Water hiking, i.e. navigating waters by canoe, has a very special appeal. Because from the boat you get a whole new perspective on nature. In Bavaria, there are numerous rivers and lakes that are particularly suitable for this. We explain what’s important and introduce you to a few particularly beautiful routes for water hiking in Bavaria.
In Bavaria there are various possibilities for canoe tours. On the numerous idyllic lakes near the Alps you can make round trips of different sizes. This is especially interesting for day trips. For tours lasting several days, you can explore the rivers of Bavaria. However, the problem is that you have to get back to your starting point at the end of your tour.
That’s why we have selected a few tours where you can either use public transportation or – if you want to rent your boat anyway – use the well-organized return service of the local canoe rentals to get back to your starting point.
Tour planning for water hiking in Bavaria
If you are planning a canoe trip of several days, it is important to find suitable daily stages. After all, at the end of a successful day on the water you want to arrive somewhere where you can spend the night or possibly stop for a bite to eat.
The length of a day’s paddle depends on the speed of the water, the size of your boat, and your paddling technique and endurance. As a beginner, you can plan on 15 to 20 kilometers on most easily navigable rivers.
Attention: Nature conservation is very important in canoeing. After all, you want to preserve the nature you enjoy. Therefore, pay attention to possible driving bans in nature reserves and closed seasons. You should also find out in advance where it is allowed to moor and leave the boat. This way you avoid disturbing the animals in the waters unnecessarily.
Spending the night while water hiking
When water hiking, it is a good idea to spend the night in a tent. Along the common rivers, there are usually tent and camping sites, sometimes also near-natural boat rest areas. On busy rivers, there are usually canoe rentals that also offer overnight accommodations. In addition, canoe stations of the German Canoe Association (DKV) (Link just in German) can be found in some places. The easiest way to find out about overnight accommodations is to contact your local tourist information office.
But now to our tour suggestions
Tour 1: Canoeing on the Altmühl between Gunzenhausen and Dietfurt/Töging
A real classic for water hiking in southern Germany is the Altmühltal. Here you can enjoy nature in a very relaxed way. Because the Altmühl is the slowest river in Bavaria and therefore also suitable for inexperienced boat hikers and children.
Between Gunzenhausen and Dietfurt/Töging, there are almost 120 kilometers of boating routes through the Altmühltal Nature Park, and there is also plenty to discover along the river banks – from millennia-old fossils to medieval castles and a dinosaur museum.
Along the way, there are campsites as well as boat rest areas where you can spend the night at a reasonable price. They are relatively close to each other. So you can plan your daily stages spontaneously. Boat rentals can be found at almost all important entry points. You can find more information about paddling on the Altmühl on the pages of the Altmühltal Nature Park.
Tour 2: Paddling on the Isar from Sylvensteinsee to Thalkirchen
This tour from Lenggries to the south of Munich is 72 kilometers long. The flow speed of the Isar is quite high. So 25 kilometers per day are easily manageable and you should reach your destination in three days. However, the Isar is only recommended for experienced canoeists or within a guided tour. There are some providers who will also provide you with the necessary equipment.
On a canoe trip it is important that you protect your equipment such as smartphone or camera but also your spare clothes from water.
This is possible, for example, with our lightweight, waterproof pack sack set made of recycled polyester. With taped seams, roll closure and in different sizes and colors.
The trip on the Isar is always rewarded by great views. The measures for renaturation in recent years contribute significantly to this. The turquoise-blue water of the Isar, especially in spring after the snow melts, is particularly fascinating. Information on boat rentals, overnight accommodations and other information can be found at Kanu-Info Isar.
When paddling on the Isar, however, there are a few things to keep in mind. There are definitely difficult places. Especially fallen trees can be dangerous: The current can push paddlers into the branches. Once you are caught in the branches, you sometimes have no chance to fight the current on your own. Even downstream you can’ t avoid the current and it can happen that you are pushed under water. It happens again and again that paddlers get into dangerous situations in this way and can only be rescued by outside help.
Important: You should always drive around fallen trees! There is danger to life.
Due to the proximity to Munich, you will probably not feel lonely on sunny days during your boat trip on the Isar. Excursionists are here in large numbers on the road. However, for some time now there have been stricter rules for navigating the river: air mattresses and small rubber dinghies are prohibited, an alcohol limit of 0.5 per mille applies and dinghies are no longer allowed. The party boats that have long been typical around Munich are therefore likely to be seen less frequently in the future.
Reading tip: Basic knowledge: Paddling the Canadian Canoe
Tour 3: Canoeing on the Regen from Blaibach to Regensburg
The Regen River in the Bavarian Forest has been a popular river for paddlers for years. However, this is exactly what has become a problem in recent years. More and more boats have been paddling on the water, some of them the aforementioned party boats. The strain on nature became too high. That is why boat traffic on the Regen is now regulated.
There is a traffic light system that applies to boat rentals as well as to paddlers with their own boats. According to this, a maximum of 160 trips per day are allowed in the high season from June 15 to October 31. In the low season from May 1 to June 14, 50 trips per day are allowed.
If you are interested in a canoe tour on the Regen, you should avoid weekends with bright sunshine, so that you do not have to cancel the tour at short notice. Information on the current rules as well as on canoe rentals and overnight accommodations can be found at the tourist information office of the Bavarian Forest. If you are looking for an alternative to canoeing on the Regen River, you can also take a look at the Ilz River, which also flows through the Bavarian Forest. Here, however, more experienced canoeists will get their money’s worth.
