Best backpacking trails in Neckartal-Odenwald Nature Park

This route follows stage 1 of the Neckarsteig, a long-distance trail starting in Heidelberg and ending in Neckargemünd. Right after the start, the trail ascends the Himmelsleiter, the historic sandstone steps leading up to the Königstuhl, which is the highest point of this stage. Afterwards, the route continues past the rocky scenery of the Felsenmeer and reaches the managed Neckarriedkopfhütte. Beyond that, the city forest opens up into a vast green woodland before the climb to the...

This route is stage 2 of the Neckarsteig, a long-distance trail starting in Neckargemünd and ending in Neckarsteinach. Right after the start, the trail ascends towards the Bockfelsenhütte, which is the highest point of this stage. Afterwards, the route continues past the historic Tillystein and reaches the managed Burgfeste Dilsberg. Jenseits davon öffnet sich mit dem Laubmischwald eine weite grüne Waldlandschaft, bevor der Abstieg zur Staustufe noch einmal an Höhe verliert. Im letzten...

This route is stage 7 of the Neckarsteig, a long-distance trail starting in Neckargerach and ending in Mosbach. The path traverses the steep, rocky terrain of the Margarethenschlucht nature reserve and continues through the mixed forests of the Neckartal-Odenwald Nature Park. It winds past the Gickelberg, the Binauer Forst, and the Henschelberg nature reserve before finishing in the historic old town of Mosbach. Overnight stays are accommodated in local guesthouses or hotels in Mosbach, as...

This route is stage 4 of the Neckarsteig, a long-distance trail starting in Hirschhorn and ending in Eberbach. The trail follows the Ulfenbach stream before ascending into the shaded mixed forests of the Neckartal-Odenwald Nature Park, passing Schloss Hirschhorn and the Stöckberg. It bypasses the village of Igelsbach, rounds the Tannenkopf summit, and reaches the historic Steinerner Tisch hunting table and the Gretenbrunnen spring. The final stretch offers views of the Neckar River before...

This route is stage 5 of the Neckarsteig, a long-distance trail starting in Eberbach and ending in Neunkirchen. The demanding trail ascends the Breitenstein hill, crossing through orchards and mixed forests toward the Ernst-Hohn-Pavillon and the Teufelskanzel viewpoint. After crossing the Neckar River at the Rockenau lock, the path leads to the 13th-century Stolzeneck castle ruins and traverses steep terrain along the Wilden Waibelsberg before finishing in Neunkirchen. Overnight stays are...

This route is stage 8 of the Neckarsteig, a long-distance trail starting in Mosbach and ending in Gundelsheim. The path opens into a wide landscape, passing through the Hartwald and descending to Neckarzimmern to visit the deportee memorial and Burg Hornberg. After crossing the river to Haßmersheim, it ascends the Michaelsberg past the Michaelskapelle, then follows the vineyard steps of the Himmelsleiter down to Gundelsheim and Schloss Horneck. Overnight stays are accommodated in local...

This route is stage 6 of the Neckarsteig, a long-distance trail starting in Neunkirchen and ending in Neckargerach. The trail leads through mixed forests and the historic Kriegwald toward the ruins of Minneburg Castle, which offers views over the Neckar Valley. It passes the unique geological formations of the Mittelberg loop valley and the village of Neckarkatzenbach before following the old towpath along the riverbanks in Guttenbach to cross over into Neckargerach. Overnight stays are...

This route is stage 9 – the final stage – of the Burgensteig Bergstraße, a long-distance trail along the edge of the Odenwald. This specific segment starts in Dossenheim and ends in the world-famous city of Heidelberg. The path climbs the Heiligenberg, where hikers can explore the ruins of St. Michael's Monastery, the Heidenloch (Heathen Hole), and the impressive Thingstätte amphitheater. The route offers spectacular views over the Neckar Valley before descending via the iconic Philosophers'...

This route is stage 5 of the Burgensteig Bergstraße, a long-distance trail along the edge of the Odenwald. This specific section starts in Hemsbach and ends in Weinheim. The path leads up to the Hirschkopf tower for panoramic views and traverses the historic Six Mills Valley along the Weschnitz river, featuring old grain and oil mills. Hikers eventually reach Weinheim’s medieval market square, overlooked by Wachenburg and Windeck Castle. Overnight stays are available at hotels and...

This route is stage 6 of the Burgensteig Bergstraße, a long-distance trail along the edge of the Odenwald. This specific section starts in Weinheim and ends in Großsachsen. The path leads from the market square up to Wachenburg and Windeck Castle ruins, continuing through mixed forests and vineyards with views across the Rhine plain to the Palatinate Forest. Overnight stays are available at hotels and guesthouses in Weinheim or Großsachsen; wild camping is prohibited in the nature park....