Skip to main content
Back to Explore
Best backpacking trails in Habichtswald Nature Park

Best backpacking trails in Habichtswald Nature Park

4.6(19 reviews)

·

Hesse
: 
#2 of 12 nature parks

All photos

The Habichtswald Nature Park is located in the north of the Hessian Highlands. It delights visitors with its small half-timbered villages, diverse landscape and cultural and historical sights. A particular highlight is the Habichtswaldsteig premium hiking trail, which runs through the entire park. There are also many castles and castle ruins to discover.

The park was founded in 1962 and extends to the west of the city of Kassel. It is home to Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, which is internationally renowned.

Top trails

  1. #1 - Habichtswaldsteig Stage 1: Zierenberg - Firnsbachtal

    4.9 (6)·Hard·23.8 km·Est. 7.5–8 hr
    Section of the certified long-distance hiking trail Habichtswaldsteig, Hesse. This 1st stage starts at the historic market square in Zierenberg. It heads in a southerly direction to Schneckenberg. Sure-footedness is required because of the crossing of a basalt debris field ( "Blaue Steine" -"blue stones"). From the Schreckenberg tower, a fantastic view of the Habichtswald forest can be enjoyed. Through mixed forests and the largest juniper heath in Europe, the tour is a real experience -...

  2. #2 - Kasselsteig Section 1: Herkules - Weimar

    5.0 (3)·Moderate·15 km·Est. 4.5–5 hr
    Popular stage of the Kasselsteig, Hesse. This is the first stage of the Kasselsteig, a 160 km long panoramic hiking trail around the Kassel basin. The 15 km hike starts at Herkules. From there, you hike over the Hoher Dörnberg and the Helfensteine to Weimar. Highlights of the hike: - Hercules - Dörnberg - Helfensteine - Bühl - Ahnatal - Weimar

  3. #3 - Habichtswaldsteig Stage 4: Naumburg - Edersee

    4.7 (3)·Hard·21.2 km·Est. 6.5–7 hr
    Premium hiking trail and section of the Habichtswaldsteig, Hesse The final section of the certified premium hiking trail takes you across humming meadows, past orchards with 100 varieties of apple, through beech forests and past streams and ponds. Highlights: - "Herrensteine" - Waldeck with castle - Devil's Pulpit - Aquapark and animal park

  4. #4 - Habichtswaldsteig Stage 3: Bad Emstal - Naumburg

    4.8 (3)·Hard·23.2 km·Est. 7–7.5 hr
    Premium hiking trail and section of the Habichtswaldsteig, Hesse The third stage of the certified premium hiking trail takes you past historic quarries, a museum railway, through stream valleys and across open meadows. Again and again you have beautiful views of the landscape, and you can have a picnic at fairytale resting places. Some parts of the trail are a little steeper downhill via hairpin bends, so you should be sure-footed. Highlights: - "Himmelsschaukel" fairytale rest area -...

  5. #5 - Kasselsteig Stage 11: Hoof - Brasselsberg

    3.6 (4)·Moderate·11.7 km·Est. 3.5–4 hr
    Stage 11 of the long-distance hiking trail "Kasselsteig", Hesse. The eleventh stage of the Kasselsteig Trail runs from Hoof to the Bismarck Tower car park near Brasselsberg. Several mountain peaks in the Habichtswald Nature Park are climbed. The starting point can be reached by train and a bus runs close to the finishing point. Highlights of the hike: - Hirzstein nature reserve - Kassel Bismarck Tower on the Brasselsberg - Schauenburg castle ruins
  6. Habichtswaldsteig

    #6 - Habichtswaldsteig

    Hard·85.3 km·Est. 24 hr+
    Scenic long-distance hiking trail in the low mountain range, Hesse The popular Habichtswaldsteig is a certified premium hiking trail, it leads through enchanted landscapes and is not too difficult to master, as it mostly leads through gently sloping and ascending landscapes. It leads through hay meadows, rustling forests, past rock formations and castle ruins and there are always wonderful views over the valleys and fields of the Habichtswald Nature Park. Highlights: - Historic town...

  7. #7 - Ederseeweg

    Hard·45.7 km·Est. 13–14 hr
    Popular long-distance hiking trail between Habichtswald and Edersee, Hesse. The Edersee Trail was opened back in 1928. The long-distance hiking trail is almost 50 kilometres long and leads from Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe through the Habichtswald highlands to the Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park. The route runs over mountain ranges such as the 434 metre high Brasselsberg and through pretty towns such as Niedenstein, Bad Emstal and Naumburg. The Edersee Trail is marked throughout (white E on a black...

  8. #8 - Kasselsteig Stage 12: Brasselsberg - Hercules

    Moderate·7.6 km·Est. 2–2.5 hr
    Popular stage of the Kasselsteig trail in the Habichtswald Nature Park, Hesse. This is the twelfth and final stage of the "Kasselsteig" long-distance hiking trail. From the bus stop in Brasselsberg, the trail leads through the highlands of the Dönche and the Drusel valley to the pretty mountain lake of Asch. At Löwenburg Castle, the Kasselsteig Trail leads together with the Hercules Trail to the Steinhöfer waterfall and the Kassel water features. From here, the route continues uphill to...
Explore more trails

Visitor info

Accessibility
Facilities

The Habichtswald Nature Park Centre provides lots of information about nature and is an ideal starting point for many hikes. The centre is located in the middle of the Dörnberg nature reserve and is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, except Mondays. Admission is free.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best trail to hike for backpacking in Habichtswald Nature Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best trail to hike for backpacking in Habichtswald Nature Park is Habichtswaldsteig Stage 1: Zierenberg - Firnsbachtal, which has a 4.9 star rating from 6 reviews. This trail is 23.8 km long with an elevation gain of 931 m.

What is the longest backpacking trail in Habichtswald Nature Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest backpacking trail in Habichtswald Nature Park is Habichtswaldsteig. This trail is estimated to be 85.3 km long.

How many backpacking trails are in Habichtswald Nature Park?

There are 8 backpacking trails in Habichtswald Nature Park.These backpacking trails have an average 4.6-star ratingfrom 19 AllTrails community reviews.

Which backpacking trail has the most elevation gain in Habichtswald Nature Park?

Habichtswaldsteig has the most elevation gain for backpacking trails with 2,889 m of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Ederseeweg, which has 1,300 m of elevation gain.

Activities

Attractions

Suitability