Nature Park & National Park Kellerwald-Edersee – Discover UNESCO World Heritage

Welcome to the Kellerwald Nature Park and National Park-Edersee.

Forests, mountains and water become a dream backdrop for hikers, cyclists and nature lovers.

experience nature

Quiet, original, impressive!

In the Kellerwald Nature Park and National Park-Edersee Northern Hesse reveals its wildest side. Ancient beech forests, a UNESCO World Heritage site, characterize this protected landscape. Powerful, untouched, and unique in its originality.

The nature park invites you to active exploration: on foot, by bike, or on the water. A wealth of geological, natural, and historical attractions await discovery in the diverse cultural and natural landscape. Numerous marked hiking trails lead through forests, meadows, and stream valleys, across agricultural landscapes, past castles and palaces, and through villages. The national park, however, remains the preserve of nature. Here, whatever wants to grow is allowed to develop naturally. Humans observe rather than intervene. Whether on the Urwaldsteig (Ancient Forest Trail), the Kellerwaldsteig (Kellerwald Trail), or along the winding... Edersees: The region offers quiet paths, wide views and intense nature experiences.

With the Kellerwald National Park Centre, the Wildlife Park, the Kellerwald Clock, the Beech House and the Cultural Ark with Information Centre, the relationship between man and forest is made vividly and sensitively tangible – without spectacle, but with depth.

Facilities of the Nature Park and National Park Kellerwald-Edersee:

Circular hiking trails in the Kellerwald National Park-Edersee

The Kellerwald National Park presents itself like a sea of beech trees.Edersee the viewer from a bird's eye view. Again and again, hikers are treated to breathtaking views of the Edersee and its bays, extending far into the beech forests, appear almost like fjords. Enchanted beech trees and clear springs await you with over 20 circular hiking trails. You will experience tranquility in the endless meadow valleys, and along the steep slopes you will experience the awe that Mother Nature teaches us. As a reward, they lead to the most beautiful viewpoints and down to the Edersee. And all of them lead you into the fascinating wilderness of the national park.

The wilderness of tomorrow is being created here

In a national park, humans don't intervene. It's paradoxical, but there's hardly more life than in deadwood. Beetles and insects live in it, moss and fungi grow on it, and woodpeckers build their holes in the trunk.

There is often the expectation that a jungle is dark and wild. But the canopy actually shines in lush green and the forest appears friendly. As rangers, we observe and explain to our guests how slowly beech trees grow in the primeval forest and that their childhood and youth last 200-300 years. It is now clear at the latest: we are not actually protecting nature. It regenerates again and again. It may take her several hundred years to do this. Humans don't have this time - so we protect ourselves because we need nature.

The national park hosts numerous events for kindergarten groups, school classes, families, and nature enthusiasts. My favorite hike is the Morning Dew Tour.

The Edersee is and remains in my heart.

by Bernd Schenk, National Park Ranger

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kellerwald-Edersee in the top league.

Let nature be nature. People can be guests and watch.

Guided walks

fact series

Experience, understand and enjoy UNESCO World Heritage in the Kellerwald Nature Park and National Park-Edersee.

is the Kellerwald Nature Park-Edersee large and encloses the national park of the same name.

is the Kellerwald National Park-Edersee large and protects one of the last large and near-natural red beech forests in Central Europe.

UNESCO has protected parts of the Kellerwald-Edersee declared a World Heritage Site!

Pure springs and streams, rocky meadows and scree slopes form valuable habitats alongside ancient beech forest remnants, dry oak forests and scree and ravine forests.

Well over 500 guided hikes and events

take place every year in the Kellerwald Nature and National Park.Edersee and make every nature lover's heart beat faster. Whether it's flora, fauna, World Heritage sites, or geology – with the nature park guides or rangers of the national park, you'll learn about the local flora and fauna and learn interesting facts about the geological features of the region and its protected areas. Many of these tours and excursions can also be booked individually for groups.