Haidel, Mountain summit in Bavaria, Germany.

Haidel is a mountain in the Bavarian Forest with an elevation of about 1,166 meters (3,825 feet). The peak offers wide views across the heavily forested landscape of the surrounding region.

A medieval salt-trading route, the Prachatitzer Steig of the so-called Golden Steige, ran from Passau over the Haidel toward Prachatitz in Bohemia. In 1925 a storm levelled the summit forest and revealed the view; a 15-metre wooden observation tower followed in 1934, demolished in 1948 as unsafe. A 25-metre wooden tower opened in 1970, was repaired in 1984 and 1990, closed in 1997 and removed in 1998. The current 35.16-metre tower of Douglas fir and larch, with 159 steps to a platform at 30.33 metres, was consecrated on 27 June 1999.

The medieval Prachatitzer Steig, one of the "Golden Steige" salt-trade routes, ran from Passau over the Haidel toward Prachatitz in Bohemia. Since 1967 the Leopoldsreut section of the Bavarian Forest Association, founded by pastor Herbert Kessler, has opened the Haidel area with numerous hiking trails and maintains the summit tower.

The mountain is reachable from various marked hiking trails from different starting points. The best time to visit is from late spring through early autumn when conditions on the paths are favorable.

The summit's 35.16-metre lookout tower, built in 1999 from Douglas fir and larch, replaced two earlier wooden towers (1934 and 1970) that were demolished as unsafe. Its 159 steps lead to a platform at 30.33 metres, and since 3 April 2007 the tower roof has also carried antennas providing wireless broadband to Freyung, Grainet, Haidmühle and neighbouring villages.