Hiking trip Rheinsteig: in 11 days from Mainz to Koblenz

Journey to Mainz

Have you ever been to Rheinlad-Pfalz?

Welcome to the capital!

We can promise you one thing: you will not be the first to be captivated by this stream in the Upper Rhine basin shortly before it breaks through into the bedrock of the Taunus and Hunsrück mountains. The Romans were already trudging around here, securing ‘their’ forts on the fertile alluvial land with the Limes deep in the woods above the vineyards.

Do you have a little time before the hiking boots press the next morning? Mainz is worth a visit. St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Deutschhaus with the State Parliament, the beautiful Old Town on the Rhine with its half-timbered buildings, the Gutenberg Museum or the Electoral Palace of the Prince Bishops with their Archbishopric and Churwürde… When the railroad tunnel south of the main station was renovated a few years ago, what happens so often on the Rhine happened. A Roman bone, long thought to be dead, poked and and blocked all construction work. A grandiose amphitheater cut into the rock came to light.

What does the Rhinelander do in such a situation? Well, he simply built the S-Bahn station onto the theater stage. One of the most remarkable train stations in Germany – worth your visit!

Hike Mainz – Schlangenbad, approx. 17 km, 400 m↑ 150 m↓, ~ 4 h

To start your trip, a boat trip on the Rhine awaits you. Here, where borders and castles have shaped life for centuries, you step across the border in the middle of the river and find yourself opposite Mainz in the land of the Hessians and their capital.

From Biebrich Castle in Wiesbaden your way leads to the Schierstein harbor. The route continues directly along the unspoiled banks of the Rhine through a nature reserve and bird sanctuary to the historic wine village of Walluf. Through vineyards and lonely forest areas you continue hiking to the natural monument Grauer Stein. Through the Rheingau vineyards you will reach the spa town of Schlangenbad in the Taunus Mountains.

Hike Schlangenbad – Oestrich-Winkel, ~ 22 km, 500 m↑ 750 m↓, ~ 8 h

On forest and meadow paths your way leads to the ruin Scharfenstein and further through the vineyards to the impressive monastery complex Eberbach. Take your time to visit the famous film set from the 12th century, before you make your way to the picturesque wine village of Oestrich-Winkel. Enjoy a glass of wine and let the day come to a pleasant end.

Hike Oestrich-Winkel – Rüdesheim, approx. 15 km, 320 m ↑↓, ~ 7 h

Along the Riesling Trail you walk to the famous winery Schloss Vollrads.

Light deciduous forests line your way to the pilgrimage site of Marienthal with its Franciscan convent. Through the Blaubachtal and cultivated vineyards with wide views, the route leads to the famous Benedictine Abbey of St. Hildegard.

The old winegrowing town of Rüdesheim, where even the Romans grew wine, welcomes you with quaint wine taverns and historic half-timbered houses.

Hike Rüdesheim – Lorch, approx. 21 km, 650 m ↑↓, ~ 7 h

Today you finally climb the ridges of the western slopes of the Taunus to the Middle Rhine Valley. Enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful panorama and the view of the mouth of the Nahe River in Bingen, located opposite on the left side of the Rhine. The path is sometimes steep, rocky and lives up to its name. However, it is always well secured and accessible.

Passing the hunting lodge Niederwald you walk to Assmanshausen, known for its excellent red wines and the beautiful half-timbered houses. In your overnight stay in Lorch you can also expect a lot of half-timbered houses and excellent wine.

Hike Lorch – Kaub, approx. 20 km, 400 m ↑↓, ~ 7 h

On varied trails and along the ridges with fantastic panoramas over the Rhine Valley, your path leads to the historic shipping town of Kaub (or alternatively on the ridges to Dörscheid).

The ruins of Nollig Castle, Gutenfels Castle and, as a highlight, the imposing customs castle Pfalzgrafenstein, located directly on an island in the Rhine, make today’s stage a real Middle Rhine experience.

By the way, today’s stage ends in Kaub at the place where Marshal Blücher led the united armies against Napoleon across the Rhine in 1814 with 50,000 men and 15,000 horses.

Hike Kaub – St. Goarshausen, approx. 20 km, 640 m ↑↓, ~ 7 h

The heart of the Middle Rhine Valley awaits you today – with winding paths, fantastic views and legendary castles.

The most famous rock on the Rhine, the Loreley is also on your program, as well as the three-castle view of Burg Katz, Maus and the largest of all Rhine castles, the fortress castle Rheinfels.

A crowning conclusion to your day’s stage before you reach St. Goarshausen.

Hike St. Goarshausen – Kamp-Bornhofen, ~ 23 km, ~ 760 m ↑↓, ~ 8 h

Through natural paths, fantastic landscapes and past defiant castles, today’s route takes you over the Filsener Lay, one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the region.

Castle Liebenstein and Sterrenberg, the “hostile brothers” accompany you on your way to the winegrowing community Kamp-Bornhofen.

Hike Kamp-Bornhofen – Braubach, ~ 17 km, ~ 530 m ↑↓, ~ 6 h

On your way to Braubach you will encounter Liebeneck Castle and the impressive Marksburg Castle. It boasts of being the only undestroyed hilltop castle on the Rhine.

You should definitely take time to visit the beautiful castle in its medieval garb.

The wine town of Braubach welcomes you with its city wall and numerous half-timbered buildings.

Hike Braubach – Koblenz, ~ 18 km, ~ 550 m ↑↓, ~ 7 h

On the last stage, numerous highlights await you once again: Castles, nature reserves, wooded areas and the flowery Bienhorn Valley.

The hike offers distant views, beautiful nature, as well as an adventurous passage through the Ruppertsklamm, a real highlight!

You will cross the Rhine on the impressive Pfaffendorfer Bridge before ending your hiking week at the “Deutsches Eck” in Koblenz.

High above the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz, face to face with “his” Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, the gigantic equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I has once again towered above the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers since 1993. You have reached the “Wacht am Rhein”.

Koblenz – return journey or extension

You have reached the ancient capital of the Rhenish Republic, the Romans, Chur-Trier, the Prussians, the Germans. Koblenz is probably the most underrated city in Germany. The banks of the Rhine and Moselle, the three fortresses, the fortress garden, the promenades, the beautiful old town. Koblenz is worth an extra day.

Stay or go and come back again. Maybe a Moselle-Rhine tour next year?