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Best forest destinations in Europe

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Black Forest
Dark woods, lakes and hilltop villages
9.3
The range runs about 100 miles from north to south and up to 30 miles wide. Feldberg is the highest peak at 4,898 feet. Winter work by farmers grew into the cuckoo clock trade. The Black Forest National Park opened in 2014 and covers about 24,900 acres. The Romans called the range Silva Marciana.
Highlights:
  • 🍰 Taste Black Forest cake at a local bakery
  • 💦 Stroll through Triberg waterfalls, Europe's highest falls
  • 🏞️ Hike the Schwarzwald Panorama Trail to summit views
Freiburg im Breisgau
Sunny Black Forest gateway with a Gothic minster
7.5
The city is at the southwestern foothills of the Black Forest and serves as a tourist entry point. The Schauinsland cable car runs 2.2 miles from Günterstal and is the longest in Germany. Schlossberg offers wide views and a funicular. Freiburg is known as an eco-city and has 237,460 residents.
Highlights:
  • 🚠 Ride the Schauinslandbahn to explore the Black Forest mountains
  • 🚶‍♀️ Wander through the charming alleys of the old town
  • ⛪ Climb the tower of Freiburg Minster for panoramic views
Bavaria
Alps, castles, beer gardens and old towns
8.6
Germany's first national park opened in the Bavarian Forest on 7 October 1970. It covers about 59,900 acres. The highest peak is Großer Rachel at 4,767 feet. A pair of wolves was found in the park in 2016. With Šumava across the Czech border it forms Central Europe's largest contiguous forest.
Highlights:
  • 🚗 Drive the scenic Romantic Road through medieval towns
  • 🍺 Join Oktoberfest in Munich and raise a stein with locals
  • 🏰 Explore Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairytale icon of Bavaria
La Palma
Volcanic beauty under starry skies
8.5
Remnants of evergreen laurel forest survive in the uplands as a relic of subtropical forests that once covered the island. Canary Island pine is especially abundant here. Caldera de Taburiente is about 5.6 miles wide and 4,900 feet deep. Roque de los Muchachos reaches 7,959 feet. A biosphere reserve was established in 1983.
Highlights:
  • 🔭 Visit Roque de los Muchachos Observatory for starry nights
  • 🏞️ Explore Caldera de Taburiente National Park’s rugged beauty
  • 🌋 Hike the Volcano Route with breathtaking lava landscapes
Swiss National Park
Majestic alpine wilderness, untouched and serene
8.4
The park was founded on 1 August 1914 and is the oldest in the Alps. It covers 66 square miles. Overnight stays are banned except at Chamanna Cluozza hut. Dogs and campfires are not allowed and leaving marked paths is prohibited. About 50 miles of paths lead to ibex, chamois and red deer.
Highlights:
  • 🦌 Photograph chamois at sunrise over mountains
  • 🐐 Spot ibex roaming near Gletsch Valley
  • 🥾 Hike Panorama Trail, view alpine vistas
Graubünden
Alpine wonderland with pristine lakes and trails
9.5
Forests cover about a fifth of Switzerland's largest canton. The canton covers 2,743 square miles and has about 72 people per square mile, the lowest density of any canton. Swiss National Park lies in the Engadin valley. The Albula Line and Bernina Railway are UNESCO sites. Three languages are spoken, German, Romansh and Italian.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Visit Sils Maria's vibrant art scene
  • 🚶‍♂️ Hike the scenic Rhine Gorge to witness dramatic cliffs
  • 🏔️ Explore St. Moritz's alpine scenery and luxury boutiques
Fontainebleau
Royal Château and Enchanting Forest
7.9
In 1664 Jean-Baptiste Colbert began a replanting campaign when less than 20% of the forest was wooded. French kings hunted here and François I rebuilt the château from 1527. Sandstone boulders cover nearly 10,000 acres. Théodore Rousseau and other Barbizon School painters took inspiration from the forest and opposed pine plantings.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit the ornate Napoleon I apartments and museums
  • 🌲 Hike through the scenic Fontainebleau forest trails
  • 🏰 Tour the grand Château de Fontainebleau palace
Cairngorms National Park
Scotland’s Wild Heart of Adventure
8.1
Established in 2003, this is the largest national park in the UK at 1,748 square miles. It holds more than half of Scotland's surviving Caledonian forest. Capercaillie live in the pinewoods. About 150 reindeer roam the high ground after a Swedish herdsman brought them in 1952. The park has 55 Munros.
Highlights:
  • 🏰 Explore historic Balmoral Castle and royal estate
  • 🐾 Visit Highland Wildlife Park for rare Scottish animals
  • 🏞️ Hike to Loch an Eilein with its 13th-century castle
Hallerbos
Enchanted woodland draped in emerald mist
The forest covers 1,360 acres and was once part of the ancient Silva Carbonaria. German forces removed most of the old trees during World War I. Reforestation ran from 1930 to 1950. The bluebell carpet lasts only a few weeks each spring and draws many visitors.
Highlights:
  • 🥪 Enjoy a picnic beside the tranquil forest stream
  • 💙 Spot bluebells blooming in spring’s natural carpet
  • 🌲 Stroll through the emerald Hallerbos forest at sunrise
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