Wildlife park right next door

Deer enclosures, a forest climate trail and hiking paths – free of charge and right next to the cave.

Forest path with sunbeams in the beech woods of the wildlife park — **Wiehl wildlife park**Run by the town of Wiehl

Fallow deer in an enclosure at the wildlife park

Animals, woods and fresh air.

The Wiehl wildlife park lies in the woods above the cave and is open all day; admission is free. It is run by the town of Wiehl (Freizeit- und Sportstätten Wiehl) and was founded in 1966.

open all day: free
circular path, pushchair-friendly: 1.8 km
tree guides and climate benches: Forest climate trail
welcome on a lead: Dogs

Stag with antlers in an enclosure at the wildlife park

Animals and paths.

The animals

Fallow deer, red deer, mouflon and wild boar live in the enclosures. In autumn you can hear the deer rut.

Feeding is only allowed with suitable food in small amounts.

Forest climate trail

The trail shows how the forest is changing with climate change: with tree guides, climate benches and an insect hotel.

Hiking

A waymarked access trail (Panoramasteig) leads from Wiehl bus station past the cave, wildlife park and Waldhotel. The circular path in the park is about 1.8 km long.

Watch quietly, marvel softly.

Native wild animals live in generous enclosures in the wildlife park: fallow deer with their light, spotted coats, powerful red deer, the curved horns of the mouflon and wild boar foraging in the beech wood. You will see the animals best if you stand still and bring a little patience. In the morning and late afternoon they are often more active than around midday.

In autumn you can hear the deer rut – an experience many visitors never forget. For children the enclosures are a piece of nature to get close to, but from a distance: the animals are not pets. Feeding is only allowed with suitable food in small amounts. Animal food is available at the kiosk and the ticket desk, and the notices at the enclosures say what is allowed.

Forest in climate change.

The forest climate trail is part of the project “Wald im (Klima-)Wandel” (Forest in (Climate) Change). Tree guides show which tree species cope better with dry and warm summers. Climate benches invite you to sit and reflect, and an insect hotel shows how much life there is in a forest.

Since the park was founded in 1966 it has had a woodland educational trail. Today’s trail combines a walk and learning without you noticing: children discover trees, leaves and animals, and adults read the signs. For school classes it is a good reason to combine the cave and the forest in one day – more under Groups & schools.

Children watching the wild boar at the fence

The path through the park.

The circular path in the wildlife park is about 1.8 kilometres (1.1 miles) long and runs along forest paths with a compacted gravel surface. It is pushchair-friendly; dogs are welcome on a lead. If you want more exercise, use the waymarked access trail (Panoramasteig): it leads from Wiehl bus station past the cave, the wildlife park and the Waldhotel and can be combined into a longer hike.

Sturdy footwear is advisable, because the forest floor can be slippery after rain. Bring a jacket even in summer if you go into the woods after the cave: the change from 8 °C underground to summer air is noticeable.

Out, run, picnic.

Children can burn off energy in the wildlife park: running, counting animals, collecting pine cones and chestnuts. Picnic benches in the woods invite you to take a break; you can bring a packed lunch or get something at the Waldhotel and the kiosk. After the cave, the wildlife park is the ideal counterbalance: the little ones who had to listen quiet as mice below ground may be loud again above.

If you are planning a children’s birthday party in the cave, you can build the wildlife park into the day – treasure hunt underground, then watching animals. More under Families & kids’ parties.

Young animal lying on a meadow in the wildlife park

Cave, wildlife park and food.

Morning
Guided tour of the cave
45 minutes at 8 °C, every hour on the hour. Book a place
Midday
Lunch at the Waldhotel
Restaurant and terrace are right by the cave, and there is ice cream and coffee at the kiosk.
Afternoon
Wildlife park and forest climate trail
Watch the animals, walk the circular path, let the children run wild.

The dripstone cave lies in the Oberbergisches Land near Wiehl, east of Cologne. You can read how to get here under Plan your visit.

To the Wiehl wildlife park To the Waldhotel

How to get to the wildlife park.

The entrance to the wildlife park is at the cave entrance and kiosk by the Waldhotel, Pfaffenberg 1 in Wiehl. By car, you park free of charge at the hotel; a hikers’ car park “Tropfsteinhöhle” and a motorhome pitch are nearby. By bus, take line 302 to the stop “Tropfsteinhöhle”, directly below the wildlife park entrance. From Cologne you leave the A4 motorway at the exit Gummersbach/Wiehl.

You will find all routes and times at a glance under Plan your visit.

Questions

The wildlife park answered.

Is there an admission fee for the wildlife park?

No. The Wiehl wildlife park is open all day and admission is free.

Are dogs allowed in the wildlife park?

Yes, dogs are welcome on a lead.

Is the circular path suitable for pushchairs?

Yes. The circular path is about 1.8 km (1.1 miles) long and pushchair-friendly. It runs along forest paths with a compacted gravel surface.

Which animals live in the wildlife park?

Fallow deer, red deer, mouflon and wild boar. In autumn you can hear the deer rut.

May I feed the animals?

Feeding is only allowed with suitable food in small amounts. Please follow the notices at the enclosures.

How do I get to the wildlife park?

The wildlife park is right at the dripstone cave on Pfaffenberg. Free parking is available at the Waldhotel, and bus line 302 stops at “Tropfsteinhöhle”.