German Sights

Kellerwald-Edersee National Park

The ancient beech forests and clear waters of Kellerwald-Edersee offer a perfect escape from Germany's bustling cities.

This national park combines unspoilt woodland with one of Hesse's largest lakes, making it a natural playground for walkers, water sports enthusiasts and nature lovers.

The Eder river in Hesse
The Eder river in Hesse

Where is the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park?

Kellerwald-Edersee is located in northern Hesse, 180 kilometres north of Frankfurt. The drive takes approximately two hours from Frankfurt Airport or 45 minutes from Kassel. The nearby towns of Bad Wildungen and Frankenberg are convenient gateways to the park.

Most visitors arrive by car, taking the A49 to Bad Wildungen and then the B485 to the park entrance. Those travelling by public transport can take a train to Bad Wildungen station and connect with local bus 555.

National Park opening times

The park welcomes visitors all year round, but summer is the main tourist season when the region attracts crowds for swimming and boating.

Spring offers ideal walking conditions and smaller numbers of visitors, while autumn turns the beech forest to gold and red. Winter visits are possible, although some facilities close and trails may be inaccessible.

The main National Park visitor centre is near Herzhausen to the west of the park. It is manned all week in summer and six days a week in winter and offers an exhibition, short film and restaurant. Daily parking is available here and at other entrance locations on the edge of the park.

The Edersee lake in Hesse
Lake Edersee in Hesse

Most visitors spend one or two days exploring the area, often combining their visit with trips to Bad Wildungen or Kassel's famous Bergpark.

It is a good idea for visitors to download maps and trail guides before they set off. Mobile phone coverage can be unreliable in parts of the park, especially in the deeper forest areas.

The National Park

Kellerwald-Edersee was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2011, joining an exclusive list of ancient beech forests across Europe. The recognition highlights the unique value of the park, which contains the largest protected area of natural beech forest in central Germany.

These ancient forests have a history dating back to the last Ice Age. Beech trees slowly colonised the land as the glaciers retreated from Europe. The forests of Kellerwald-Edersee are one of the few places where this natural process is still visible and undisturbed by human activity. Some trees here are over 200 years old and reach heights of 30 metres or more.

The park covers 5,700 hectares with elevations ranging from 200 to 600 metres above sea level. This varied landscape creates different microclimates that support a wealth of plant and animal species. Wildcats, black storks and various species of bats make their home here, although they are naturally shy of visitors.

Hiking trails around the National Park
Hiking trails around the National Park

A network of well-marked footpaths criss-crosses the park, ranging from easy walks to more challenging hikes. The Kellerwaldsteig, a 66-kilometre circular trail, is the main artery through the park. It links the main viewpoints and passes through the most important areas of woodland. Shorter routes branch off from the main trail, allowing visitors to choose from one-hour walks to day-long expeditions.

Unlike many German forests, which are carefully managed for timber production, Kellerwald-Edersee shows what happens when nature takes its course. This makes it particularly valuable for scientific research and creates a unique experience for visitors used to more manicured forests.

The park's rules are designed to protect this natural state. Visitors must stay on marked paths, cannot remove plants or mushrooms, and should be quiet to avoid disturbing wildlife.

Kellerwald-Edersee Naturpark

The Kellerwald-Edersee National Park lies within the much larger Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park, creating a nested system of protected areas. Although they share the same name and location, they operate under different levels of protection and serve different purposes.

The nature park covers 40,600 hectares, about seven times the size of the 5,700 hectares of the national park. Think of the national park as a strictly protected core zone within the broader nature park's more flexible management approach.

The main differences lie in their use and level of protection. The national park focuses on allowing nature to develop without human intervention - a hands-off approach where even fallen trees are left untouched. In contrast, the larger nature park allows traditional land uses such as sustainable farming, forestry and more extensive tourism facilities.

The nature park includes towns, villages and agricultural areas, and includes working farms, managed forests and a range of tourist accommodation.

Lake Edersee

Lake Edersee was created in 1914 when engineers completed the Edersee dam, flooding the Eder valley and creating the third largest lake in Hesse.

The Edersee dam was one of the three dams that were targeted with 'bouncing bombs' during the famous 'Dambusters' air raid in the Second World War. Today, the 27-kilometre-long reservoir forms the northern boundary of the national park.

The creation of the lake dramatically changed the local landscape. Several villages disappeared under the water, although traces of them reappear during dry summers.

Tourism video for the Edersee region

The shoreline varies considerably. The southern lakeshore rises steeply into wooded hills, while the northern shore is more accessible with several beaches and boat launches. A 42 kilometre trail circles the lake and is popular with walkers and cyclists. The trail offers excellent views but includes some challenging climbs.

Water levels vary considerably throughout the year, affecting activities and access. Levels typically peak in the spring when the snow melts and gradually fall through the summer. The lake's water management role means that levels can change quickly, so visitors should check current conditions before planning water activities.

Activities in the Kellerwald-Edersee region

Hiking dominates activities in Kellerwald-Edersee, with over 200 kilometres of marked trails to suit all levels of fitness.

The Urwaldsteig, a 68-kilometre premium trail, showcases the best of the park. This trail takes 4-5 days to complete, although most visitors do individual sections as day hikes. There are plenty of other options in the National Park and Naturpark, such as this 14-kilometre circular route which leaves from Waldeck Castle at the eastern end of the park.

Circular hike from Waldeck Castle

The cycle routes are divided into two distinct networks. The Lake Circuit offers a relatively flat ride for the most part over the 50-kilometre route (although there is one quite steady ascent and steep descent). There are plenty of mountain bike routes suitable for all levels of fitness and experience in the forests.

Wildlife viewing requires patience and timing. Early morning and dusk are the best times to see the park's inhabitants. Red deer regularly appear in the clearings, while black woodpeckers can be heard in the beech woods.

The Scheid peninsula near Bringhausen offers windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.

Winter activities are limited. Marked trails are suitable for snowshoeing when snow falls. The park maintains some winter trails, but visitors should check conditions at the visitor centre.

Photography attracts many visitors, especially in autumn when the beech leaves turn golden. The park has marked out prime photographic locations on its maps, including several purpose-built platforms.

The dawn light on the Edersee creates memorable misty scenes, while the afternoon sun through the beech canopy makes for excellent forest photography.

The Edersee dam
The Edersee dam

Guided tours run daily from April to October, covering topics from forest ecology to local history. Special night walks focusing on astronomy and nocturnal wildlife take place monthly during the summer.

A passenger ferry runs on the Edersee reservoir (and once weekly further up the Eder river) but is only operational during the summer months.

National Park website : nationalpark-kellerwald-edersee.de
Naturpark website : www.naturpark-kellerwald-edersee.de