All around Hofgeismar were from Reinhardswald Nature Park and the HWGHV Hofgeismar a variety of local long-distance and circular hiking trails through the Hofgeismar city forest, around the Schöneberg and through the western part Reinhardswald which are listed and described in more detail below in this article. For the main hiking trails and long-distance hiking trails that run through the Hofgeismar urban area, see the articles Hiking routes in North Hesse and Hofgeismar, section Arrival on foot.
For better orientation, the Reinhardswald Nature Park, the HWGHV Hofgeismar and the Hessian Forest Office have set up several information boards, so-called hiking boards, at the starting points of the local hiking routes, which provide a good overview of the respective hiking trails. These are usually adequately signposted and marked so that getting lost can almost be ruled out. However, to be on the safe side, you should always take an appropriate hiking map with you; All marked hiking trails are also shown on the OpenStreetMap map linked to the right, please select the hiking trails in the menu at the top right.
Route profile
While the circular hiking trails are mostly designed as half-day tours, the long-distance hiking trails serve as connecting routes between several locations and accordingly have a higher number of kilometers. However, since, unlike the circular routes, they are not tied to certain starting points such as hiking parking lots, they can be extended or shortened as required and thus adapted to the desired length of the hike. For this reason, they often start and end at bus stops or train stations.
Circular hiking trails
Walking board at the bus station
The 1 Walking board at the bus station is located at the bus station on the Anger, 
ZOB. There is a large parking lot immediately south of the central bus station. Like the other hiking boards, it gives a general overview of the hiking routes around Hofgeismar, in contrast to the other hiking car parks as starting points, no circular hiking trails start at the bus station itself. The circular hiking trails presented in more detail in the nature park hiking tips do not pass through the central bus station. The photo of the hiking board is easy to read in full resolution.
Hiking sign Bad am Park
The 2 Hiking sign Bad am Park is located at the Bad am Park car park on Schöneberger Straße, and the Bath at the park as well as the Hofgeismar campsite, and provides information on the length, duration and altitude of the individual hiking tours. The nature park hiking tips only present one of the two circular hiking trails that start here (circular route 1), the other (circular route 5) is located in the Hofgeismar city forest with the cherry plantation hiking car park as the starting point. The photo of the hiking board is easy to read in full resolution.
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circular route 1 "Schöneberger Burgruinen-Steig" | 5.3 km | Bad am Park hiking car park | The Circular hiking trail 1 leads from Bad am Park past the former hiking car park Im Eulengrund up to the Schöneberg, on which the few remains of the formerly extensive castle complex from the 12th century can be found, as well as a recently restored castle fountain. From Schöneberg, the descent then follows a refuge hut back to the starting point. |  |
| Loop 2 "Around the Schöneberg" | 6.1 km | Bad am Park hiking car park | The Circular hiking trail 2 Unlike circular route 1, it runs around the wooded Schöneberg instead of over the summit, which avoids the steep and narrow paths over the Schöneberg and also collects fewer vertical meters during the tour. Otherwise identical to the Schöneberger Burgruinen-Steig Rundweg 1, also past the refuge on the west side of the Schöneberg. |  |
Hiking sign Hofgeismar train station
The 3 Hiking sign Hofgeismar train station at the parking lot opposite the railway station provides information on the length, duration and altitude of the individual hiking tours. Both nature park hiking tips are not about circular route 3 that starts and ends at the train station, but circular route 1 to Schöneberg starting from Bad am Park and circular route 6 in the Hofgeismar city forest. The photo of the hiking board is easy to read in full resolution.
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loop 3 "Hofgeismar - Carlsdorf" | 9.3 km | Hikers' car park at Hofgeismar station | The Circular hiking trail 3 runs as a loop between Hofgeismar and the Carlsdorf district. To increase the attractiveness of this hiking tour, the route along the main roads should be avoided. To do this, follow the Upland-Weserbergland-Weg (X6) via Gesundbrunnen from Hofgeismar train station, from Ev. Hospital via Carlsdorf to the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Nordbahn again circular route 3 and from there then the Fairyland cycle path back to Hofgeismar train station. |  |
Hiking sign for motorhome parking space
The 4 Hiking sign for motorhome parking space is on the edge of the motorhome parking space on the Turmhagen, in the immediate vicinity is the Sälber Gate. It provides information on the length, duration and altitude of the individual hiking tours. Both nature park hiking tips are not about circular route 4 that starts and ends at the motorhome parking space, but circular route 1 to Schöneberg starting from Bad am Park and circular route 6 in the Hofgeismar city forest. The photo of the hiking board is easy to read in full resolution.
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loop 4 "Hofgeismar - Kelze" | 12.8 km | Wanderparkplatz Motorhome parking space | The Circular hiking trail 4 is initially designed as a branch path to the Kelzerberghof. If you want to skip this unattractive piece, you can also start in Kelze itself and from there walk the circuit over the forest swimming pool, Meßhagen / Kelzer Holz, the area of the local enduro club, Kelzerberghof and Kelzer ponds. This results in a pure circular route with a route length of 8.2 km without a branch to and from Hofgeismar. |  |
Hiking sign cherry plantation
The 5 Hiking sign cherry plantation stands above the disposal center of the same name and provides information about the length, duration and altitude of the individual hiking tours. The Kirschenplantage hiking car park itself, which is also the meeting point of a running club according to the local notice, can be reached quickly from Hofgeismar via the expanded Lamerder Weg and is well signposted. The photo of the hiking board is easy to read in full resolution.
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loop 5 "Through the Lange Feld to Ostheimer Hute" | 5.2 km | Cherry plantation car park for hikers | The Circular hiking trail 5 runs steadily downhill over gravel forest roads until shortly before Ostheim to Ostheimer Hute, a species-rich juniper heather, about which an information board of the Eco Path Muschelkalk in the Diemeltal provides information on site. Now uphill again past the Karl-Wagner-Hütte, you return through the Hofgeismar city forest to the cherry plantation hiking car park. |  |
| Loop 6 "To the Eberschützer Cliffs" | 12.8 km | Cherry plantation car park for hikers | The Circular hiking trail 6 is the longest circular route in the Hofgeismar city forest and can also be started at the Nonnengrube hiking car park. During the hike you will pass the six hunter trees, the Wilhelm Koch hut between Arensberg and Heuberg, the Eberschützer cliffs and the Kammergund. Loop 6 can be shortened via hiking trail ⌷ (via Bänfer-Eiche). |  |
Hiking sign Nonnengrube
The 6 Hiking sign Nonnengrube stands below the Westberg on the edge of the Hofgeismar city forest and can be reached from Hofgeismar via the developed Westbergweg, which branches off from Hümmer Straße (Landesstraße 3212) at the northern exit of Hofgeismar. It provides information on the length, duration and altitude of the individual hiking tours. The photo of the hiking board is easy to read in full resolution.
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loop 6 "To the Eberschützer Cliffs" | 12.8 km | Hikers' car park at Nonnengrube | The Circular hiking trail 6 is the longest circular route in the Hofgeismar city forest and can also be started at the Kirschenplantage hiking car park. During the hike you pass the six hunter trees, the Wilhelm Koch hut between Arensberg and Heuberg, the Eberschützer cliffs and the Kammergund. Loop 6 can be shortened via hiking trail ⌷ (via Bänfer-Eiche). | |
| Loop 7 "Over the Westberg" | 4.4 km | Hikers' car park at Nonnengrube | The Circular hiking trail 7 circles the Westberg on its south side and leads over the Westbergbaude (refuge, several benches with tables), which stands on the eastern slope of the Westberg, where basalt was mined until the early 1960s. Today, the "last lore" and a plaque commemorating the history of the basalt works on the Westberg remind of the quarry and basalt works. |  |
Hiking sign Moosgrund
The 7 Hiking sign Moosgrund is located at the junction of Kreisstraße 53 to Hombressen from Kreisstraße 55 between Hofgeismar and the Sababurg. A schematic map on the older hiking board of the Hess. Bad Karlshafen Forestry Office provides an overview of the three circular hiking trails. The rescue point KS-44 can also be found at the hiking car park, which is part of the Hesse-wide rescue point system and, in an emergency, serves as a meeting point between the rescue workers and the people who have made the emergency call. The photo of the hiking board is easy to read in full resolution.
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circular route 1 "Around the Selzer pond" | 5 km | Moosgrund hiking car park | The Circular hiking trail 1 runs once around the Selzer pond at Kreisstraße 53, but does not lead directly to it. First, however, you have to hike a short distance along the hilly county road 55 before the circular route 1 runs over gravel forest paths through the Reinhardswald. Along the edge of the forest with a view towards Beberbeck, you finally come back to the Moosgrund car park. | |
| Loop 2 "To the Röddenhöfen" | 9.5 km | Moosgrund hiking car park | The Circular hiking trail 2 connects the hiking car park Moosgrund with the Röddenhöfen, which are located on the western edge of the Reinhardswald. On the way you come across the markings of the hiking trails Upland-Weserbergland-Weg (X 6), Reinhardswald-Westweg (H) and Märchenlandweg (M), as circular route 2 partly runs together with them. Circular route 2 also initially runs along the K 55. | |
| Circular route 3 "Around Wolfskuhle and Wildschlucht" | 11 km | Moosgrund hiking car park | The Circular hiking trail 3 usually leads on gravel forest roads around the Wolfskuhle and Wildschlucht areas west of Beberbeck in the Reinhardswald. In part, circular route 3 runs together with local cycle routes 5 and 6 in the town of Hofgeismar, although the outdated signs were only occasionally set at larger crossings and branches. | |
Jungle hiking map
The 8 Jungle hiking map stands opposite the Drecktor hiking car park on the other side of the street at the entrance to the Sababurg primeval forest, jungle. In addition to a schematic map sketch, the newer hiking board also provides further information about the Sababurg primeval forest. The small roofing over the hiking board also offers narrow storage space during thunderstorms. The photo of the hiking board is easy to read in full resolution.
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loop 1 "To the Kuhberg" | 2.5 km | Drecktor car park for hikers | The Circular hiking trail 1 opens up the entire Sababurg primeval forest and leads past Paradebuche, Hohle Eiche, Drillingsbuche, Margarethe and Kamineiche. Further on in the rear part of the reserve you pass wide bracken corridors, which are up to 2 meters high. The circular route 1 runs over unpaved paths and in sensitive forest areas over wooden walkways that protect the forest floor. | |
| Circular route 7 "Around the NSG Kuhberg" | 4 km | Drecktor car park for hikers | The Circular hiking trail 7 connects the Sababurg Primeval Forest with the outer walls of the Sababurg Zoo, for which the actual NSG Primeval Forest has to be left and along with other hiking trails one has to hike a bit on unpaved paths near the district road 55. From circular route 7 you can take a look into the wild boar enclosure of the Sababurg zoo. | |
| Circular route 8 "Through the jungle" | 1.8 km | Drecktor car park for hikers | The Circular hiking trail 8 is a shortened version of circular route 1. While the Drilingsbuche, Margaret and Chimney oak are omitted, circular route 8 leads past the heraldic oak. Anyone who just wants to get a brief impression of the jungle is in good hands on circular route 8, otherwise circular route 1, which is only slightly longer, should be taken due to the biodiversity. |  |
Drecktor hiking board
The 9 Drecktor hiking board is located between Kreisstraße 55 and the Drecktor car park at the entrance to the car park, jungle. On the hiking board set up by the Reinhardshagen Forestry Office in 2010 you will find a schematic map sketch on which the route of circular route 2 is clearly drawn. The rescue point KS-103 can be found at the hiking car park, which is part of the Hesse-wide rescue point system and, in an emergency, serves as a meeting point between the rescue workers and the people who have made the emergency call. The photo of the hiking board is easy to read in full resolution.
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loop 2 "Donnebachweg" | 9 km | Drecktor car park for hikers | The Circular hiking trail 2 was awarded as a certified hiking trail and mostly leads on gravel forest roads around the Marxer Kopf through the Donnebachtal and the Holzapetal. On the way you pass the Sababurger Mühle, the Gottsbüren leisure area and the Markessen desert. The Donnebachweg can be shortened using the Hofgeismarer Weg (Eco path Gottsbüren / ◇). | |
Distance hiking trails
In the following, in order to avoid redundancies, only the hiking trails are listed and described which are classified as secondary hiking trails and run through the urban area of Hofgeismar. Long-distance hiking trails, Hessen trails, Kurhessian through hiking trails and main hiking trails of the HWGHV can be found in the Wikivoyage articles Hiking routes in North Hesse and Hofgeismar, Section Arrival on foot. The secondary hiking trails have been subdivided into the hiking routes, which are shown on the hiking board at the central bus station, and the hiking routes, which are not shown on this, but still run through the urban area of Hofgeismar. The numbers behind the markings used to be used for better differentiation, but are no longer used for the most part today.
Hiking sign ZOB
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ʌ 4 "Hans-Schmidt-Weg" | 12 km | Hofgeismar - Trendelburg | The Hans-Schmidt-Weg (Ʌ) is named after the long-time manager of the HWGHV Hofgeismar and runs from Hofgeismar train station through the Essetal past Hümme and Stammen to the former Trendelburg train station. In between the Hess runs. Long-distance cycle path R4 some sections of the route together with the Hans-Schmidt-Weg, which therefore mostly runs over asphalt farm roads. |  |
| 6 | 7 km | Hofgeismar - Eberschütz | The trail leads from Hofgeismar mostly over graveled forest paths past the hiking car park Nonnengrube east of the west mountain along through the Hofgeismar city forest to the Eberschützer cliffs and further down into the Diemeltal to Eberschütz. According to a legend, St. Sturmius, a pupil of Boniface, held his first missionary sermon on the Eberschützer cliffs. |  |
| II 7 | 6 km | Hofgeismar - Lambs | The Trail II runs from Hofgeismar mostly on gravel forest paths past the cherry plantation hiking car park and the Wilhelm-Koch-Hütte through the Hofgeismar city forest to Lamerden in the Diemeltal. From Lamerden you can take the 140 bus, which also stops in Eberschütz, back to Hofgeismar, combining a nice half-day hike from Hofgeismar. |  |
| ⊥ 8 | 28 km | Liebenau - Veckerhagen | The Hiking trail ⊥, divided into two sections on the ZOB hiking board, leads from Liebenau via Zwergen, the Wacholderheide "Heiße Höhlen", Hofgeismar, the Lempetal, Carlsdorf, Hombressen, the Kühbacher Wiese and the Staufenberg to Veckerhagen, a district of the Reinhardshagen community. The section from Gesundbrunnen through the Lempetal to Carlsdorf is particularly suitable for a short walk. |  |
Other long-distance hiking trails
| title | length | Start point / end point | description | picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⌷ 5 | 20 km | Ostheim - Sababurg | The Hiking trail ⌷ runs from Ostheim in the Diemeltal through the Hofgeismar city forest past the glider airfield "Der Dingel" to Hümme and on through the Reinhardswald past Beberbeck and the Sababurg primeval forest to the Sababurg zoo. With the exception of the section from Holzape to Sababurg, the hiking route usually leads over easily accessible gravel forest and farm roads. |  |
| ⌷ 12 | 15 km | Hofgeismar - Wilhelmsthal Castle | The Hiking trail ⌷ leads from the central bus station in Hofgeismar via the Kelzerberghof, the Obere Kelzer Teich, Grebenstein, the Gradhöhe, Calden and the Lindenrondell in the Tiergarten forest to Wilhelmsthal Castle. The new construction of the Kassel-Calden airport interrupted the hiking route between Grebenstein and Calden, so that hikers now have to make a small detour through the Caldetal. | |
literature
- Cycling and hiking map with city map "Hofgeismar". Scale: Cycling and hiking map on a scale of 1: 50,000; City map with districts on a scale of 1: 7,500. Nordhausen: KKV Kartographische Kommunale Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (KKV), 2015 (5th edition), ISBN 978-3-86973-106-3 ; including UTM grid for GPS use.
- "Reinhardswald" cycling and hiking map. Scale: Biking and hiking map on a scale of 1:33,000. Nordhausen: KKV Kartographische Kommunale Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (KKV), 2011 (2nd edition), ISBN 978-3-86973-012-7 ; including UTM grid for GPS use.
Web links
- Official website HWGHV Hofgeismar
