9 Things to Know Before Visiting the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, Germany

Ancient beech forests of the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park were awarded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. This magnificent national park, sprawling across an area of 5,735 hectares, is the last beech forest of its kind in Central Europe.

Bad Wildungen to the east, Korbach to the north, and Frankenburg to the southwest are the closest towns to the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, and are excellent bases for exploring the park. From each of these towns, you can take buses right up to the park. You can also choose to drive there along well-marked roads.

The ensemble of Kellerwald-Edersee National Park is made of endless forests, the sparkling Lake Edersee, ancient, pristine valleys, imposing uplands, open meadows, deep gorges, rough pastures and bubbling streams.

The massive (almost 6,000 hectares) beech forest in Kellerwald-Edersee National Park is uninterrupted by roads or human settlement. This sea of beech boasts an unbeatable proportion of deadwood and remains of primeval forest. Twenty clearly signposted circular hiking paths as well as several cycling routes meander through the forest. You will come across many information centers en route.

Other than beech, the forest is home to large-leaved lime trees, ancient oak trees and rare firewitch. Many species of wild, untamed creatures call this park their home and live without human interference. You can expect to see black storks, grey-headed woodpeckers, red deer, wild cats, wild boar, fifteen species of bats and more.

The mirror-like expanse of Edersee shimmers in the center of Kellerwald-Edersee National Park across 27 km (16.7 mi). Other than gorgeous views, the lake offers lovely swimming beaches, windsurfing opportunities, cycling routes, fishing points and a beautiful promenade for strolling.

Here is your chance to admire the amazing biodiversity of the national park from a bird’s eye view. A 750-meter-long pathway at Baumkronenpfad Edersee leads visitors along the tops of the trees to the observation deck, which promises uninterrupted views of the park as far as the eye can see.

Brühlfeld 3, 34549 Edertal, Germany, +49 5623 9737977

Within Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, there is a Wild Animal Park (Wildtierpark) where you can say hello to red deer, lynx, wolves and many other animals. There is also a small petting zoo where you can get up, close and personal with some really friendly animals. This is an especially delightful experience for children.

There are several professional, trained rangers in the park who are happy to share their wisdom about the area with visitors and take them on guided tours. There are tours especially designed for kindergarten and school groups, which are geared towards helping little ones understand and appreciate the wonders of nature. The project “Wald scout – Wilderness Expedition” invites young outdoor enthusiasts to participate in a 24-hour research expedition.