The Weiltal bike and hiking trail leads from the Weilquelle on Great Feldberg above Weilmünster to Weilburg at the Lahn. At the weekend he is accompanied by a leisure bus with a bicycle trailer. So you can take the bus up the steep slopes.
Route profile
- Length: 47.5 km
- Signposting: available, but no bike signs in the usual design
- Slopes: Initially steep, then gradually becoming flatter, between Weilmünster and Weilburg on the former railway line
- Path condition: Forest or farm roads. Use of the road on short stretches of road in through town passages. Only parts of it paved, otherwise solid, water-bound cover
- Traffic load: almost all traffic-free routes
- Suitable bike: Touring bike with gears
- Family suitability: between Weilmünster and Weilburg
- Inline suitability: No!
background
Bike and hiking trail in the Taunus from the source on the Großer Feldberg to the confluence with the Lahn near Weilburg.
getting there
Public transportation
By train
- from Frankfurt Hbf / city center with the S-Bahn line S 5 (Destination: Bad Homburg or Friedrichsdorf) or the RB 15 (Taunusbahn; destination: Grävenwiesbach or Brandoberndorf) to Bad Homburg, from there by bus (see below)
- from Frankfurt city center with the tram line U 3 to the terminus Oberursel-Hohemark, from there by bus (see below)
- alternatively with the Taunusbahn to Grävenwiesbach, from there by bike or the bus line 50 through a side valley to Weilrod
Bike bus
From the beginning of May to the end of October the Weiltalbus with bicycle trailer (line 245) from Bad Homburg train station or Oberursel Hohemark over the Sandplacken along the Weiltal to Weilburg. Taking bicycles with you is free of charge in the RMV.
Bicycle bus stops:
- Bad Homburg train station
- Oberursel-Hohemark · (300 m above sea level) - U-Bahn station (final stop U3) and parking lot
- ↔ Travel time: 10 min., Fare: € 1.60, children € 0.95
- Arnoldshain, Sand slapping · (669 m above sea level) - Taunuspasshöhe with 2 large parking lots and restaurants.
- Schmitten, church
- Altweilnau, Erbismühle
- Rod a.d. Because, Schmiedhof
- Weilrod, winches
- Weilmünster, hospital - east of the city center
- Weilmünster, central bus station
- Ersthausen
- Edelsberg, Weilstrasse
- Freienfels, Weilstrasse
- Weilburg, Guntersau
- Weilburg Bhf (ZOB 2) - rail connection to Gießen and Limburg
How to get there: Sandplacken - Red Cross - 5 km or 7.9 km
Two paths, south and north around the Großer Feldberg, lead comfortably from the Sandplacken bus stop (669 m above sea level) to the starting point of the Weiltalweg at the Red Cross (688 m above sea level).
The northern way is the Limes cycle path. From the bus stop in the direction of Weilburg, cross the street, drive past the inn and across the parking lot. The Limes cycle path only runs to the left of the road to the Großer Feldberg. This is crossed after 300 m. The cycle route climbs 2.5 km continuously to a height of 773 m and then continuously descends. After 4.2 km you will reach the footpath to Weilquelle, shortly afterwards you will pass the Feldberg Roman fort. You should visit both places.
The southern way is much flatter and has fantastic views of the Frankfurt area on the way to the fox dance. Before the intersection with the Großer Feldberg, a path branches off to the left. After 4 km you have reached the Fuchstanz restaurant. In the backwards direction there is a path up to the left. There is a difference in altitude of 63 m to be overcome over 1.2 km. At the fork in the road, take the flat path on the right. The last part runs parallel to the street on the right.
By bicycle
Of Oberursel-Hohemark
- Right of the subway: Comfortable and gentle ascent to the Saalburg Castle and from there in the opposite direction via the Limes cycle path to the Sandplacken pass. Short cut over the Elisabethenschneise. Just before the end of the path to Saalburg Castle A narrow paved path leads in the opposite direction up to the Herzberg, where you have a wide view of the Rhine-Main area from the observation tower. From there, winding forest paths lead to the parallel path of the Limes cycle path, which leads directly to the Sandplacken pass.
- Left of the subway: gently rising path to Königsstein-Falkenstein. From there the steep path to the Fuchstanz (restaurant), from there left to the Red Cross.
Taunus-Pashöhe Sand slapping:
- Limes cycle path · of Saalburg Castle according to the Red Cross
Taunus-Pashöhe Red Cross:
- Limes cycle path · From Idstein-Dasbach
Rod an der Weil:
- Hess. Long-distance cycle route R6 · of Idstein or Usingen
Audenschmiede
- Side road and forest path parallel to the course of the river and the former Weilmünster - Grävenwiesbach (Taunusbahn) railway line. The Weiltalweg leads past the village of Audenschmiede, the junction to Grävenwiesbach is signposted as "Weiltalweg feeder" or "Bhf. Grävenwiesbach ”.
Guntersblum on the Lahn:
- Lahn valley cycle path and Hess. Long-distance cycle route R7 on the banks of the Lahn
In the street
From Frankfurt: From the motorway junction "Bad Homburger Kreuz" die 
in the direction of Oberursel straight ahead, across the 
through the road tunnel. The B 455 makes a wide bend, then take the exit towards Schmitten. There is a large parking lot behind the roundabout and the bus stop for the Weiltal bus. If the bus is not to be used, then continue in the direction of Schmitten to the top of the Sandplacken pass. Large parking lots are on the right.
Route description with sights
Red Cross 668 m - Schmitten: 8 km
First it rises with 4% to the ascent to the Weilquelle at 723 m and then goes 700 m steeply downhill with 8%. In the further course longer runs of up to 5% are included. The Hess. The route planner makes a small but worthwhile detour via the Römerkastel and the Weilquelle.
- Red Cross Km 0 - 668m
- Feldberg Roman fort Km 0.8 - 715m
- Branch Weilquelle · Km 0.9 - 715 m · 200 m walk to the source
Recommendation: Take the path back to the crossroads and take the direct path to Oberreifenberg / Schmitten on the right, otherwise you will have an 8% gradient.
- Oberreifenberg km 3 - 666m Hattstein ruins, Reifenberg castle ruins 3.8 km continuous gradient of 5%
- Schmitten km 8 - 441m
Schmitten - Hunoldstal: 4.8 km
It's gradually going downhill.
- Dorfweil km 9.7 - 407m
- Brombach km 11.4 - 387m
- Hunoldstal km 12.6 - 378m
Hunoldstal - Weilstein 470 m - Landstein 340 m; 3.4 km
It goes continuously up half the mountain with 7 - 9%, and continuously with 6% down the mountain again.
- above Weilstein Castle, below the Pferdskopf km 14.3 - 450 / 470m
- Landstein km 16.1 - 343 / 343m Landsteiner Mühle
Landstein - Rod an der Weil
Slightly off and on again. In Rod an der Weil, near the bus stop, a nice garden bar awaits you in the courtyard.
- Mappesmühle km 17.4 - 333-310m
- Neuweilnau km 18.5 - 320-330m - Nassauer Schloss Neuweilnau
→ Altweilnau with the Altweilnau Castle on the other side of the valley. A strong, round keep with a viewing platform, parts of the circular wall and a gate tower with a hipped roof from 1340 are still well preserved and can be visited. The neat half-timbered houses in the old town center (some of the 16th century) are also worth seeing. - Erbismühle km 19.6 - 303m - today a sports hotel
- Weilrod-Hauptstrasse km 22.9 - 269m junction: Hess. R6 long-distance cycle path in the direction of Idstein with steep inclines
- Rod an der Weil · Bus stop · km 23.3 - 261m
Rod an der Weil - Emmershausen 244 m - Winden 215 m
Always slightly downhill. From the end of Rod an der Weil there is a short uphill climb (27 meters in altitude).
Gemünden loop
Winden - Audenschmiede 210 m - Weilmünster 190 m; 6.6 km
Slight inclines up and down.
Weilmünster - Ernsthausen 163 m - Weilburg / Guntersau (Lahn) 128 m
From Weilmünster it goes exclusively on a former railway line straight to the Lahn. The last kilometer runs parallel to the road. Then you continue on the Lahntal cycle path directly on the Lahn Weilburg. Here, the old town and the magnificent castle high above the Lahn invite you to visit.
Alternative high altitude route: Red Cross - Weilmünster
Especially on hot days you don't sweat so much on the high altitude route. The route mainly leads through the forest and has only a few small inclines, but the ski hiking trail gradually descends.
Drive down the street in the direction of Schmitten 400 m and then left twice to the end of the forest parking lot and then after 60 m right into "Hühnerstraße". Alternatively, drive down the Weiltalweg at the next crossroads and across the street. Very gradually you get to the lower elevations of the Taunus. You drive past the villages, just a short stretch of side road and you pass a glider airfield above Riedelbach. This avoids the 92 m ascent behind Hunoldstal.
Several good drivable forest paths lead right down to the Weiltalweg:
- 1. After 6 km (600 meters in altitude), behind the village of Seelenberg, which is located on the right below the Höhenweg, a path branches off to the right, which immediately runs in the opposite direction. He then makes a wide curve to the left. At the refuge at 8.3 km, the path continues to the left. At km 8.3 you have the choice: Either straight ahead north past the Treisberg and an ascent to the observation tower, or the scenic path south past the Treisberg. Here you turn left and can enjoy the view of the valley landscape from the edge of the forest. Treisberg can be reached after 12 km at an altitude of 573 m.
Drive through the village on the left, then there is an asphalt serpentine path with an 8% gradient down to Finsternthal (km 14.5; altitude: 388m). There you cross the main street. On the other side of the valley, take the lower right-hand road and take the path to the Weiltal along the stream. The Weiltalweg is reached at km 16.1 and 347 m above sea level. The bus stop is then reached at km 19 in Altweilnau.
- 2. After driving past the Riedelbach glider airfield, the Hessian long-distance cycle path R6 runs to the left. Here you can cycle down to the right to the Weiltalweg and come out behind Neuweilnau.
- 3. After a wide bend to the left, the signposted Hessian long-distance cycle path R6 turns right. 200 m later you will pass the Eichelbacher Hof inn. The path leads directly to the village of Rod an der Weil. The bus stop is in the center of the village, in the direction of Weilmünster.
- 4. If you drive straight ahead at the point where the R6 branches off and turn right at the fork in the road, you will pass Hasselbach in a wide arc on the right. You cross the road Haintchen - Hasselbach an der Weil and continue at the edge of the forest to Langenbach and on to the Weiltalweg.
- 5. The first fields come two kilometers before Langenbach. At the point where it would go back into the forest, turn left, and soon afterwards right again. So you stay up to date and only drive into the valley in Weilmünster.
Several wheeled forest paths lead left down to the golden reason:
The Reginalbahn and the Regional Express from Frankfurt go through the Goldener Grund Limburg. Three routes lead you to the Idstein, Bad Camberg and Oberselters train stations.
- 1. After Idstein: Signposted route Hessischer Radfernweg R6 and "Rhine-Main Pleasure Route 4". Steep descents of up to 12%, but also climbs of up to 8% with height differences of up to 110 m, are only recommended for athletes. The final destination is 200 m lower than the branch (500 m).
- 2. After Bad Camberg: The 2nd junction of the signposted "Rhein-Main-Genuss Route 4". Not quite as steep, a maximum of 9% gradient, but also a 9% ascent of almost 90 m in front of the Kreuzkapelle, from which you have a wonderful view.
- 3. After Niederselters: The relaxing tour for tired calves. Just let it roll. There where the Hess. Long-distance cycle path R6 to Eichelbacher Hof turns right and RMV route 4 turns left, you drive straight ahead. at the fork in the road you turn right. The way make a left turn. You cross the country road, also drive on the cross path after you have passed the first clearing to the village of Hasselbach. Take the next crossroad to the left. The second path on the right then goes downhill on the right Hausenbach. Shortly before the village of Eisenbach, turn left and drive into the village. In the center of the village, turn left down to Selters and look for the cycle path on the right. This crosses under the federal highway 8. Right from here it is on the Hess. Long-distance cycle route R8 not far from the Niederselters train station.
- 3b: If you drive straight ahead to Landstrasse instead of left, you can roll down the road on the left to Haintchen and, shortly before the lowest point, turn left on Eisenbach, past the Hubertushof horse farm, down to Erbach.
- 3c: You drive a larger curve when you cross the country road and continue straight for 1.6 km, then turn left at an acute angle on an almost flat path to Haintchen.
Entry and exit points
in Rod on Meanwhile:
- Hess. Long-distance cycle route R6 (athletic challenge)
trips
Weilburg: The Weiltalweg ends on the Lahn on the Lahntal cycle path, which is also the Hessian long-distance cycle path R7 in this section. After approx. 1 km in the direction of Weilburg you will reach the Weilburg station. The regional train from Giessen via Wetzlar to Limburg and the regional express from Giessen to Koblenz stop there.
- Lahn valley cycle path and Hess. Long-distance cycle route R7 on the banks of the Lahn
Return trip: If you take the leisure bus back, you can get off at the top of the “Arnodshain-Sandplacken” pass and whiz down the road in a shot, or you can comfortably cycle down the forest paths described above.
Places to stay and tourist information
- Schmitten: · Tel .: 06084 - 46 23, · www.schmitten.de • [email protected]
- Weilrod: · · Tel .: 06083 - 950 90 · www.weilrod.de • [email protected]
- Weilmünster: Tel .: 06472 - 916 90 www.weilmuenster.de • [email protected]
- Weinbach: · · Tel: 06471 - 943 00 · www.gemeinde-weinbach.de • [email protected]
- Weilburg: · · Tel .: 06471 - 314 67 · www.weilburg.de • [email protected]
outside:
- Grävenwiesbach (rail connection): · Tel .: 06086 - 961 10 · www.graevenwiesbach.de • [email protected]
References to literature and maps
freely accessible digital maps:
