© Naturpark Frankenwald & Marco Felgenhauer
Magical woodland & trails – cycling in Germany’s Franconian Forest
Bike Touring Collection by FrankenTourismus
10
Tours
27:32 h
215 mi
17,825 ft
Whether you prefer riding rooty trails or smooth, well-maintained cycle paths, you’ll find a suitable route in Germany’s Franconian Forest. The area offers an incredible range of cycle paths along farm tracks, former railway lines, single trails, and cycle paths, far away from any crowds. You will find something to suit your riding style and ability – from relaxed rides to heart-pumping climbs. With sloping hills, imposing castles, and idyllic streams, this low mountain range is one of Southern Germany’s best-kept secrets.
The Rehbach and Fischbach valleys offer relaxed rides for pleasure cyclists, families, and e-bike riders alike. These routes explore the valleys and wild meadows that make the Franconian Forest so unique.
If you are an ambitious touring cyclist you can ride to the historic towns of Kronach, Bad Steben, Kulmbach, and Helmbrechts. Impressive castles and fortresses such as Schauenstein Castle, natural springs such as the famous Höllental springs, and refreshing swimming lakes are great places to stop for a break en route. In Kulmbach, you can enjoy a regional beer with a bratwurst, for which the town is world-famous. The spa town of Rodach offers the warmest thermal spring in Northern Bavaria. You can discover your competitive streak on a route over the famous Rennsteig, a ridgeline that follows the boundary of Thuringian Forest, Thuringian Highland, and Franconian Forest. The largest cross-country race in Europe takes place here every year.
If you prefer something a little more rugged, I’ve included three mountain bike routes that take you over hills and across valleys. On these stages, you can ride up to the highest point of the Franconian Forest, the Döbraberg, explore the wild Steinachklamm Gorge and visit the rafting village of Wallenfels.
To make it easy to embark on your adventure, most of the routes can be reached by train. Only the smaller towns of Schwarzenbach am Wald and Gräfengehaig are a bit off the beaten track. However, you can reach Schwarzenbach am Wald via bus from Naila or Kronach. In addition, all routes, except for the beautiful Rennsteig route, are circular, meaning you can start at any point along the way.
On these ten bike routes, you can look forward to adventures in spectacular nature, enjoying the open road to yourself.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- Intermediate02:2525.7 mi10.6 mph775 ft1,725 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The approximately 42-kilometer tour from Steinbach am Wald takes you along the legendary Rennsteig mountain trail to medieval Kronach with its imposing Rosenberg Fortress. You will overcome the approximately 240 vertical meters uphill in the first eight kilometers. After that, you only roll relaxed downhill…
by Frankenwald
- Intermediate02:1120.5 mi9.4 mph950 ft950 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Castles and palaces all the time - take your time for this historic tour from Kronach, because you may want to explore some of the walls not just from the outside.
With medieval flair you start in the beautiful old town of Kronach. You roll through the picturesque Hasslach valley without any noteworthy…
by Frankenwald
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- Expert02:4224.7 mi9.1 mph1,775 ft1,775 ftExpert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
The textile tour comes up with many moderate climbs on longer sections of the route. As a nice day tour, it is ideal for recreational cyclists and families.
Before you start pedaling, you should definitely take a look at the Upper Franconian Textile Museum in your starting place in Helmbrechts. There…
by Frankenwald
- Intermediate02:2921.3 mi8.6 mph1,425 ft1,425 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
A varied cycle tour for recreational cyclists and families offers you the "Tour to the cure". You drive through gentle valley floors and moving terrain peppered with a few climbs.
Bad Steben is the starting point for the 34-kilometer circular tour. You cycle past the spa gardens, which you have noted…
by Frankenwald
- Intermediate01:109.91 mi8.5 mph575 ft575 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
With the tour through the beautiful Fischbach valley and Seibelsdorf you go for a short sporty round. Magnificent nature alternates with Franconian villages and culture and physical well-being are not neglected.
Before you get on your bike, you can visit the raft museum in Unterrodach. Here you get exciting…
by Frankenwald
- Intermediate02:1019.8 mi9.1 mph1,250 ft1,250 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The 3-B tour stands for the most beautiful things on a bike tour: castle, beer and bratwurst. You can enjoy all of this on this sporty family tour, which is also ideal for e-bikes and takes you into the rural surroundings of Kulmbach.
You start in the old margrave town of Kulmbach, which is famous for…
by Frankenwald
- Intermediate00:588.97 mi9.3 mph700 ft725 ftIntermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Are you traveling with your kids and looking for a sporty, varied bike tour? Then the circuit around the Rehbachtal is just right for you. For about 15 kilometers you drive on forest paths and quiet roads through beautiful natural landscapes and small towns.
It starts in the idyllic village of Gräfengehaig…
by Frankenwald
- Expert04:5129.4 mi6.1 mph3,825 ft3,825 ftExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
This tour impresses with one thing in particular: crisp vertical meters! In return you will be served numerous magnificent views, best single trails and fast descents. Forests, open spaces, ridges and valleys ensure that you don't get bored. If you want to keep the tour a little shorter, you can turn…
by Frankenwald
- Expert04:5430.6 mi6.2 mph3,725 ft3,750 ftExpert mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
On this technically demanding tour to the highest peak in the Franconian Forest, the Döbraberg, you can enjoy fantastic panoramic views over the region in addition to single root trails.
The crisp mountain bike tour starts in the beautiful Schwarzenbach am Wald. After a first fast descent you will find…
by Frankenwald
- Intermediate03:4224.2 mi6.5 mph2,825 ft2,850 ftIntermediate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
The approximately 40-kilometer mountain bike tour demands a lot of fitness from you. On gravel paths, partly asphalt and demanding short trail and single trail passages, you can get into the wild and romantic Steinach Valley with the unique Steinach Gorge.
In the center of Presseck you get on your saddle…
by Frankenwald
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Collection Stats
- Tours10
- Distance215 mi
- Duration27:32 h
- Elevation17,825 ft
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