Kugelbahn Hikes in Europe: Why These Wooden Marble Runs Are Every Kid’s Favorite

What is a kugelbahn? Simply put, it is a marble run, but usually built right into the forest. It is a clever and charming way to make sure your kids hike faster than you the whole way. They will move about the same speed as their rolling marble, which means you will spend the whole hike catching up with them instead of dragging them along.

Each course begins with a spot to buy a wooden ball, called a kugel, usually for less than two euros. You will often find gumball-style machines near the trail entrance or by the route map. At paid trails, they might be found at the visitors center or tourism office, so it is worth looking around before you set off on the hike.

We visit these often enough that we keep a few spare kugels in the glovebox, just in case. They can usually be reused from one trail to another, though some trails require different ball sizes for the runs to work correctly, so do not assume they are compatible.

At first it might not seem like a big deal, but they are the life of the hiking party.

These are far more than simple marble runs. Many include obstacles and clever engineering to keep things interesting, and some even have mazes or plinko-style games along the way. The best ones have varying obstacles with pinball-style launch mechanisms or runs that continue for tens of meters. Each one is different, which is a big part of what keeps kids (and adults) so invested.

Normally you will find kugelbahn trails form a circular loop, hiking along a trail and returning to the start point. Along the trail every couple hundred meters or so, you will find another obstacle. It will seriously keep the kids ahead of you at all times as they want to run ahead to discover the next challenge.

I find my kids run ahead and then use the ‘run’ several times while they are waiting for those of us who decided to walk, to catch up. It’s incredibly effective in keeping everyone moving along as a quick pace.

We have found kugelbahns in forests throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia, and I am sure they can be found in other European countries too. Below is a map of the ones we have visited, along with the ones still on our list that I’ve been researching. I have added notes to the map with details and tips to help as you plan your own visit.

Some of our favorites include:

• Geisterwald in Russbach, Austria
• XXL Track in Brennental, Germany
• Kirkel track in Saarland, Germany

• What to wear: You will be on a hike, so practical forest attire is the way to go.
• Strollers? Most kugelbahn trails run on fairly tame hiking paths, but many are not stroller friendly. We learned that the hard way when we assumed one would be fine and my husband had to turn around with our youngest halfway through. Read the trail signs before you start, or ask hikers coming from the opposite direction if you are unsure.
• Age range: These trails work for a surprisingly wide range of ages, adults included. Our two-year-old loves having his own ball, and even though we carry him between some obstacles, he is eager to walk more of it than you would expect. And our oldest is ten and I could see him loving these hikes for a while.
• Kugel balls: The kugel marble ball sizes differ from trail to trail, so while we try to reuse ours when possible, check the size requirement before you assume the one in your glovebox will work.

If you have visited a kugelbahn we have not yet made it to, drop it in the comments. We are always adding to the list.

Be sure to check out our favorite Dolomites, Italy hikes with kids, which also had some incredible kugelbahns!