Best backpacking trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
The Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park is located in the south-eastern Hunsrück and in the central part of the Naheland, encompassing the Soonwald and the Lützelsoons as well as the northern bank of the Nahe between Kirn and Bad Kreuznach and offers landscapes that could not be more diverse: from magnificent mountain ranges to gentle vineyards, semi-arid grasslands and extensive deciduous forests. The park was established in 2005 and covers an area of 736 km².
Top sights
Top trails
- 4.6 (6)·Easy·16.2 mi·Est. 6.5–7 hr5th partial stage of the Nahe Cycle Path from Bad Sobernheim to Bad Kreuznach. This day's stage begins in beautiful Bad Sobernheim and continues along the Nahe river to Bad Kreuznach. The route leads north via the towns of Staudernheim and Bad Münster am Stein, inviting to take a break in the Nahe valley. The signage for the stage corresponds to that of the long-distance cycle path and shows a bicycle and the text "Radweg Nahe" on a yellow background. Highlights: - Visit to the...
- 3.5 (9)·Easy·11.6 mi·Est. 4.5–5 hrSixth stage of the Nahe cycle route from Bad Kreuznach to Bingen, Rhineland-Palatinate. This day's stage begins in Bad Kreuznach and leads along the course of the Nahe River to its confluence with the Rhine near Bingen. The route runs in a northerly direction and crosses the towns of Münster-Sarsheim and Gensingen, among other places. Due to the particular location of the village of Bingen on the river Rhine, there are numerous historical places and cultural monuments. The signage for the...
- 4.8 (5)·Hard·9.3 mi·Est. 5.5–6 hrThis route is stage 1 of the Soonwaldsteig, a long-distance trail in Rhineland-Palatinate. This segment leads from Kirn to Bundenbach. The path climbs from the Nahe Valley up to the striking quartzite cliffs of Kallenfels and follows the Hahnenbach Valley. Highlights include Wartenstein Castle, the Schmidtburg ruins, and the Celtic settlement of Altburg. Overnight stays are possible at the Schmidtburg trekking camp (reservation required); wild camping is prohibited. Natural water sources...
- 4.7 (5)·Moderate·8.3 mi·Est. 4–4.5 hrThis route is stage 2 of the Soonwaldsteig, a long-distance trail in Rhineland-Palatinate. This segment leads from Bundenbach into the Simmerbach Valley. The path passes the Schmidtburg ruins, follows the Hahnenbach stream, and climbs to the ridge of the Lützelsoon. Highlights include the observation tower at Teufelsfels and the Blickenstein natural monument. Since there are no accommodations directly on the trail, overnight stays usually occur in Bundenbach or the Simmerbach Valley; wild...
- 3.9 (4)·Easy·10.3 mi·Est. 4–4.5 hr4th section of the Nahe long-distance cycle route from Kirn to Bad Sobernheim. This day's stage begins directly at the railway station in Kirn. The route leaves the town and then follows the cycle path to Hochstetten-Dhaun. The route then continues via Merxheim and Meddersheim, always close to the Nahe river, to the finish in Bad Sobernheim. The tour can be continued from here on the next stages or the train from the station can be taken. The route is well signposted and marked with a...
- 4.0 (5)·Hard·9.2 mi·Est. 4.5–5 hrThis route is stage 3 of the Soonwaldsteig, a long-distance trail in Rhineland-Palatinate, starting in the Simmerbach Valley and ending at the Ellerspring parking area. The path features a steep climb over quartzite scree to the Großer Soon ridge, offering views from the Henau quarry. Key highlights include the climbable Koppenstein ruins and the Alteburg observation tower set within vast beech forests. Overnight stays are possible at the Alteburg trekking camp with a prior reservation;...
- 5.0 (1)·Hard·11.1 mi·Est. 5.5–6 hrStage 4 of the long-distance hiking trail "Weinwanderweg Rhein-Nahe", Rhineland-Palatinate. This is the fourth stage of the Rhein-Nahe Wine Trail Quality Trail, which leads over a distance of around 95 km through wine-growing areas from Kirn to Bingen am Rhein. The hike starts in Niederhausen and ends after about 18 km in Bad Kreuznach. The striking Rotenfels and idyllic wine terraces are among the scenic highlights of this hike. With Bad Münster and Bad Kreuznach there are also two spa...
- 4.0 (1)·Moderate·8.1 mi·Est. 3.5–4 hrStage 5 of the long-distance hiking trail "Weinwanderweg Rhein-Nahe", Rhineland-Palatinate. This is the fifth stage of the quality trail Rhein-Nahe wine hiking trail, which leads over a distance of around 95 km through wine-growing areas from Kirn to Bingen am Rhein. The route starts in Bad Kreuznach and ends after about 13 km in Heddesheim. The hike, which is considered to be rather relaxed, enchants with great views of the Guldenbachtal and picturesque vineyards that you cross. A real...
- 3.9 (5)·Moderate·9.8 mi·Est. 5–5.5 hrThis route is stage 4 of the Soonwaldsteig, a long-distance trail in Rhineland-Palatinate, starting at Ellerspring and ending in Rheinböllen. The path passes Ellerspring (657 m), the highest point of the Soonwald, and traverses the Glashütter Wiesen nature reserve and ancient beech forests at the Katzenkopf reserve. Key highlights include the views from Schanzerkopf and the heritage-protected observation tower at Hochsteinchen. Overnight stays are available at the Ellerspring trekking camp...
- 3.4 (2)·Hard·52 mi·Est. 24 hr+The Soonwaldsteig is a premier long-distance trail spanning 84 km (52 miles) through the Hunsrück region from Kirn to Bingen am Rhein, typically completed in five to six days. This hike traverses the dense, untouched forests of the Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park, characterized by quartzite ridges, deep valleys, and expansive forested plateaus. Key highlights include the observation towers atop Alteburg and Koppenstein, the Schmidtburg ruins, and the dramatic descent into the Rhine Valley. Most...
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Visitor info
Accessibility
Facilities
Extensive information is available at the two information points at Wartenstein Castle and the New Simmern Castle. The former also houses the "Forest and Nature" exhibition.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the best trail to hike for backpacking in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park?
According to users from AllTrails.com, the best trail to hike for backpacking in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park is Nahe Cycle Path Stage 5: Bad Sobernheim - Bad Kreuznach, which has a 4.6 star rating from 6 reviews. This trail is 16.2 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,610 ft.
What is the longest backpacking trail in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park?
According to AllTrails.com, the longest backpacking trail in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park is Nahe-Radweg (Radfernweg). This trail is estimated to be 80.4 mi long.
How many backpacking trails are in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park?
There are 22 backpacking trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park.These backpacking trails have an average 4.0-star ratingfrom 50 AllTrails community reviews.
Which backpacking trail has the most elevation gain in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park?
Soonwaldsteig has the most elevation gain for backpacking trails with 9,904 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Nahe-Radweg (Radfernweg), which has 8,431 ft of elevation gain.
Activities
- Backpacking trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Bike touring trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Birding trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Camping trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Mountain biking trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Road biking trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Running trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Walking trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
Attractions
- Easy trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Forest trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Hard trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Lake trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Long trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Moderate trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- River trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Short trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Trails with historic sites in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Trails with views in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Waterfall trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Wildflower trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park
- Wildlife trails in Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park