Ludwig Tower – Schänzelturm on the Steigerkopf loop from Rhodt unter Rietburg

Hiking trails & Routes

Ludwig Tower – Schänzelturm on the Steigerkopf loop from Rhodt unter Rietburg

Hard

4.8

(195)

599

hikers

Ludwig Tower – Schänzelturm on the Steigerkopf loop from Rhodt unter Rietburg

05:28

17.6km

660m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: October 8, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Biosphärenreservat Pfälzerwald-Vosges du Nord

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

908 m

Trail to Rietburg

Highlight • Trail

CAUTION: This path is difficult in SOME places, namely rooty, very steep and washed out, so it is NOT suitable for all walkers!!

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1.29 km

Pavilion "Schöner Punkt" (with great view)

Highlight • Viewpoint

Small pavilion with a view of the Rhine plain.
King Ludwig I of Bavaria liked to sit at this beautiful point.

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4.01 km

Ludwig Tower

Highlight • Viewpoint

When the tower was built in 1889, it is said to have had a complete all-round view. Nowadays the view of the Rhine plain is blocked by trees. But you can see well to the east and north-west.

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7.68 km

Dr. Sprater Trail

Highlight • Trail

There are beautiful glacial hollows on the summit of the Kesselberg

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8.07 km

Kesselberg Glacial Potholes

Highlight • Natural Monument

It is said to be Celtic sacrificial bowls used for ritual purposes.
But there are other explanations...

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10.8 km

Schänzelturm on the Steigerkopf

Highlight • Monument

In 1795 there was a battlefield below the Schänzel Tower. Two large memorial stones commemorate this. On the further way there are several carved stones that refer to the battle.

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11.7 km

Lolosruhe

Mountain Pass

13.8 km

Triefenbach Trail (Brückenpädel)

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Nice path along the Triefenbach from Hilschweiher to the Gasthaus Hüttenbrunnen. At the inn, be sure to walk about 100 meters up the mountain to see the springs that spring up there. Worthwhile.👍

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15.6 km

Hilsch Pond

Highlight • Lake

A very idyllic spot with good food and very friendly staff.

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17.6 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

12.3 km

5.20 km

113 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

10.6 km

3.27 km

3.25 km

204 m

199 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Friday 9 October

16°C

9°C

33 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

August 30, 2022,Tour

Very nice tour, have done it many times. This time, however, on a beautiful path up the Kesselberg, I have never discovered it before 😎

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June 27, 2025,Tour

One of my favorite hikes; it offers everything the Palatinate Forest has to offer. However, I only hike this route during the week and outside of school holidays. Otherwise, some sections of the route are very busy, and you're hiking in a convoy. I prefer the peace and quiet while hiking.

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October 16, 2021,Wanderung 16.10.2021 18:58

Very nice, varied tour in the Palatinate Forest

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March 24, 2022,2022 03 24 **** Rietburgrunde (Kommentar)

Beautiful tour with many paths and few forest roads. Below is a path along the Triefenbach. Views of the Rhine plain. Ascent of the Ludwig and Schänzel towers. Hints of Mediterranean forest. Opportunities to stop off eg at the Rietburg, Hüttenbrunnen, Naturfreundehaus. (Opening hours!)

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October 10, 2021,Rhodt-Rietburg-Ludwigsturm-Kesselberg-Schänzelturm

Today we went to Rhodt in the best hiking weather.
Started at the Villa Ludwigshöhe in the steep ascent to the Rietburg! From there on to the Ludwigsturm. Fortunately, it got quieter from then on😄 After another climb up to the Kesselberg, over the Kammweg to the Schänzelturm.
Then it was mostly downhill past Hilschweiher back to the parking lot …

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June 20, 2026,Kolleschenwanderung trotz 🐒🥵

Today I showed my buddies a bit of my beloved homeland again, including Pälzer Flammkuchen in Sauermilchtälchen. Because of the heat, we started earlier, even before the chairlift was in operation - which of course provided the small climb as an additional highlight. I don't understand why fewer and fewer colleagues join me 😂. It was perfectly bearable in the …

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October 31, 2021,Schänzelturm, Ludwigsturm, Rietburg – Runde von Siegfriedschmiede

A varied hike with very nice, good-humored people in the beautiful, colorful Palatinate Forest. Afterwards, of course, as always: with a stop 🤪🤪

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September 11, 2022,Adventure, Tour der besonderen Art - Villa Ludwigshöhe, Schänzelturm und die Himmelsleiter

This hiking tour did not go as planned and turned out to be an adventure and discovery trip on the Kesselberg.
But one after anonther.
I started at the valley station of the chairlift below the Rietburg. I zigzagged up the mountain, and again and again people who didn't want to pant up the hill on foot crossed my head. …

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