© Westerwald Gäste-Service e.V. | Foto: Dominik Ketz
Of narrow valleys & scenic heights - the WesterwaldSteig
Hiking Collection by Top Trails of Germany
16
days
1-5 h
/ day
150 mi
15,450 ft
15,800 ft
150 miles (240 kilometers) through spectacular landscape: the WesterwaldSteig takes you through the low mountain range in 16 stages as it extends across Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. In this Collection, we present you the sections that will take you over one of Germany's best hiking trails which was awarded the title of Quality Hiking Path. Why? You can expect fabulous views, picturesque rock landscapes, idyllic lakes, great hiking trails through the hills and pretty half-timbered villages. In short: it's pure hiking bliss!
The starting point of the WesterwaldSteigs is in Hesse Herborn. From here, the path leads you to the highest point in the Westerwald, the Fuchskaute. You will wander through the deep Holzbachschlucht gorge, discover the Westerwald Lake District and learn more about the time when the volcanic rock basalt was mined in the region. Several monasteries are also located along your way to the Rhine. On the last leg to Bad Hönningen, you will dive into Roman history, before reaching the banks of the Rhine where you can reflect on your two week hiking adventure. This is the most extensive way to experience the Westerwald.
You can easily reach the start and end of the long-distance hiking trail by train. On the way, you will find many railway stations in villages if you want to shorten your adventure. You can also choose to do just do one or a few of the sections if you don't want to hike the whole WesterwaldSteig in one go. Many of the sections are not very long, so you can combine them with each other. The region is well connected by bus and train, just bear in mind that not all of the stages have transport links. More information and tips for the right connections can be found here: westerwaldsteig.de.
At the end of each hike, you will always find some accommodation. However, you should plan and book where you want to sleep in advance as there is not always a large choice. This way, you don't have to worry about where you will rest and you can enjoy the hiking even more.
If you are a thrill-seeker, then pack your via ferrata equipment. At stage 13, you can choose whether to take the more relaxed or adventurous way to the Hölderstein.
Let yourself be enchanted by the Westerwald – a region that is wonderful for hiking in any season and which will surprise you with a lot of variety.
Hiking trails of more than 3,700 kilometers! The Top Trails are characteristic, unique and fascinating. And with all their similarities, yet all different. Each of the 12 trails has its own exciting story, each has its own special character. No one is like the other. No matter which path you choose, you will find your adventure! Take a look at our Collections: komoot.de/user/toptrailsofgermany/collections
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Last updated: February 13, 2023
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Tours & Highlights
- Intermediate04:319.70 mi2.1 mph1,650 ft700 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Beautiful half-timbered houses, mysterious stone chambers and impressive landscapes - a lot of variety awaits you on the first stage of the WesterwaldSteig. You hike from Herborn to Breitscheid for almost 16 kilometers. With the train you will come relaxed to the starting point of your today's stage…
- Intermediate03:167.23 mi2.2 mph975 ft425 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The second stage on the WesterwaldSteig will be promising. The destination of the eleven-kilometer route is the Fuchskaute, the highest point in the Westerwald. The tour starts in the Hessian town of Breitscheid. The first few kilometers you hike relaxed uphill, past the Breitscheid airfield to the 615…
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- Intermediate03:328.24 mi2.3 mph300 ft800 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Relaxed hiking fun awaits you on the third stage of the WesterwaldSteig. The 13-kilometer route begins on the Fuchskaute and takes you to the town of Rennerod. You only have to master 90 meters in altitude, so you hike mostly downhill.
You leave the highest point of the Westerwald and hike along meadows…
- Intermediate04:2610.1 mi2.3 mph700 ft1,000 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
It continues on stage 4 of the WesterwaldSteig in the Hohen Westerwald. Today's hike takes you from Rennerod to Westerburg. The highlight of the 16-kilometer tour is the wild and romantic Holzbach Gorge.
From Rennerod you hike relaxed downhill through the forest to the Großer Secker Weiher. It is worth…
- Expert05:4813.1 mi2.3 mph1,175 ft1,175 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The fifth stage of the WesterwaldSteig offers you great views and relaxation in idyllic waters. The 21-kilometer route takes you up and down from Westerburg to Freilingen.
You leave Westerburg to the north and walk along the Schafbach to Hergenroth. Then you cross the train tracks and continue hiking…
- Expert05:0311.6 mi2.3 mph775 ft1,025 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
On stage 6 of the WesterwaldSteig you come high up: The observation tower on the Gräbersberg offers you a fantastic panorama of the western Westerwald. The starting point of the almost 19-kilometer tour is in Freilingen.
You leave the bank of the Postweiher, but you will soon reach the next lake, the…
- Easy01:393.72 mi2.3 mph450 ft100 ftEasy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Today you can really take your time: Stage 7 from Nistertal to Bad Marienberg is only six kilometers long, but no less beautiful. From Nistertal you hike along the Mühlgraben to the banks of the Great Nister. There you can discover the impressive bridge viaduct in the beech forest, over which the railway…
- Intermediate04:229.66 mi2.2 mph950 ft1,175 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Stage 8 of the WesterwaldSteig starts with an excursion into the rock world. At the basalt lake near Bad Marienberg, everything revolves around the volcanic rock basalt, which is formed when thin, low-silica magma emerges from the surface of the earth and cools there. The Westerwald basalts are around…
- Intermediate03:046.97 mi2.3 mph400 ft800 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
You can tackle the new stage of the WesterwaldSteig in a relaxed manner - you have to master a good eleven kilometers and only 130 meters in altitude. This leaves you more time to explore the Marienstatt monastery extensively, for example. Your hike starts in the beautiful old town of Hachenburg.
You…
- Expert05:5012.7 mi2.2 mph1,375 ft1,275 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The tenth stage of the WesterwaldSteig takes you underground and then back up again - variety is guaranteed on the 20-kilometer route. You start the hike in Limbach and immediately climb into a beautiful section along the Kleine Nister.
At the weather house you then leave the river and hike up to the…
- Intermediate04:229.74 mi2.2 mph975 ft925 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Today's section on the WesterwaldSteig, stage 11, takes you almost 16 kilometers from Marienthal to Weyerbusch. Before you leave the starting point, you visit the Marienthal monastery. It is definitely worth taking a look inside the Franciscan monastery.
You hike uphill until you stand on the 388 meter…
- Intermediate04:159.52 mi2.2 mph875 ft975 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Pure half-timbered romance awaits you on stage 12 of the WesterwaldSteig. You start the 15-kilometer tour in Weyerbusch and on your way to Flammersfeld you will hike through several idyllic places with the characteristic houses. Number one is the half-timbered village of Mehren after six kilometers.
Mehren…
- Expert04:079.13 mi2.2 mph1,075 ft775 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Stage 13 of the WesterwaldSteig will be adventurous - if you want it. You have the chance to climb the Hölderstein via ferrata. But if that doesn't matter to you or you don't have the right equipment with you, there is also a completely normal hiking variant. The 15-kilometer hike through the Grenzbachtal…
- Intermediate04:5510.6 mi2.1 mph1,325 ft1,525 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Stage 14 of the WesterwaldSteig shows you the Wiedtal and a little later the Asbach plateau. The starting point of the hike is the tranquil village of Horhausen. 17 kilometers have to be mastered to the stage destination Strauscheid.
You leave Horhausen and walk through several small villages down into…
- Expert05:0210.4 mi2.1 mph1,550 ft2,050 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Stage 15 on the WesterwaldSteig leads you on a nearly 17-kilometer route from Strauscheid into the Waldbreitbacher Wiedtal in the center of the Rhine-Westerwald. You leave the place and walk above the Wied through the forest. After almost three kilometers you will reach the Weißenfelser Ley, from which…
- Intermediate03:307.54 mi2.2 mph925 ft1,050 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The last section of the WesterwaldSteig brings you to ancient Roman territory. On the twelve-kilometer stretch from Waldbreitbach to Bad Hönningen you pass the Limes, the 550-kilometer-long protective wall that the Romans built to protect against the Teutons between the Rhine and the Danube.
You make…
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Collection Stats
- Tours16
- Distance150 mi
- Duration67:42 h
- Elevation15,450 ft15,800 ft
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