The Kaufungerwaldweg, also partially Kaufunger-Wald-Weg called, mostly runs across paved forest roads once across from Kaufungen to Hann. Münden-Hedemünden through the Kaufunger Forest. Due to its short length of only 22 km, it can also be hiked as a day tour without any problems, for which you then need about five to six hours (pure walking time).
Route profile
- Length: 22 km. This makes it the shortest main hiking route of the Hessisch-Waldeckischer Gebirgs- und Heimatverein.
- Altitude meters: 479 m Kaufungen-Hedemünden, 547 m Hedemünden-Kaufungen. Since Hedemünden in Werra Valley it makes sense to save altitude, to commit the Kaufungerwaldweg in the direction described below.
- Stages: Either as a day tour or as two half-day tours.
- Mark: The Kaufungerwaldweg is continuously marked with a white "K".
- Signposting: Most of the signs for the Kaufungerwaldweg can be described as good. In addition to the marking, there are also specially set up signposts for the Meißner-Kaufunger Wald nature park, but the hiking trail is called the Kaufunger-Wald-Weg there.
- Suitable footwear: A slightly thicker sole is sufficient. Furthermore, you have to expect that the hiking boots can get dirty during the hike.
- Family suitability: Yes, because you hike mainly on forest roads and without steep inclines.
- Mountain bike suitability: Yes, even suitable for beginners and partly also for normal bicycles.
- Best season: All year round, but preferably the Kaufungerwaldweg should be hiked in dry weather.
background
The Kaufunger Forest is a low mountain range of around 170 km² in Hesse and Lower Saxony. The forest, which is 643.4 m above sea level at its highest point, is divided into the Meißner-Kaufunger Wald nature reserve in the south and the Münden nature reserve in the north.
The main hiking routes of the HWGHV were introduced from 1973 to replace the path markings with standard signs. This is also the case with the 22 km long Kaufungerwaldweg, which forms the connection between the Losse, Nieste and Werra valleys, more precisely between the Oberkaufungen and Hedemünden railway stations.
getting there
By car
Since the Kaufungerwaldweg is a long-distance hiking trail, it makes sense to travel by public transport. For further directions, see the articles from Kaufungen and Hann. Münden.
With public transport
Kaufungen is of kassel out every 30 minutes on the tram line 4 to reach Hedemünden every hour with the cantus transport company, Line R8. For further stops and timetables, see the route description.
Route description
The Kaufungerwaldweg mainly runs over paved forest roads. But even these can quickly become muddy if the weather is right, especially around the Rautenbachborn (north side of the mountain). Otherwise, many parts of the hiking trail are signposted as a cycle path, which provides additional orientation. For a detailed hiking map, please simply click on the POIs that will immediately direct you to the described position.
1st stage: Oberkaufungen - Nieste 5.0 km
This short first section of the Kaufungerwaldweg starts at the community center in Oberkaufungen, where the 
Bürgerhaus Niester Straße (Line 34) is located. You can reach the via Niester Straße 1 Tram-Oberkaufungen station (Line 4). From there past a hiking board to the busOberkaufungen station, where the Line 34 moves. The hiking trail turns into the street Am Wolfsberg, on which you hike uphill to the end of the village, alternatively you can also take the Grimmsteig wander across the old brickworks. Once at the top there is one 2 Seating area from which you can enjoy the wonderful view of the fields. It continues over the Lempersbach down to a horse farm and uphill again to the 3 Edge of the forest, where the Kaufungerwaldweg branches off to the right onto a beaten path. On this it goes a short distance across country, before the path becomes more solid again and finally leads to a clearing for the wood removal. This is crossed before you get to the 4 Tannenhütte seating area is coming. There is a large signpost here and the one on the left Königsalm, a quaint inn. The is also nearby Königsalm (Line 34). The Kaufungerwaldweg, however, turns from the Tannenhütte seating area into the second path on the right, always along the edge of the forest before it 5 left partly steeply downhill on the street "Am Friedhof" Sneezes goes in. The Nieste is crossed and one reaches the 6 church (Line 34).
2nd stage: Nieste - Hedemünden 17.0 km
The second section of the Kaufungerwaldweg leads from the church (Line 34) via a footpath to the 7 Village square and past the rifle house to 8 Park Bleichwiesen. The Bleichwiesen parking lot is located here for motorists. Our hiking trail now branches into the forest. Above the Nieste you come to a refuge and continue past picturesque ponds to the 9 Forsthaus Buntebook with parking space. If you want to break off your hike here, follow the stop symbol to Final settlement (Line 34), if you want to go further, cross the Endschlagbach with the help of a small bridge before you have to walk a short distance on the L 3237. There is also a natural Kneipp facility at the hiking car park there, which can be used to cool off in summer. From now on, the Endschlagstraße is steadily uphill. The Endschlagbachtal surprises again and again with beautiful corners, including one that appears at once 10 Horse pasture before you pass the Endschlagborn on a large one 11 Forest crossing is coming. The many signposts also indicate interesting destinations for hikers, including how far it is from here to Ziegenhagen. The Kaufungerwaldweg continues uphill to finally the pass in the middle of the Kaufunger Forest is reached. This is also where the crosses 12 Frau-Holle-path, marked as X4, which leads over this endless mountain ridge Hann. Münden runs. But our hiking trail now leads us in a zigzag downhill past the 13 Rautenbachborn. Here it can be muddy more often than in other places, for mountain bikers it is important to drive carefully and slowly here, although it is a wide forest path. At some point the Rautenbachtal opens up, along the edge of which you hike for a while until the path is asphalted and into the 14 In the middle of the valley. After seemingly endless kilometers you finally reach Ziegenhagen, a district of Witzenhausen.
At the church shortly after entering the village you can find the 15 center from which the bus route 218 (218.1 (Mobilfalt)) wrong. The continues from here Nieste-Werra-Weg Identical to the Kaufungerwaldweg as far as Hedemünden, see also the route description there (including photos). Continue along the main street to Oberöder Weg (Line 218, Line 218.1 (Mobilfalt)), where the Kaufungerwaldweg turns left into the Oberöder Weg. On this one reaches the second one at the edge of the forest 16 Fountain of Ziegenhagen, behind which the hiking trail turns right onto pleasant forest paths that run on the Hessian-Lower Saxony border. Danger! The two hiking trails K and N lead quite steeply downhill to Hedemünden. If you want to bypass this section, keep to the right past the 17 Sports field and runs left in front of the road through a small valley, at the end of which it meets the hiking trail that comes steeply from above. It continues downhill through a stone gate to the Werra, where the 18 Brueckenstrasse (Line 101) is located. You walk into it via Brückenstraße Hann. Münden-Hedemünden, past the Raiffeisen to 1 Hedemünden railway station.
trips
If you want, you can take a detour to Hedemünden Roman camp do, which is accessible to tourists by a small circular route with information boards and is located west of Hedemünden. The Roman camp can be reached from Hedemünden train station via the hiking route ◊, the distance is simply three kilometers.
Hedemünden is a district of Hann. Münden in the tariff zones from NVV and also from VSN. As a result, the Lower Saxony ticket is just as valid there as the Hesse ticket.
literature
- MK Meißner-Kaufunger Forest Southern Leinetal - topographic leisure map 1:50 000, ISBN 3-8944-6-318-X , 9.50 €, published jointly by Werratal Tourismus Marketing GmbH and the Hessian State Office for Soil Management and Geoinformation.
- HR Habichtswald / Reinhardswald Nature Park - Topographic leisure map 1:50 000, ISBN 3-89446-319-8 , 9.50 €, published jointly by the Hessisch-Waldeckischer Gebirgs- und Heimatverein e.V. and the Hessian State Office for Soil Management and Geoinformation.
- Hiking tip Regiowiki - The hiking tip on the Kaufungerwaldweg was developed jointly by the HNA and the HWGHV. He once again describes the route from the Endschlagsiedlung to Hedemünden, i.e. the wooded part of the hiking trail.
