Views of Germany's Rhine River and Valley from the Blickins Tal trail
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Germany has some stunning landscapes, from the thick dense mountains of fir trees in the Black Forest, to the rolling hills and valleys of the Rhine. With all these beautiful surroundings, it's no surprise that Germany has some great hiking trails.
The most beautiful section of Germany's Rhine Valley region is the Upper Middle Rhine Valley Gorge - think vineyards, fairy-tale castle and cute little Bavarian towns and villages. If you have more time to explore the Rhine Valley region, you might want to check out these 4 scenic places to visit along the Rhine river.
There are so many great hiking trails in this area with stunning views over the Rhine river. Here are 6 easy-moderate hiking trails in the Rhine Valley to get you started.
6 great hiking trails in the Rhine Valley
1. Ruppertsklamm, Braubach - for the adventurous!
Located just North of Braubach, in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, the Ruppertsklamm hiking area is for the more experienced. The small gorge can be slippery when wet and at times, you will need to use the ropes in the mountainside to access some of the paths.
2. Spay Blickins Tal - views over the Rhine River
Accessed from the roadside, just outside of the tiny village of Spay, the Blickins Tal is a well sign-posted route that takes you through the woods as you climb up the hillside. As you reach the top, you’ll get glimpses of the Rhine river through the trees before following the path across farmland. Just over half way through the hike, you’ll reach the viewpoint overlooking the Rhine river and gorge. The view is pretty impressive and it’s nice to take some time to enjoy it before heading back down through the woods to the start.
3. Rheingoldbogen - see castles and vineyards
Sat on the hillside above the village of Oberspay and amongst the vineyards, is the Rheingoldbogen hiking trail. This 12km route offers views of the Rhine river, Boppard and also across to Marksburg Castle on the hillside of Braubach. The route also takes you through the Bopparder Hamm vineyards, which this region of the Rhine Valley is famous for.
4. Fünfseenblick - views of the Upper Middle Rhine Gorge
The main attraction of the popular Fünfseenblick hiking trail is the 27.4 metre high observation tower. Sat high on the top of the hill, the tower gives breathtaking views across the whole Upper Middle Rhine valley. The 12km loop trail starts just outside of Boppard, but if you prefer to save your legs, you can drive directly to the observation tower - a great pit stop if your driving the Rhine Valley or Romantic Road route!
5. Niederwald in Rudesheim - a hiking area with numerous trails
There are so many hiking trails around Niederwald landscape park. All of which have varied landscapes, from views across the Rhine valley to historical German castles, vineyards, traditional Bavarian villages and the Niederwald monument.
6. The Rheinsteig - the complete Rhine Valley walking trail!
The long distance point to point Rheinstig trail runs over 320 km from Bonn, through Koblenz and down to Wiesbaden. The entire route is almost entirely along the right bank of the Rhine river and is one of Germany's greatest long distance hiking trails. You can pick a small section of the trail and just that, or choose to walk the whole route if you're up for the challenge! I would recommend picking a small section and combining a shorter walk with a visit to one of the many towns in the Rhine valley for a more leisurely day out. Another great way to see the river from ground level is by hiring bikes and cycling along the riverside path.
Gorgeous views of the Rhine river, villages and vineyards from the Rheinsteig trail
These 6 trails are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to hiking trails in the Rhine Valley region. Whatever your fitness level, there are some great hikes and walks to choose from, all offering views over the Rhine Valley Gorge and it's a great way to stretch your legs if you're driving Germany's Romantic Road route.
What to pack for hiking trips in the Rhine Valley
Make sure that you are prepared before you set off on a hike and pack according to the weather and also the length of trail you are completing. Here's my essential hiking items:
Sturdy shoes - Hiking boots or shoes are best, especially as the area around the Rhine Valley Gorge is hilly
Layers - The weather can change when you're out hiking, especially the higher up you climb, so I always make sure I have thin layers
A hat / suncream - If you are hiking in the warmer months, these are essential, particularly on walks which are more exposed to the sun
Water and snacks - In the hiking trails around the Rhine Valley, there are no places where you can refill your water bottle, so make sure you take enough with you. And snacks - I personally love a picnic, there's nothing better than a lunch with a view in my opinion!
A map! - Whether you take a physical map or an online one, make sure you have some sort of map in case you get lost. Not all trails around the Rhine Valley are well marked. I personally love the AllTrails app for their downloadable hiking routes and I always make sure I have an offline version of the area i'm visiting in google maps
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