Cross country tours in Franconia

Day and night on the trails - both in the Nordic Park Fichtelgebirge and in the Outdoor Parc Frankenwald, you can ski all day then keep skiing under floodlights until late in the evening. In the Fichtel Mountains, panoramic trails lead round the summit of the Ochsenkopf while cross country skiers in the Frankenwald (Franconian Forest) can explore the region’s only “glacier”.

Fairy-tale trails: Nordic Parc Fichtelgebirge

A powdery paradise for cross country skiing can be found in the north of Franconia: the Nordic Parc Fichtelgebirge.

Ochsenkopf/Fichtel Mountains and Luisenburg, Waldstein and Kornberg: These are the fairy-tale names of the mountains through which the trails in the Nordic Parc Fichtelgebirge run. Cross country skiers really will find almost fairy-tale conditions here. Whether they actually come across the region’s legendary ghosts and spirits is another matter. However, it is a fact that the Fichtel Mountains have some of the most reliable snow conditions in the whole of Germany.

Ideal conditions, therefore, to explore the Low Mountains on cross country skis – on leisure, fitness and sports trails that are suitable for both classic and skating styles. A total of 255 kilometres of trail wind through the Nordic Parc Fichtelgebirge: All beautifully prepared and divided into various levels of difficulty. Thanks to the abundance of main and connecting stretches, the trails are extremely well interlinked and can therefore be combined according to choice.

The views for cross country skiers in the Fichtel Mountains are outstanding in the true sense of the word – not least thanks to the panoramic trails round the summit of the Ochsenkopf, Franconia’s second highest mountain. Here you can glide over the snow at altitudes of up to 900 metres, either avoiding any notable inclines or with some steep and curving descents.

Another experience is the night-time trail in the Nordic Parc Fichtelgebirge. You can ski until 9 p.m. on the trails on the Bleaml Alm, in the Wagenthal, in Gefrees or on the Luisenburg, thus extending the short winter days in a way that is both active and hugely enjoyable.

The park’s rollerski piste is also floodlit in winter. At 2.5 kilometres in length and between 3.5 and 10 metres wide, this training stretch can also be used when no snow has fallen: In winter it can be covered in artificial snow, and in summer you can dash around the bends on inline skates or rollerskis.

More information: www.tz-fichtelgebirge.de

Ideale Voraussetzungen für Wintersportler

Langlauf rund um Wülfertsreuth im Fichtelgebirge

On the Franconian “glacier”: Outdoor Parc Frankenwald

In the Outdoor Parc Frankenwald, cross country skiers enjoy their circuits on the Walberngrün glacier.

A glacier? In the middle of Franconia? Yes, it really does exist! It’s in the Outdoor Parc Frankenwald and is ideal terrain for cross country skiers who enjoy open tracks in the heart of beautiful natural scenery. With its natural surroundings, the Walberngrün glacier between Hof and Kulmbach is a sure-fire winner, being located in the middle of the Nature Park Frankenwald, which is known for its reliable snow and wildly romantic forest scenery.

The Frankenwald (Franconian Forest) runs over the Low Mountains – and to be fair, despite being called the Walberngrün glacier, it has to be said that, unlike the Alps, there is no permanent ice in the high altitude sections of the Frankenwald (Franconian Forest). However, in Walberngrün, a district of Grafengehaig, the snow stays on the ground longer than usual over a relatively large area. This is why the locals have given it the affectionate nickname of the Walberngrün “glacier”.

While it is mostly downhill skiers who race over the Alpine glaciers, the Franconian glacier belongs to the cross country skiers, who can choose between a wide range of circular trails for any ability. Beginners, recreational skiers and serious athletes, in classic or skating style, plus trail lengths of between 3 and 16 km: Everything is possible on the glacier. From Tuesday to Friday, floodlighting between 5.00 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. illuminates a trail measuring up to 4 km.

However, the glacier still has more to offer in terms of cross country diversity. It is situated at the foot of the Kriegwald forest, which is also criss-crossed with trails. In contrast to the “open” stretches on the glacier, here you travel mainly through snow-covered winter woods. Both trail systems interconnect, which means that any tour can be varied and extended at will.

The trails on the glacier are maintained and marked by the Gösmes-Walberngrün sports association – and cross country skiers will find one final surprise on their sports ground: A Laser Biathlon facility, where you can get a taste of this popular winter competitive sport.