Route de la Réserve Naturelle Nationale du Taubergiessen

de fr

A route through the Taubergiessen National Nature Reserve, in the German part of Rhinau, along the Old Rhine with views of Rhinau Island and a short detour to Europa-Park (Rust).
This is a thousand-hectare nature reserve owned by the French commune of Rhinau on German territory (650 ha of forest and 350 ha of meadows or fields).
I was lucky enough to spot roe deer, swans and herons.

Details

n°1372614
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.95 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 39 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 39 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 564 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 518 ft
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Photos

Europa-Park
Deer
Rhinau ferry
Dam Threshold

Description of the walk

To reach the car park, take the Rhinau cross-border ferry (free). Once in Germany, park your car in the small car park on ‘Reinstrasse’, located on the right next to a tobacconist’s.

(S/E) Head towards the Rhine where the ferry you have just taken is located. Go up onto the embankment and turn left. Walk along the Rhine against the current, heading south.

(1) Junction – Take the path on the right heading west. Join the Old Rhine (non-navigable section)

(2) Turn left and head south for several kilometres (this is a monotonous stretch). You will reach a weir known as a ‘seuil’.
These three very low weirs create permanent reservoirs, thereby preserving the water table. They are equipped with fish ladders.

(3) Continue straight ahead towards the south. You will reach a junction marked by a sign pointing to Rust and Europa-Park, heading north-east.

(4) Turn left in this direction and head for the first bridge.

(5) Continue straight ahead towards the north-east until you reach another bridge.
Cross it and turn right to reach the Europa-Park junction.

(6) Carry on straight ahead to the Europa-Park car park. Continue eastwards.

(7) Retrace your steps back to the junction.

(6) Turn right onto the embankment heading north. Follow this path to the first junction, another monotonous stretch.

(1) Follow the route back to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 525 ft - Start – Car park – Confluence of the Rhine and - Grand canal d'Alsace
  2. 1 : mi 1.22 - alt. 525 ft - Junction – Turn right
  3. 2 : mi 1.85 - alt. 531 ft - Turn left and follow the Vieux - Rhin (fleuve)
  4. 3 : mi 3.18 - alt. 535 ft - Dam known as a ‘weir’
  5. 4 : mi 4.59 - alt. 545 ft - Junction – Turn left
  6. 5 : mi 5.06 - alt. 548 ft - Bridge 1
  7. 6 : mi 6.03 - alt. 535 ft - Crossroads
  8. 7 : mi 6.29 - alt. 535 ft - Europa-Park car park
  9. S/E : mi 9.95 - alt. 525 ft - Finish - Car park

Notes

The path is easy and suitable for everyone. I’ve rated it as moderate difficulty because of the distance.
However, there are no signposts. I followed the route provided by the Rhinau Tourist Office.
Only 20% of the walk is in the forest. So make sure you cover up in the event of a heatwave.
There are no drinking water points (despite being surrounded by water).
There are no shelters and only a few benches on the Rhine embankment at the start of the route.
I did this walk in dry weather. I think you should opt for walking boots in wet weather.

Worth a visit

Rhinau Ferry (Free)
Europa-Park

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
User 9971968

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Unfortunately, I didn’t see many interesting birds, even though the site is ideal for them.

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denisbeyer67
denisbeyer67

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy walk with a view of the EUROPAPARK leisure park.
At the start of the walk, the ferry between France and Germany is a pleasant attraction.

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francisL67
francisL67

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We couldn't do the whole route, as some passages were blocked by the police due to flooding. The undergrowth was overrun with mosquitoes. We'll do it again this winter.

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FrancoisFr
FrancoisFr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The Taubergiessen is best known for its birdlife,
The route is generally a return trip between the Rhinau/Kappel ferry (S/E) and the Rhine (marked point 2). If you're a bit braver, you can continue a little further along the Rhine, but it's no more than 8km all in all.
If you want to do a bit more, you'll immediately have to go a lot further, as there are very few cross-country routes, and most of the paths end in a dead end beside a river.
With the exception of the detour leading to the Europa Park car park, which I've omitted, the route proposed here is really optimal for those who don't want to settle for the classic round trip to the birdwatching sites, but it is constrained by the crossing of rivers and the scarcity of bridges.
It's a very sunny route in good weather, and I recommend it at the end of winter.

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samyo
samyo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

As mentioned on your website, the only difficulty lies in the length, otherwise it should be done in spring or early autumn. Some beautiful spots alternate with more monotonous passages, but all in all, a very nice walk.
Personally, we did it in 3 hours.
We arrived on the German side and took the ferry back.

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