Winter sports in the Rhön - Wintersport in der Rhön

In winter the Rhön Attractive offers for fans of Nordic skiing as well as for alpinists. In terms of snow reliability, the mountains are of course not comparable with the Alps, but certainly with other low mountain ranges such as the Harz or the Black Forest, because in the higher elevations of the Rhön the snow is usually from mid-November to mid-March.

North view from the Wasserkuppe. The Milseburg can be seen on the left in the picture

getting there

In the street

Most ski areas can be easily reached by car. There are usually enough parking spaces available. On the weekends, however, there may be bottlenecks at popular destinations (e.g. Wasserkuppe or Red Moor).

By train

Getting there by train to go skiing in the Rhön is not that easy. For alpinists, this approach is not recommended, as you also have to lug your heavy equipment.

As a cross-country skier, you can travel by train with the Rhönbahn above Fulda to Gersfeld at. If there is enough snow, you can go to Gersfeld climb into the black trail and "boot up" to the red moor (approx. 300 m).

By the way, drives from Gersfeld on pre-order also a local ski bus (no RMV tariff) to the Wasserkuppe, the Roten Moor and the Simmelsberg. The timetable is here to find.

Alternatively, you can also use the Bus from Fulda from also directly to the Wasserkuppe drive (for travel times see Article Wasserkuppe).

Snow phone and winter sports report

• You can reach the snow telephone for the Bavarian Rhön at 09772/212.

• You can reach the snow telephone for the entire Rhön at 06654/1211.

• Official winter sports report the Rhön

Alpine skiing

Winter dream - ski slope on the Wasserkuppe

Measured against the alpine standards, the Rhön ski areas offer family- and fitness-friendly slopes with correspondingly low prices and mostly problem-free and congestion-free arrivals and departures. Due to the mild winters of recent years, the alpine season has also been significantly shortened for the Rhön in recent years. In particular during the holiday season at the turn of the year, the afternoon, e.g. B. at the Wasserkuppe, with longer queues at the entrance to be expected. On the other hand, at other ski areas and in the off-season there are free lifts and sometimes even lonely slopes, and, with a bit of luck, even unrolled fresh snow. The Zuckerfeld and Wasserkuppe offer floodlit skiing in the evening, artificial snow is produced on the Wasserkuppe and Arnsberg II, and the best après-ski can be found on the Simmelsberg and Kreuzberg Monastery. The Rhön offers a total of 25 lifts, the longest ski lift is the "Dreitannenlift" / Kreuzberg with a length of 1400 m.

Those who want to ski a little more sportily will most likely find what they are looking for on the Kreuzberg and Arnsberg, and in sections on the Wasserkuppe.

Arnsberg ski area

The Arnsberg is included Oberweissenbrunn (on the federal highway from Gersfeld to Bischofsheim on the Rhön). The area has three drag lifts and a children's lift. There are a total of 9.5 km of runs with lengths of up to 2200m. Since 2010 the ski area has had a professional fun park that is maintained daily. There are restaurants at 3 ski huts. Parking in Oberweissenbrunn and on the access road Bischofsheim on the Rhön to the Kreuzberg;

Snow Telephone: 09772/277; For information see www.arnsberglifte.de and WebCam;

Feuerberg ski area

The Feuerberg ski area has a single chairlift, 2 drag lifts and a baby lift with a total of 5 km of slopes, the longest slope is 1015 m;

Snow telephone: 09701/391; Info: www.feuerberglifte.de and WebCam.

Ski Area Kreuzberg

Rothang lift;

Dreitannenlift on Kreuzberg (right above Bischofsheim an der Rhön)

The largest ski area in the Rhön is located on the south-eastern side of the mountain. It includes three tow lifts. These open up eleven runs between 580 m and 3000 m in length with a total of 15 kilometers of slopes. The area is between 610 m and 928 m high. There is contemplation in the new one Drei Tannen Alm at the valley station of the lift of the same name and in the Gemündener hut Possible near the family run and, of course, in Kreuzberg Monastery, but somewhat remote from the slopes.

Directions / parking: in Haselbach at the Dreitannenlift valley station and at the Roth inn just before the Kreuzberg monastery;

For information on the lifts, see www.skilifte-kreuzberg.de

Ski Area Wasserkuppe-Abtsroda

On the northeast side of the Wasserkuppe there are several ski lifts with some somewhat more demanding sections. The routes are between 400 m and 1000 m long. The slopes can go up to Abtsroda snowed become. The second entry point into this small ski area is at Abtsroda. The longest and most demanding slopes can be found at the Abtsrodalift (altitude difference at least 210 m). For more information see Wasserkuppe ski lifts.

Simmelsberg ski area

The area is above Gersfeld; for more information see www.skizentrum-simmelsberg.de or www.skilift-simmelsberg.deThe following lifts are available on the Simmelsberg:

• Simmelsberg ski lift: Built in 1965, length 700 m, height difference 180 m, four slopes from 1000 to 1600 m in length.
• Eberhard Rother practice lift: Opened in 2009, length 100 m, height difference 10 m, on the wide ski school slope.
• Rothenbergen pommel lift: Length 470 m, height difference 80 m.
• Pommel lift SCR-Fulda: Length 450 m, height difference 120 m, floodlights.
• Practice lift SCR-Fulda: Length 50 m, height difference 10 m.

Zuckerfeld ski area

The ski area Sugar field is located on the southern slope of the Wasserkuppe, at 950 m above sea level. NN Hesse's highest mountain in the Rhön biosphere reserve. Due to its altitude between 715 m and 800 m, the sugar field is relatively snow reliable. A floodlight system enables driving until 10 p.m., longer by arrangement. A hosted hut that Zuckerfeldstube offers "food and drink" at reasonable prices. The lift is 600 m long with a height difference of 100 m. The four slopes between 1000 and 2000 m in length are groomed daily with two ultra-modern caterpillars and the largest fun park is available for snowboarders Rhön available. The Zuckerfeld ski area can be reached at Zuckerfeld.de. There is also one Ski rental.

further individual lifts

• Ski lift Hilders on the Buchschirmberg: downhill length 300 m at 50 m elevation gain.
• Gebaberg ski lift near Stepfershausen in Thuringia: descent length 270 m at 55 m.
• Ilmenberg lift at the Thüringer Hütte Oberelsbach: Downhill length 350 m at 65 m.
• Heidelstein ski lift near Ehrenberg / Wüstensachsen: downhill length 400 m at 70 m.
• Ski lifts on the Farnsberg near Riedenberg: Two runs of 400 m each with 50 and 60 m elevation gain
• Schwedenwall ski lift at the Hohe Hölle: elevator length 290 m at 53 m.

Directions: via the B 279, location between Gersfeld and Bischofsheim;

Weblinks Alpine skiing

• Association of ski clubs in Lower Franconia: Lower Franconia ski region;

List of ski lifts

Nordic skiing

In the Rhön an extensive network of cross-country trails is groomed when the snow conditions allow. The entire network can use the literaturethe card listed.

A detailed, understandable and up-to-date cross-country and winter sports report for Nordic skiing in the Rhön can be found at Loipenpark.de (applies specifically to the Rote Moor and the Wasserkuppe).

Arnsberg cross-country trails

Information about the trails in Oberweissenbrunn are here to find.

Kreuzberg circular trails

From parking lot at Kreuzberg Monastery two circular trails start:

• "Small loop": 7 km long, difficult, d. H. black trail, 130 m
• "Big loop": 9 km long, medium difficulty, i. H. red trail, also 130 m

Rhönwald trails

View from Buchschirmberg to Hilders

The relatively snow-sure trails are located at an altitude of 800 m in the area of ​​the former inner-German border. The journey takes place via the country road Hilders - Frankenheim. The car parking lot is right on the street.

The 1.4 - 8.4 km long circular trails can be classified as easy to moderately difficult. The routes are largely protected in the forest. Parts of the former border strip are also used as a trail.

The medium difficulty is particularly recommended Trail to the Buchschirmberg. There is a viewing hut with benches on the Buchschirmberg. From here you have a beautiful panoramic view of the northern Rhön (especially into the Ulstertal and the Wasserkuppe). On a clear day you can even see the Thuringian Forest. Due to the exposed location, the track of the cross-country ski run is often covered with snow and is therefore a bit hilly. The panorama from the Buchschirmberg makes up for this problem.

Long Rhön cross-country ski trail network

On the long Rhön there are a total of 13 trails with a length of more than 80 km, the network is in the below literature indicated winter sports map.

Entry points include:

• Schwarzes Moor car park
• Sennhütte car park
• Rother Kuppe car park
• Holzberghof car park

Cross-country center Red moor

Sunset over the Feldberg (seen on the high-altitude trail from the Roten Moor to the Wasserkuppe)

The "Rotes Moor" cross-country ski center lies at 800 m on the moor of the same name. The nature park on the B 278 between Ehrenberg and Bischofsheim on the Rhön is the starting point for the circular trails. This is also where the "Haus am Roten Moor" is located, with restaurants and toilets that are subject to a charge (free if consumed).

The cross-country ski center's network of trails is located in the forest between the B278 and the Heidelstein. The network consists of five interleaved circuits of 2.7; 5.1; 5.8; 9.7 and 10 km in length. The level of difficulty ranges from easy to difficult. There's one at the house on the Roten Moor Webcam.

Further information: see Loipenpark.de (including a detailed trail report and extensive trail map for Download as a PDF file).

Connections:

• High-altitude trail to the Wasserkuppe (approx. 6 km easy); Nice viewpoints
• Circular trail on the Feldberg (can be reached via the Kammloipe in the direction of Wasserkuppe)
• Connection to the cross-country skiing network of the Langen Rhön over the 10 km circuit.

Black mountains trails

The Black Mountains form the southernmost part of the Hochrhön. In the area there are 6 cross-country trails with a total length of 30 km (for more see the Rhön winter sports map under literature).

Trails Wasserkuppe

• If there is enough snow on the airfield Circular trails groomed (for skating and classic style).

• Arrival information regarding the bus:From Fulda main station a bus runs 3 times a day from Mon-Sat to the Wasserkuppe (for more see article Wasserkuppe).

Connections:

• Ridge trail "Alte Reichsstraße" to the Red Moor: approx. 6 km one way. The easy high-altitude trail (for skating and classic style) has beautiful vantage points. You can take a break in the house on the Roten Moor (for more see the Rotes Moor cross-country ski center). If you want, you can make a detour along the moor walkway with a lookout tower on the way there.

• Feldberg trail: The trail branches off from the ridge trail "Alte Reichsstraße" to the Roten Moor. The circuit with the way from the Wasserkuppe is about 10 km long.

• Snow depth on the Wasserkuppe via Wetteronline.de

Image: rhoen_hoehenloipe_blick_wasserkuppe_ds_wv_01_2009.jpg

When the winter weather is nice, you have this view of the Wasserkuppe from the high altitude trail Rotes Moor - Wasserkuppe

Ice rinks

• In Bad Neustadt: "NES on ICE"; Outdoor ice rink on the market square;

Sledding

Tobogganing on the Rothang / Kreuzberg;

There are a total of 15 groomed toboggan runs in the Rhön;

Franconian Rhön

• At the Kreuzberg (Rhoen) at Bischofsheim on the Rhön:
  • Toboggan slope on the monastery meadow;

Hessian Rhön

• In Poppenhausen (Wasserkuppe) 600 m long toboggan run on the "Rote Weg", floodlit in the evening;

Thuringian Rhön

Ski jumping

For those who want to take off;

Franconian Rhön

• In Haselbach at Bischofsheim on the Rhön;

Jump facility with three jumps, the critical points are at 16, 30 and 50 meters. Ski jumping on mats possible in summer;

Hessian Rhön

• In Poppenhausen (Wasserkuppe) on Grasberg, the critical point of the jump is 24 m.

Thuringian Rhön

Snowkiting

Snowkiter

In winter on the Wasserkuppe airfield; the Rhöner Drachen- und Gleitschirm Flugschulen GmbH offers taster courses and other events on the subject;

Telephone: 49 (0) 6654/7548, Fax: -8296; www.snowkite.de;

climate

The climate in the high Rhön is cool and temperate. Above 700 m, the snow can stay for a long time. In the exceptional winter of 2005/2006, there was snow at 800 m well into March (up to one meter). However, a strong wind often whistles over the open heights of the Rhön. So dress very warmly (especially for cross-country skiers, as many trails are not in the forest). official winter sports report

Sports shops in the region

Sports shops with ski rentals are right in the region Sport Walter in Haselbach Bischofsheim on the Rhön and Alpina sports store in Gersfeld.

More sports shops are also in Mellrichstadt and Bad Neustadt.

literature

• Winter sports card of the Rhön: Scale 1: 50000; Price: 4 euros (in the 2008/2009 season). The map is available from the local tourist information offices. It can also be purchased at the tourist information on the Wasserkuppe, in the Haus am Roten Moor and in the Haus am Schwarzen Moor. The map is particularly helpful for cross-country skiers who are planning longer tours in the Rhön.

Web links

• Official winter sports report of the Rhön - Attention: The data in the overview are not up-to-date (status 10-01-2009). To get up-to-date information about the snow situation, you have to click on the ski areas on the left.

• Official winter sports information at www.rhoen.de

• Cross-country information on www.rhoenactive.de - Some very detailed information about the trails is worth reading (with overview maps). Free GPS data for cross-country tours can also be found.

• Cross-country skiing trails in the Rhön at www.rhönführer.de - Detailed information about the trails in the Rhön as well as GPS data.

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