Day excursion to Schachten and Filze

The demanding day tour leads from Buchenau to the Schachten. These areas free of wood, offered overnight accommodation for shepherds and their animals and are ecologically and culturally important islands within the Bavarian Forest National Park. In some parts, the trail leads us through mystical moorland and to the mysterious dark Latschensee on boardwalks. On our way back, we will walk along the Trinkwassertalsperre Frauenau.

Advice:
Challenging tour. Long ascent at the beginning. Good stamina required.

Local public transport network:
Igelbus stop Buchenau (Falkenstein-Bus, line 7149)
For timetables see: www.bayerwald-ticket.com

Navigation:
Buchenau 45, 94227 Lindberg

Stages:
Buchenau - Lindberger Schachten - Hirschbach-Schwelle - Hochschachten - Trinkwassertalsperre - Buchenau

Tour description:
From the parking area in the center of Buchenau (750 meters above sea level), the signpost ‘Pestwurz’ leads us in direction of Lindberger Schachten. At first, we walk along the Pommerbach, then steadily uphill to a small meadow. After crossing two gravel paths, the trail becomes steeper. Through mixed forest, we climb steadily uphill and cross another gravel road. Finally, it becomes flatter and after a while, the Lindberger Schachten (1100 meters above sea level) can be seen.

After a rest we continue with signpost 'Pestwurz' almost parallel to the slope with little difference in altitude, until the narrow trail meets a gravel path which we follow and than reach the Hirschbach-Schwelle after a few hundred meters. After, we branch off onto a narrow path and follow the 'Pestwurz' to Zwieselter Filz. The largest raised bog throughout Germany is, in order to protect the sensitive vegetation and susceptible animals, only accessible by a marked boardwalk and it is not allowed to enter in any other ways.

 Finally, we reach the Kohlschachten (1150 meters above sea level). There is a crossroads in the middle of these Schachten. We follow the 'Pestwurz' and reach the Latschenfilz. After quite some time, a small trail branches off to the idyllic Latschensee - the detour (about 50 meters in lengh) to the bog pond that is only filled by rainwater is worthwhile to be visited. At the Hochschachten (1165 meters above sea level), the hiking signe of ‘Pestwurz’ ends.
                                                                                                                        
Now we follow the signpost 'Borstgras' towards Almschachten. As we continue, we walk over boardwalks, bog meadows, wetlands and Schachten. In some places, the effect of storms can be seen: fallen trees, like near the Almschachten, open a new view – for example towards Rachel. From the Verlorener Schachten, the path gently slopes down and bends to the right. The way downhill gets steeper, until the trail leads to a gravel path. We follow it past the Blockhaus Schachten to the Trinkwassertalsperre Frauenau (767 meters above sea level).

At the dam crest, we leave the sign 'Borstgras' and turn right over the dam towards the northern shore. Along the signpost ‘Gläserner Steig’, we continue left. We go slightly downhill and reach the next crossroads. The way right brings us back to Buchenau past old trees along our way.
 

Correct on the go – all the time

• Always ensure to have good equipment: card, sturdy shoes, something to drink, first aid kit, bad weather clothing.
• 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.
• Path regulations in order to protect endangered plants and animals in certain areas of the national park

 
Did you know it?

They are like islands within the wild forest area about 1000 meters above sea level. Back in the days, they served as overnight accommodation for the cattle grazing in the forest. The park-like landscapes, which are kept open, are called Schachten. The meadows, dominated by mat- grass, with boulders and gnarled, old trees, offer a variety of habitats to rare insects, birds, reptiles and bat species. Plants like the Arnica montana (wolf’s bane) sprout in the turf torn to pieces for timber drift and their flat leaves can escape the hungry mouths of cattle.

Filz is a common term for bog throughout the Bavarian Forest. Due to strict protection regulation, some of the Filz- or bog complexes in the national park are among the best-preserved and most natural bogs in Germany. Peat mosses a water-filled bog pounds dominate those areas. This peat mosses are home to competitive species, such as bog rosemary (andromeda polifolia), Cranberry (oxycoccus palustris) and tussock cottongrass in late summer. Animals like the common european adder (vipera berus) find their home here too.

Schwelle or Klause are artificial reservoirs that were built especially in the 19th century for timber drift. With their water, the tree trunks thrown into the mountain streams could be washed out of the forest. Some of the Klausen are now under protection order.