The Healing Power of Forests
Forest bathing, relaxation, and outdoor activities: Austria’s forests are reliable sources of rejuvenation.

Here are some of Austria’s most forested regions:

• Waldviertel in Lower Austria: Characterised by dense forests, gentle hills, and striking granite formations. Perfect for nature experiences and hiking.

• Mühlviertel in Upper Austria: A hilly, heavily forested region in northern Upper Austria, offering numerous hiking and recreational opportunities.

• Bregenzerwald in Vorarlberg: Known for its traditional wooden architecture and expansive forests. A region rich in unique culture and natural beauty.

• Gailtal in Carinthia: A valley with vast forested areas, offering both outdoor adventures and peaceful nature experiences.

• Lungau in SalzburgerLand: One of Salzburg’s most untouched regions, featuring extensive forests, meadows, and alpine pastures.

Austria’s forests are mostly privately owned. Around 82% of forested areas belong to private owners, including farmers, companies, and nobility. Private forests can range from large forestry operations to smaller agricultural woodlands. Approximately 50% of private forests belong to small-scale owners with less than 200 hectares.

About 18% are publicly owned, managed by the federal government, provinces, or municipalities. The Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf) manage around 850,000 hectares, making them the largest public forest managers. These areas are mainly state-owned and include national parks, protected areas, and extensive forestry regions.

Camping in the forest without permission is generally prohibited in Austria. If you wish to spend the night in a forest, you must ask for permission from the forest owner or the forestry road operator. Camping without authorisation can result in heavy fines.

The Rothwald Primeval Forest spans around 300 hectares in the Dürrenstein-Lassingtal Wilderness Area in Lower Austria. As a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, this wilderness area protects the largest remaining primeval forest in the Alps. Its purpose is to study ecological processes and raise awareness of the importance of preserving natural habitats.

Austria’s forests are home to 65 different tree species. Of these, 80% are conifers and 20% are deciduous trees. The most common conifer is spruce, making up 57.4% of all trees, while beech is the most widespread deciduous tree at 11.9%.

The ranking continues with:

• Larch: 5.2%

• Scots pine: 4.8%

• Fir: 2.9%

• Other species: 15.4%