Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park

Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park in southwestern Germany, spanning the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland between Trier and Idar-Oberstein, is one of the country's newest national parks. Its quiet beech and spruce forests, hillside bogs and quartzite boulder fields surround the Erbeskopf, the highest peak in Rhineland-Palatinate. For travelers who want uncrowded forest hikes, wildcats and Celtic history, it is an underrated find.

About the park

The park was established in 2015 through a treaty between Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, with an official opening over the Pentecost weekend that year. It covers about 25,000 acres (10,120 hectares) of the Idarwald and Schwarzwälder Hochwald ranges. The long-term goal is to leave 75 percent of the area entirely to nature.

Characteristic features include hillside bogs fed by springs and the "Rosselhalden," fields of quartzite boulders. The old beech forests are home to wildcats, red deer, black woodpeckers and boreal owls.

Top things to do

• Erbeskopf Gateway (Nationalpark-Tor Erbeskopf): the best starting point, with an interactive exhibition on forests and bogs inside the Hunsrückhaus and an outdoor exhibition open around the clock. Rangers lead regular guided walks.
• Erbeskopf summit: at 2,678 feet (816 m), the highest point in Germany west of the Rhine, topped by the walk-in sculpture "Windklang" and an observation tower.
• Wildenburg Gateway and Wildlife Park: rock formations around a ruined medieval castle, plus enclosures with deer, wolves and wildcats.
• Celtic Park Gateway near Otzenhausen: a reconstructed Celtic village and a short walk to a massive Celtic ring fort.

Hours and tickets

The national park is free and always open. The Erbeskopf Gateway (as of October 2026) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1. Note: the building, exhibition and bistro are closed for maintenance from November 9 to 22, 2026. The Wildenburg Wildlife Park is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; adults pay €5, and children and teens up to 17 enter free.

How to get there

The park lies roughly 40 minutes by car from Trier and about two hours from Frankfurt Airport. By public transportation, buses 800 and 890 run from Trier main station or Idar-Oberstein to the Erbeskopf Gateway. Each of the three gateways has parking, restrooms and a bus connection.

Good to know

Stay on marked paths and keep dogs on a leash; fires are prohibited, and cycling and horseback riding are allowed only on designated routes. At the wildlife park, dogs on a short leash may use the main loop but not the walk-in enclosures. The Erbeskopf Gateway has been assessed under Germany's "Reisen für Alle" accessibility scheme. Is it worth visiting? Yes, if you prefer peaceful forest over crowded hotspots.

Nearby

• Idar-Oberstein: gemstone town with a church built into a cliff.
• Trier: Germany's oldest city, with UNESCO-listed Roman monuments.
• Bostalsee: Saarland's largest leisure lake.