Nature
Alpine skiing - happiness on the slopes beckons on the Arber
The mountains around the winter sports resort of Zwiesel offer alpine skiers the best conditions: The Arber ski area is only a few kilometres away. Between Christmas and the beginning of March, a free ski bus for Zwiesel guests connects the climatic health resort with the snow-sure ski region four times a day. The Arber, the highest mountain in the region, is not called the “King of the Bavarian Forest” for nothing: seven downhill pistes are available to skiers. From easy family runs to challenging World Cup downhill runs on steep slopes, everyone will find their favourite downhill run here. A cable car and several lifts take you to the summit plateau. Snowboarders are attracted by the attractive fun park, and there is a toboggan run for families. The ski season usually lasts well into spring, as all the pistes are on north or east-facing slopes and the snow often remains there until May.
There are also two ski slopes in Zwiesel itself: the Glasberg lift is located right on the outskirts of the town with a sunny and easy slope that is particularly suitable for beginners, pleasure skiers and children. A fun park also makes the hearts of all snowboarders beat faster! In the idyllic district of Rabenstein, four kilometres from Zwiesel, lies the Rabenstein T-bar lift on a somewhat steeper slope. With a length of 350 metres, it is suitable for beginners and advanced skiers. Floodlit skiing also takes place there every Thursday. Due to its higher altitude, the Rabenstein slope is snow-sure.
The Bavarian Forest - a paradise for cross-country skiers
Around 70 kilometres of trails are groomed around Zwiesel, making the glass town a paradise for cross-country skiers. The easy five-kilometre trail near Bärnzell, a small village on the southern edge of the town, is very sunny. Four trails of different lengths – from one and a half to twelve kilometres – start at the ski stadium in the western part of the town. All four trails are prepared for skaters and are also groomed for classic skiing. And of course there is also a floodlit cross-country skiing trail at night.
The Kaisersteig trail in Rabenstein offers pure cross-country skiing enjoyment at an altitude of 750 metres. The three classic trails are 6, 10 and 14 kilometres long. Due to their altitude, these trails are very snow-sure. They are also part of the 150 km long Bavarian Forest cross-country ski trail. Professionals also feel at home here: with a difference in altitude of up to 150 metres, they are significantly more challenging than all other trails. There is also a 3.5 kilometre long skating trail in the area of the ski lift.
And for all those who have staying power: Zwiesel is located on the 160-kilometre-long Bavarian Forest cross-country ski trail, which leads from Silbersbach/Lohberg on the north side of the Arber via the national park in a southerly direction to Haidmühle on the Czech border and a little further on to Neuschönau and the Lusen National Park Centre.
Other popular cross-country skiing areas in the immediate vicinity of Zwiesel are the winter sports centre at the Zwieselerwaldhaus with around 30 km of groomed trails and of course the highest cross-country skiing area on the Arber, the Bretterschachten. There are 65 kilometres of trails from classic to skating. Zwiesel’s free ski bus also travels there four times a day. An up-to-date winter sports map (cross-country ski trail map) of the area, which is available for a small fee at our reception and at the Zwiesel Tourist Information Centre, shows the variety of cross-country ski trails and cleared hiking trails in the area.