Hunsrück cycle path

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Hunsrück cycle path near Malborn in the Black Forest high forest

The Hunsrück Cycle Path , opened in May 2011, leads from Saarburg an der Saar over the heights of the Hunsrück to Bacharach am Rhein . Over a length of around 155 km, it opens up the entire Hunsrück as a large-scale west-east connection. From the Saar valley, the cycle path rises along the northern foothills of the Black Forest high forest up to the Erbeskopf , the highest point in Rhineland-Palatinate . Via Morbach , Kirchberg and Simmern , it runs north of Idar- and Soonwald , before it drops down from the Hunsrück main ridge towards the Rhine valley. The climbs from the Saar Valley and, in the opposite direction of travel, from the Rhine Valley reach inclines of up to 10 percent on short sections . On the entire route, 1568 m of ascent and 1647 m of descent have to be mastered.

The routing takes place at 74 percent (115 km) on forestry and farm roads or existing bike paths and 26 percent (40 km) on quiet country roads. 87 percent of the cycle path is paved , 13 percent of the route is a water-bound gravel surface . The cycle path is recommended for experienced recreational cyclists, but the sections from Zerf to Hermeskeil and further on between Morbach and Simmern are also suitable for occasional cyclists. The cycle path is suitable for all touring bikes and is signposted throughout . The logo of the cycle path shows a white bicycle on a green background; It also bears the lettering "Hunsrück Radweg". The Hunsrück Cycle Path comprises a total of four stages between 30 and 45 km in length.

Stages

• Saar ascent ( Saarburg - Zerf - Kell am See , 30 km): The ascent from the Saar valley determines the first part of this stage. After Saarburg, the trail initially climbs slightly through the vineyards . A steep section from Irsch follows before the cycle path leads behind the Kalfertshaus down into the Ruwertal . The cycle path follows the course of the Ruwer , partly on the former railway line of the Hochwaldbahn , to Kell am See.
• Hochwald (Kell am See - Hermeskeil - Erbeskopf - Morbach , 45 km): Between Kell and Hermeskeil, the cycle path again uses the expanded railway line of the disused Hochwaldbahn. Through the state forest it climbs close to the summit of the Erbeskopf, with 816 m the highest in Rhineland-Palatinate. Between Sandkopf , Ruppelstein and Erbeskopf, the stage runs on the so-called Pfaffenstraße . A long, winding descent to Morbach concludes this stage.
• Hunsrück Heights (Morbach - Kirchberg - Simmern / Hunsrück , 45 km): Past the ruins of Baldenau shortly after Morbach, the cycle path touches the foothills of the Idarwald. In a north-easterly direction, he is now heading for Hahn Airport , which can be seen on the left at Büchenbeuren . The path leads via Sohren and Kirchberg - following various streams - to Simmern.
• Rhine descent (Simmern - Rheinböllen - Niederheimbach - Bacharach , 35 km): The fourth stage is characterized by far-reaching views over the Hunsrück heights. Via Argenthal and Ellern you reach Rheinböllen, where the A 61 crosses under. From the Guldenbachtal it goes up to the heights of the Binger Forest above the Rhine. After a descent you get to the Rhine Valley near Niederheimbach. The Hunsrück and Rhine cycle paths run through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site together to Bacharach.

Connecting cycle paths

1. Saarburg: Saar Cycle Path (Konz - Saargemünd)
2. Zerf: Ruwer-Hochwald-Radweg (Trier-Ruwer - Hermeskeil)
3. Hermeskeil: Ruwer-Hochwald Cycle Path (Hermeskeil - Trier-Ruwer)
4. Hermeskeil: Primstal Cycle Path (Hermeskeil - Nonnweiler)
5. Hermeskeil: Rhineland-Palatinate Cycle Route (Mainz - Mainz)
6. Morbach: Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel cycle path (to Neumagen-Dhron)
7. Horbruch: Nahe-Hunsrück-Moselle cycle path (to Fischbach)
8. Büchenbeuren: Hunsrück-Mosel cycle path (to Trais-Karden)
9. Sohren: Nahe-Hunsrück-Moselle cycle path (to Zell)
10. Kirchberg: Lützelsoon cycle route (Kirchberg - Kirn)
11. Simmern: Schinderhannes-Soonwald cycle path (Simmern - Gemünden)
12. Simmern: Schinderhannes Cycle Path (Simmern - Kastellaun - Emmelshausen)
13. Niederheimbach: Rhine Cycle Path (Bingen - Rolandseck)

literature

• Hunsrück cycle path. Saarburg - Bacharach . Cycling map 1: 50,000. Publicpress, Geseke 2012, ISBN 978-3-89920-711-8 .

Web links

• Hunsrück-Radweg hunsrueck-radweg.de - Official website
• Hunsrück Cycle Path - map and tour description
• Tour planner Rhineland-Palatinate - Official GPS data for the cycle path
• radwanderland.de - Interactive tour planning

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Themed route Hunsrück cycle path . Tour planner Rhineland-Palatinate. Retrieved October 29, 2013.

Coordinates: 49 ° 36 ′ 30.5 ″  N , 6 ° 33 ′ 13.9 ″  E