Nature Reserve Guide
Kleiner Arbersee, a nature reserve in the Bavarian Forest, is situated at the base of the Großer and Kleiner Arber peaks. This glacial lake is characterized by steeply rising lake walls, imposing rock faces, and dense forests, offering a varied landscape for outdoor pursuits. Its unique "floating islands" of peat and vegetation are a notable natural feature. The terrain provides opportunities for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, mountaineering, touring cycling, and more.
The…
123
Routes
4.6
(3364)
Average rating
15614
People visited

4.8
(365)
1,810
hikers
7.85km
03:00
480m
480m
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.8
(349)
1,348
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(470)
2,004
hikers
13.1km
04:30
600m
600m
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.7
(231)
828
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(68)
197
riders
20.3km
01:56
510m
510m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.5
(33)
78
riders
27.3km
02:39
750m
750m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(7)
32
riders
42.4km
04:17
1,380m
1,380m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.2
(5)
36
riders
14.0km
01:27
480m
480m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(61)
312
riders
48.2km
03:22
720m
720m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(8)
56
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(2)
41
riders
73.4km
07:17
1,990m
1,990m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(3)
39
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(3)
60
hikers
13.0km
04:30
630m
630m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(4)
48
hikers
11.6km
04:19
580m
570m
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.5
(2)
11
hikers
5.26km
01:49
280m
280m
Hard mountaineering route. Great for any fitness level. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.1
(9)
66
hikers
7.96km
02:40
390m
390m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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5.0
(2)
67
runners
18.5km
02:35
870m
870m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
69
runners
9.94km
01:17
400m
400m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
20
runners
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

19
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
39
riders
42.8km
02:31
990m
990m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(1)
29
riders
59.0km
03:06
950m
950m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

3.0
(2)
18
riders
64.3km
03:38
1,330m
1,330m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(1)
18
riders
100km
05:11
1,640m
1,640m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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12
riders
56.0km
03:49
1,130m
1,130m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
7
riders
45.0km
03:28
1,200m
1,200m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(6)
17
riders
17.9km
01:11
320m
320m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

16
riders
60.4km
04:09
1,370m
1,370m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Kleiner Arbersee is a glacial lake located in the Bavarian Forest, at the base of the Großer and Kleiner Arber peaks. It is known for its unique 'floating islands' of peat and vegetation, which are a rare natural phenomenon. The reserve features dense forests, rock faces, and diverse flora and fauna.
Kleiner Arbersee offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Mountain biking, Mountaineering, Touring cycling, Jogging, Road cycling, and Gravel biking. More than 110 routes are available, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. For more information, see the Hiking in Kleiner Arbersee guide.
Yes, Kleiner Arbersee offers easy hiking options suitable for beginners. A popular choice is the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) circular path around the lake. An easy 2.6-mile (4.2 km) loop, "View of the Kleiner Arbersee – Little Arber Lake loop from Kleiner Arbersee," is also available. More options can be found in the Easy hikes in Kleiner Arbersee guide.
Popular hiking routes include the 4.9-mile (7.8 km) "Panoramic View from Großer Arber – Great Arber Lake loop from Großer Arber" and the 8.1-mile (13.1 km) "Great Arber Lake – Arbersee Bog loop from Großer Arber." These routes offer diverse terrain and scenic views. For more options, consult the Hiking in Kleiner Arbersee guide.
Yes, Kleiner Arbersee offers mountain biking trails for various skill levels. Examples include the 12.6-mile (20.3 km) "Great Arber Lake – Arbersee House loop from Großer Arbersee" and the 17-mile (27.3 km) "View of Himmelreich – Lohberg Hut loop from Kleiner Arbersee." More routes are detailed in the MTB Trails in Kleiner Arbersee guide.
The most distinctive natural features are the Kleiner Arbersee itself, a glacial lake, and its unique 'floating islands' (Schwingrasen). The area also features impressive rock faces, dense forests, and trails leading to the summits of Kleiner Arber (1,383.6 m) and Großer Arber (1,455.5 m). The Gläserner Steig trail passes the Sollbach waterfalls.
Information regarding specific dog rules for Kleiner Arbersee trails is not explicitly provided. It is advisable to check local regulations or contact the Naturpark Oberer Bayerischer Wald for current guidelines on bringing dogs into the nature reserve.
Kleiner Arbersee is not directly accessible by car, which helps preserve its tranquil character. Visitors typically arrive by foot or use the 'Kleine Arberseebahn,' a small train that operates seasonally. Parking is available at nearby trailheads such as Wanderparkplatz Reißbrücke.
Komoot offers several guides for Kleiner Arbersee, including Hiking in Kleiner Arbersee, MTB Trails in Kleiner Arbersee, Cycling in Kleiner Arbersee, and Attractions in Kleiner Arbersee. These guides provide detailed information on routes and points of interest.
The best time to visit Kleiner Arbersee depends on the desired activity. The region is suitable for outdoor activities throughout the warmer months, offering lush greenery and accessible trails. Specific seasonal considerations for winter activities are not detailed, but the area is generally popular for hiking and cycling from spring to autumn.
The Kleiner Arbersee nature reserve is managed by the Naturpark Oberer Bayerischer Wald. Information about the reserve can be found on their website, www.naturpark-obw.de. For general tourism inquiries, contact Tourist-Information Lohberg at +49 9943 941313.

