Rheinsteig
320km 21 stages from Wiesbaden to Bonn
Only 30 minutes by car from my home and a gem of a multi day hike. Great vistas ,great wineries ,nice places to stay and at the right time of year you can catch wonderful concerts in the evening. I have done back to back stages but tend to do just single day hikes but it would be perfect as a mid summer multi day hike
Stage 1 7th of Feb 2020 Wiesbaden to Schlangenbad
14:3km Ascent 396m Decent 175m time 2:56
A walk has to start somewhere I started at this end as it is closer to my home and when I started I was not intent on doing every stage but rather slowly got into it. I would definitely say the Wiesbaden end is more interesting so maybe nicer for the finish as the walks there are closer to the Rhein river. It starts outside Biebrich Castle right on the Rhein. The first couple of kms is along the Rhein which was difficult to navigate because of flooding and building works which blocked some of the route. You climb through suburbs followed by vineyards and you arrive at a very good place for Lunch at Goethestein, a memorial stone for Goethe. You descend into Frauenstein and then up out of it and then enter a dense forest. I finshed the hike in a carpark called Monstranzenbaum as it was getting late in the evening so I did not go the whole way to Schlangenbad. Rate it 5/10
Stage 2 15th Feb 2020 Schlangenbad to Kiedrich
15.1km Ascent 458m Decent 601m time 2:59
I started in Monstranzenbaum parkplatz which is few kilometers before Schlangenbad. The way is not great to start as there has been a lot of tree cutting in the forest and the equipment used had cut up the road. Schlangenbad is a lovely old Spa town and worth having a look around. You change direction at the end of the town and head back towards the Rhein. You come across a lovely Beer Garden worth a stop where you can get a good Schnitzel. Continue on through the forest and just before arriving at Kiedrich you arrive upon the ruins of Scharfenberg castle. There is a great view of the Rhein from here and leaving here you descend into Kiedrich along a very nice stream. Rate 6/10
Stage 3 15th Jan 2020 Kiedrich to Johannisberg
15:3km Ascent 524m Decent 495m time 3:04.
One of the nicest stages. You start in the wine village of Kiedrich and head north through fields and vineyards and arrive at Kloster Eberbach one of the most famous wineries in the area. Continue uphill through forests and then enjoy the open trail with a beautiful view of the Rhein. Continue onto Schloss Vollrads another great eating or drinking stop and then the finish in Schloss Johannisberg which is reached through more vineyards. Depending on when you go all these vineyards hold concerts during the summer months which with a bit of preparation can be a wonderful end to a days hiking if you are staying in the area. Finish the hike in Schloss Johannisberg with a drink in its restaurant overlooking the Rhein. A special place. rate it 9.5/10
Stage 4 26th of Jan 2020 Schloss Johannisberg to Rüdesheim Niederwalddenkmal
18.6km Ascent 728m Decent 589m time 4:03
The most taxing stage so far of the hike but a very enjoyable one. You start just before the village of Johannisberg heading north away from the Rhein and then head west through a forested section with a decent path underfoot. You descend to a lovely Kloster called Marienthal. You continue through forests until you start to see Rüdesheim you then stir through vineyards with Rüdesheim below you . You start the last climb of the day passing the impressive Eibingen Abbey before reaching the denkmal. rate it 8/10
Stage 5 10th of June 2018 Niederwalddenkmal to Lorch
20.7km Ascent 1081m Decent 1300m time 5:35.
This was the first stage I completed and it was part of a two day hike where I stayed in Lorch overnight. It was a very tiring day given the steepness of ascents and decents. It was a combination of walking through vineyards to narrow trails through forests and every now and again a beautiful vista would appear far above the Rhine . One of my favorite stages well worth doing if just coming for a weekend to tackle a couple of stages. rate it 9/10
Stage 6 11th of June 2018 Lorch to Kaub
12.9km Ascent 853m Decent 868m time 3:54
The distance is quite short but the amount of steep up and down is taxing. More beautiful vistas of old ancient castles and to my surprise in the middle of the forest you find a place to stop and drink some wine. This comes after a long climb and is a welcome stop. Each one of these stages from Rüdesheim all the way to Koblenz are fed by stops on the S Bahn so it is possible to drive to your start point and get the train back to your car. Rate it 7/10
Stage 7 11th of August 2018 Kaub to St Goarshausen
18.8km Ascent 895m Decent 882m time 4:49
Probably the most challenging stage with over 19km and quite a lot of vertical. Early on there are great view points over the Rhine plus near the end there is a lovely beer garden with a lovely view over a large meadow 9/10.
Stage 8 16th of Feb 2020 St Goarshausen to Kestert
14km Ascent 676m Decent 679m Time 3:42.
I really enjoyed this stage . I think it was combination of my mood, the wonderful castles , the walking through vineyards, the podcast I was listening to and the dreamy weather. A good hike needs to have loads of things not just a good path.10/10
Stage 9 21st Feb 2020 Kestert to Kamp Bornhofen
12.9km Ascent 509m Decent 497m Time 2:45
Along this whole section the terrain and the stages are very similar. There are steep climbs followed by steep decents and this tends to occur a few times within each stage. On this stage there is a long climb starting with steep wooden steps which is interesting. For me the most I do remember besides the castle ruins and views over the villages along the Rhine for this stage was the fact you need to get a train back which comes every hour. I had to walk extremely quickly for the last 45 minutes to make sure I made it. It may be worth working out how long a walk takes you to make sure you arrive for the train on time. 8/10
Stage 10 29th of April Kamp Bornhofen to Braubach
17.9km Ascent 892m Decent 899m Time 4:20
Another beautiful leg. Longer than most that meanders around a sharp bend in the Rhine. There is a lovely chapel near the start with a good viewpoint. As you near the sharp bend you are walking at sea level and it is a beautiful walk with cherry trees on either side. This area id called the Kirschenpfad Filsen and would be a great stop for a picinic. 9/10
Stage 11 and Stage 12 May 3rd 2020 Braubach to Niederlahnstein to Koblenz
21km Ascent 836m Decent 838m Time 4:53
Two stages together as stage 11 is very short. Starting in Braubach its a lovely village and worth having a look around the main street. The first part was enjoyable as you looked down on the Lahn river and there were great views of it. A slight bit confusing at the end how to get over the Lahn and then start the next stage which I found wonderful and different as you climb up a stream. Afterwards is a very enjoyable forested walk followed by a very steep rocky climb with great views. The way into Koblenz is also enjoyable through a town park with the stage ending with a lovely walk along the Rhein promenade 10/10
Stage 13 6th of May 2020 Koblenz to Vallendar
9.3km Ascent 300m Decent 305m time 3:02
This is my least favorite stage. The start is hard to find and the fortress you start off climbing in is very impressive but I found the path after it confusing and badly signposted . I lost my way and it took a long while to find it. You come out into a park area and you need to stick right even though the path seems to indicate bearing left along the Rhein. It was then basically through suburban streets with finally a nice meadow area before finishing in Vallendar 2/10
Stage 14 2nd of November 2020 Vallendar to Sayn
Distance 13km Ascent 443m Descent 427m Time 3:39 Average Speed 3.5km/h
A very enjoyable leg. Parked by the train station and Vallendar is a nice enough village. You climb out of the village through residential streets and the first part especially given the time of year is very pretty in the forest. After 3km you come to a very pretty restaurant with superb view. Following that its another down and up a valley followed by a not so nice bit across a road and fields. It then opens up again through wooded terrain pretty steep in places past a memorial to a fallen war soldier and then finally onto the scary looking Burg Sayn built in 1152. As I say walks need to have a load of things working for them to be a nice day. Today it was the fact that the weather could have been nasty but was perfect and better than expected plus the autumn colours were fantatic 7/10
Stage 15 30th of May 2021 Sayn to Rengsdorf
Distance 14.3km Ascent 482m Descent 282m Time 3:26 Average Speed 4.2km/h
This stage is away from the river Rhine and is very much a forest walk inland. Its enjoyable and with good cover and track would be good for a hot day. After 7.8km in is a good spot for a picnic with a good view and after 9km there is a good beer garden. You walk over the Limes and pass an actual reconstructed tower so interesting from that perspective. Lovely day and nice to do it at this time of year with the fields looking so beautiful.
7/10
Stage 16 3rd of June 2021 Rengsdorf to Leutesdorf
Distance 18.6km Ascent 506m Decent 721m Time 5:50
This was definitely one of the most enjoyable stages. I think it was the variability of the landscape through fields and beautiful forests. After 3.8km you come out at a lovely mill where you can get a nice coffee or stop for a drink. After 8.9km there is also a nice place to stop and picnic. Nice villages are passed too. One downside you will need an expensive taxi ride to get back to your car as the two villages do not connect. 9/10
Stage 17 June 4th 2021 Leutsedorf to Bad Hönnigen
Distance 19km Ascent 1014m Decent 940m Time 6:14
This was a lot tougher stage than I thought. The uphill sections were long and hard. Also the length was longer than some of the online reporting. Steep start with a really nice stop for drinks after about an hour. Lovely views of the Rhine and passing through some nice villages. One long uphill climb through a forest which was long and difficult that led to a half way point in kms overlooking the Rhine which is a good lunchtime venue (10km). 7/10
Stage 18 25th June 2022 Bad Hönnigen to Linz
Distance 12.75km Ascent 517m Descent 533m Time 5:40 Average Speed 2.3km/h
Ok stage some nice castles to pass. One thing that was noted is there is very little water along the way until near the end. Some nice view spots over the Rhein. The village of Linz where it ends has a lovely market square and restaurants worth staying in overnight 6/10
STAGE 19 26th JUNE 2022 Linz to Bad Honnef
Distance 18.57km Ascent 702m Descent 704m Time 6:16 Average Speed 3km/h
Very long stage with long forest sections which were quite boring. Very up and down with long up hills. Nice part through a horse stables near the middle. Very long walk to get back to the train station at the end of the stage. Not a lot of views of the Rhein. A good work out a lot of bugs during the forest walk 6/10
Stage 20 8th of May 2020 Bad Honnef to Konigswinter
Distance 15.8km Ascent 755m Descent 815m Time 5.05m Average Speed 3.1km/h
This is a tough but enjoyable stage. Mainly forrest paths but then towards the end is Drachenfels with a spectacular view. After here on the way down there is some good places to stop for refreshments or have an icecream. 8/10