The highest mountain is the Großer Arber ("Great Arber", 1456 m). The main river is the Regen, which is formed by the conjunction of White Regen and Black Regen and leaves the mountains towards the city of Regensburg.
A portion of the Bavarian Forest is occupied by the Bavarian Forest National Park (240 km²). Founded in 1970, it was the first national park of Germany.