Hiking in a nature reserve: Which activities are prohibited - and which fines threaten. There are almost 9,000 nature reserves in Germany.
Anyone who wants to hike in these places must adhere to the Federal Nature Conservation Act or state legislation. It is generally forbidden to set up a tent or caravan, make noise, leave rubbish or light a fire. In Bavarian nature reserves, for example, it costs hikers up to 2,500 euros if they illegally leave their garbage behind. In Thuringia's catalog of fines it ranges up to 10,000 euros.