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Wild campers caught at Forggensee: there is a risk of high fines!
Füssen police check wild campers at Forggensee. Violations of the Nature Conservation Act lead to fines in Ostallgäu.
Wild campers caught at Forggensee: there is a risk of high fines!
The beautiful landscape around Lake Forggensee in Ostallgäu attracts numerous nature lovers, but not everyone knows that wild camping in these regions makes things a little more complicated. On Monday, July 15, 2025, the Füssen police took increased action against wild campers and discovered four vehicles that were illegally parked in the landscape protection area around Lake Forggensee and spending the night there. Despite clear signage, many people, both locals and tourists, seem unaware of the regulation. According to the Allgäuer Zeitung, parking vehicles or camping in such protected areas is not permitted, even for one night. As a result, fines were imposed on the affected campers, which, depending on the severity of the violation, can amount to up to 2,500 euros.
Wild camping is generally prohibited in Germany, which means that spending the night in tents or mobile homes in places without express permission is not permitted. In Bavaria you have the right to enjoy nature, but strict rules apply under the Nordbayern nature conservation law. Overnight stays in parking spaces are only permitted to restore driving ability, but not with camping equipment. Bivouacking under a tarpaulin is often permitted, but not in nature conservation and landscape protection areas.
Growing awareness of nature conservation
The police in Füssen carry out regular priority checks at popular lakes, including Forggensee and Schwansee. Complaints about wild campers are becoming more and more common, particularly because of the problems associated with them such as disturbing wildlife, trash left behind or even blocked access roads. This problem is also reflected in the catalog of fines, which provide for strict penalties for unauthorized camping in Bavaria. Accordingly, there are fines of up to 1,500 euros in landscape protection areas and 2,500 euros for overnight stays in nature reserves. This information comes from Bussgeld-Info.
Authorities appeal to locals and tourists to find out about the permitted parking spaces and to show respect for nature. The public is increasingly aware of nature conservation and there are increasingly legal alternatives to wild camping, such as official campsites in different regions, which offer routine but also help to protect nature.
Recommended alternatives and rules
If you are still interested in camping in nature, you can take advantage of the numerous official wild campsites in Bavaria, which are often equipped with basic comforts such as toilets and fireplaces. These include, for example, places in the Franconian Forest, Spessart or Bavarian Forest. It is particularly important to follow a few rules when camping in nature: open fires should be avoided, garbage should always be taken with you, and noise should be kept to a minimum.
So if you want to spend the night in nature, it's best to find out about the current regulations beforehand and respect the environment. This means that camping in nature remains a pleasure for everyone – without any unpleasant surprises!