The Goldsteig - 38 stages between Upper Palatinate and Passau

The first leg of the Goldsteig is the perfect start. From the train station Marktredwitz, which is approached from Munich, Regensburg and Nuremberg, it goes through the cozy old town out into the wide hilly landscape of the Upper Palatinate. With a wonderful view, you first wander across open pastures… read more

After the hilly first stage, the flat and relatively short second stage is a real pleasure trip. From the contemplative Friedenfels the Goldsteig leads you through the picturesque landscape of the 1,000 ponds. In the Middle Ages, carp were bred here in countless ponds for Lent. At some point, fish farming… read more

The third stage of the Goldsteig leads you to one of the most beautiful natural wonders of the Upper Palatinate. Just a few minutes walk from the starting point Falkenberg away it goes into the picturesque Waldnaabtal. In the densely wooded, narrow river valley, you can admire spectacular and exciting… read more

Also on the fourth stage you will be accompanied by the Waldnaab. From Windischeschenbach, the starting point of the stage, the river valley is no longer quite so dramatic, with its meadows and sparse forests but no less romantic. Only in Neustadt an der Waldnaab, where you will also find many inns and… read more

The first half of the fifth stage is characterized by magnificent views. Here you walk along colorful fields, over lush pastures and gentle hills. Behind Roggenstein the landscape changes. Now it goes into the enchanted and legendary forests of the Elms. The Elm is a hilly, densely wooded ridge. You… read more

On the sixth stage, the Goldsteig becomes quite mountainous - the hills of the Upper Palatinate slowly lift towards Oberpfälzer Wald and Bayerischer Wald. From Leuchtenberg you hike through a picturesque forest first downhill and then leisurely uphill to neighboring Wittschau. Here you cross the A6 motorway… read more

The seventh stage also forms the conclusion of the Oberpfälzer section. But the sparsely populated landscape shows off its best side again. On untreated hiking trails the Goldsteig leads you over the wooded slopes of the Schwangbühl. The highlight of today's stage is the castle ruin Wildstein. Although… read more

This stage forms the prelude to the northern route. Today's tour shows you just what the northern route has come up for you. After a detour to the well-preserved castle ruins Obermurach and an interesting walk through the Prackendorfer moss it is quite adventurous. Shortly after Tannstein the Goldsteig… read more

On the ninth stage you leave the rolling hills completely behind you and head into the mountainous foothills of the Upper Palatinate Forest. After the exciting tour over the Steinerne Wand on the day before, the Goldsteig will start off comfortably. In the gentle up and down you wander through the wide… read more

The tenth stage on the northern route takes you over the Gibacht massif. The peaks Kreuzfelsen, Tannenriegel and Reißeck are the highest mountains in the Oberpfälzer Wald and at the same time form the transition to the even higher Bavarian Forest. However, as the starting point Herzogau is already quite… read more

Furth im Wald, the starting point of the eleventh Goldsteig stage, is located directly on the Chamb River. The river valley separates the mountains of the Upper Palatinate Forest from the Bavarian Forest. For you it is therefore today up to the famous mountains of the Bavarian Forest. From Furth in the… read more

The twelfth stage on the north route of the Goldsteig leads you over the ridge of the Gaitberg. It is a narrow, densely wooded ridge. Through the forest you hike from Schönbuchen steadily uphill, until you can enjoy the first impressive panorama on Kreuzfelsen. From there you continue over the ridge… read more

The 13th stage is the queen stage of the Goldsteig. And that is literally meant, because today it goes up to the Great Arber, its highest mountain and thus also the king of the Bavarian Forest. A proud climb over 900 meters separates the starting point from the summit. Fortunately, the climb is evenly… read more

After going uphill the day before, on the 14th stage the leisurely descent from the Großer Arber is on the program. After enjoying the charming panorama again at breakfast, you're ready to start. On quiet forest trails the Goldsteig snakes through the forest downhill and past the picturesque Arbersee… read more

Bayerisch Eisenstein, the starting point of the 15th stage of the northern route, is located directly on the edge of the Bavarian Forest National Park. Accordingly, today you can prepare yourself for particularly unspoilt nature. From Bayerisch Eisenstein the Goldsteig leads you on natural paths through… read more

The 16th Goldsteig stage on the northern route takes you up and down the National Park area. You will hike on natural forest paths and quiet forest roads. The highlights of today's tour are in any case the quiet, spacious shafts that spread over the mountain landscape. Many of the mountain pastures were… read more

The 17th stage begins in lofty heights just below the summit of the Great Rachel. Around the Rachel you wander through an impressive landscape, because here a storm and a bark beetle plague a few years ago, the spruce and fir trees. The bare, fallen logs are still reminiscent of it, but in between countless… read more

Twelve kilometers of route and almost exclusively downhill - the 18th stage is a small reward for the previous mountain stages of the northern route. The Goldsteig snakes along beautiful forest paths very leisurely from Lusen down and leads you over the Schachten Tummelplatz and the picturesque Steinbach… read more

The starting point of the 19th stage is the small town of Mauth on the southern edge of the national park. The primeval forests of the national park are thus behind you, but also on the further course of the Goldsteig leads you through the picturesque landscape of the Bavarian Forest. Today, it is relatively… read more

From the small village of Philippsreut, the 20th Goldsteig stage takes you on the northern route through the forest up to the Haidel summit. On the way you will hike through Leopoldsreut, a village abandoned for over 60 years. Apart from the old schoolhouse - once the highest school in Germany - and… read more