz.

Back to the wider travel overview: Neustadt An Der Waldnaab.