Explore Hessen, BaWü and Bavaria on the 3-Länder Cycle Path

Bike Touring Collection by Johanna

Tours

14:50 h

133 mi

6,775 ft

The 3-Länder-Radweg (3-State Cycle Path) leads you through three federal states in Germany: Hessen, Baden-Württemberg, and Bavaria. You cycle through the beautiful Odenwald low mountain range, immerse yourself in the Neckar Valley with its magnificent castles, enjoy delicious wine, and explore idyllic half-timbered towns on the Main Cycle Path.

In this Collection, I introduce you to the 200-km (124-mile) long circular in five stages, averaging about 40 kilometres (25 miles) per day. I chose Erbach, a town in the Odenwald, as my starting point. You can easily reach the town with the Odenwald Railway from Frankfurt, for example. For timetables, see: odenwaldmobil.de (website is in German language only).

As the cycle path is well-connected to the rail network, you can easily join the route at any point along the trail. This also makes it easy to travel to and from your adventure. There’s also plenty of accommodation such as hotels, guesthouses, holiday rentals and campsites in the stage destinations.

Cycling through the Odenwald can be challenging as some stages include lots of ascents in the mountains. However, your hard work is always rewarded with unforgettable panoramic views and well-deserved descents. You’ll discover wonderful thick forests as well as romantic river valleys. You follow the River Neckar, cycling through the flat landscapes that have jumped straight from the pages of a fairytale, complete with castles towering above the river valley. You can also relax on the Main Cycle Path as you ride through unique scenery, treating yourself to a drop of wine from time to time.

Tip: The three-day 3-Länder cycling event takes place every year at the end of July/beginning of August. You can take part in the event to ride the route with over 250 fellow cyclists.

On The Map

Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Etappe 1: Von Erbach (Odenwald) nach Hirschhorn (Neckar) – 3-Länder-Radweg
Difficult
03:31
26.0 mi
7.4 mph
2,275 ft
2,575 ft
Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A good starting point for the round tour through the three countries is in Erbach in the Odenwald. Here you can easily get there with the Odenwaldbahn from Frankfurt. You can find the exact timetables at odenwaldmobil.de.Right at the beginning of the stage it goes uphill. From Erbach you pedal up to the picturesque wooded Geisberg. The subsequent, well-deserved descent leads you through an open landscape to Ebersberg. On the way you can enjoy wonderful views of the Odenwald.
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Etappe 2: Von Hirschhorn (Neckar) nach Mosbach – 3-Länder-Radweg
Intermediate
02:31
24.5 mi
9.7 mph
1,125 ft
1,000 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
At the start of the second stage you cross the Neckar and can look back to Hirschhorn again. Because from here you have a picture-book view of the castle and the monastery, which are enthroned high above the river.On the southern bank of the Neckar you cycle through Ersheim, which is still in Hesse, and shortly afterwards cross the border to Baden-Württemberg.
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Etappe 3: Von Mosbach nach Buchen (Odenwald) – 3-Länder-Radweg
Difficult
03:00
24.5 mi
8.2 mph
1,550 ft
950 ft
Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
From Mosbach you first cycle a little on flat paths through the Elztal. Then you turn off and start a long ascent that gently takes you into the woods and onto the hills of the Odenwald.The bike path is particularly beautiful because it runs on the so-called hiking railway, the former route of the Odenwald Express. In addition to …
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Etappe 4: Von Buchen (Odenwald) nach Klingenberg am Main – 3-Länder-Radweg
Intermediate
02:45
29.1 mi
10.6 mph
875 ft
1,575 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
From Buchen you drive to the Hummelsberg. Here the landscape is open and you can let your gaze wander far into the distance. After this moderate ascent you pass Walldürn. Then a long descent with smaller counter climbs awaits you.You roll down through the wonderful forest through the valley of the Marsbach and cross the border between Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria on the way. Schneeberg is the first place on the Bavarian side, followed by Amorbach.
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Etappe 5: Von Klingenberg am Main nach Erbach (Odenwald) – 3-Länder-Radweg
Intermediate
03:03
29.4 mi
9.6 mph
950 ft
625 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
At the start of the last stage on the 3-country cycle path, you cross the Main and drive to Wörth, where you change the bank again. On the planet path it goes to Obernburg. Here you cross the Main for the last time and from now on follow the tributary Mümling.Wonderful paths lead you along the Mümling through romantic …
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