A roaring stream that winds its way through rough schist rock and plunges down small rocky steps in cascades, with tall trees towering on either side—sounds like the perfect outing? Then you should pay a visit to the Buchberger Leite in the Bavarian Forest. On an exciting hike , you’ll learn more about the gorge and the surrounding area, making the tour enjoyable for children as well.
Along the wild waters
The Buchberger Leite lies between Freyung and Ringelai, where the Reschbach and Saußbach rivers converge to form the Wolfsteiner Ohe. Along the Pfahl, the Wolfsteiner Ohe has carved its way up to 100 meters deep into the dark slate that predominates here and shapes the landscape. The Ohe babbles and rushes through the romantic gorge, past ferns and moss-covered rocks. Again and again, the torrent forms small waterfalls and pools where you can cool off on hot days. In some places, the gorge narrows, and the rock walls rise up to 100 meters high on either side of you. They present a truly impressive sight.
In addition to the charming landscape, there are also several architectural highlights to discover in the Buchberger Leite. If you start from Ringelai, you’ll cross a weir on your way to the gorge; this is where timber from the forest used to be floated down to Passau. If, on the other hand, you’re coming from Freyung, you’ll pass through an old rock tunnel near the Carbisdwerke before entering the Buchberger Leite. In the gorge itself , you’ll cross the Wolfsteiner Ohe via an adventurous suspension bridge, which is one of the absolute highlights of the hike. Here you can take a short break before continuing on your way.
Through the Buchberger Leite
There are several ways to explore the Buchberger Leite. You can either hike the entire length and then take the hiking bus back to your starting point , or you can hike just a portion of the gorge and return to the start via one of the loop trails. We especially recommend the 8-kilometer adventure trail, where various interactive information boards explain the geology, flora, and fauna of the gorge and the forest.
No matter which route you choose, a visit to the Buchberger Leite is definitely worth it. After all, it’s one of Bavaria’s 100 most beautiful geotopes, just like the Danube Gorge or the Scheidegger Waterfalls. At the end of your hike, you can stop at an inn in either Freyung or Ringelai and enjoy some well-deserved refreshments.
