The Felsenweg or Rock Trail from Kappelrodeck.

A series of ten porphyry or granite rock formations offering superb views of the Simmerbach valley, the village of Ottenhöfen, the summit of the Hornisgrinde, the Rhine plain and Strasbourg.

Details

1096015
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 783 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 783 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 705 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 262 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from Kappelrodeck. Park in the car park on Schlossbergstrasse, opposite the castle.

From Sommereck, the route is marked with the letter F (for Felsenweg) or the word Felsenweg.

(S/E) Walk up Schlossbergstrasse.

(1) Turn left onto a path that climbs into the forest towards Burstenstein. At the water tower, leave the path on the left. Go straight ahead at the next fork towards Ottenhöfen. Go straight ahead at the three-way junction towards Sommereck, then straight ahead at the crossroads.

(2) Turn right onto the forest road towards Ottenhöfen. Pass the Sommereck farm and continue down the road.

(3) Turn right in front of the farm at the entrance to Lauenbach, then left shortly afterwards. You are now on Mühlenweg. Walk past a deer park and a mill. After the big left-hand bend, turn right onto the path that goes uphill.

(4) Turn right at a chalet. Follow this path to an old porphyry quarry, then take the path that climbs to the left (Yellow Diamond). Cross the next path, then take the next one on the left (Blue Diamond then Yellow Diamond). Further on, the path turns into a trail. You will come out onto a meadow with cherry trees.

(5) Turn right and, after about 100 metres, you will reach the first rocky viewpoint, the Sesselfelsen. Note the small monument dedicated to Adolph Kolping, priest and founder of the Federation of Rhenish Companions. Turn back and continue straight ahead (Yellow Diamond). At the crossroads, take the flat, wide path on the left towards "Rappenschrofen 1.8 km". Cross the Geiersgrund and turn east. At a fork, go right (east-southeast).

(6) Turn left to reach the Spitzfelsen viewpoint. Turn back. Follow the path to the left for only about ten metres and take the path that climbs to the right (Yellow Diamond). After a fairly steep climb, follow a rocky ridge (Blue Diamond). This will take you to the Breitfelsen viewpoint. Continue along the path, which turns south. At the next junction, turn left (Yellow Diamond).

(7) Turn left to reach the Rappenfelschroffen, with a magnificent view of the Simmerbach valley, Ottenhöffen and the summit of Hornisgrinde. Return to the path and continue left towards Zimmerbacher Kreuz. 300 metres from Zimmerbacher Kreuz, take the hairpin bend path that climbs to the right towards Stierfelsen. At Ringelbacher Kopf, turn right. Leave the path on the right and continue towards Palmfelsen and Stierfelsen. Cross a path.

(8) At the next junction, continue straight ahead towards Pfennigfelsen (approx. 100 m). Turn back and continue along the path to the right.

(9) Turn left onto the path that climbs towards Katzenschrofen. The path passes through a maze of rocks (Yellow Diamond). Continue north. At the intersection, turn left (Yellow Diamond). Join a path and follow it to the right. At the next junction, turn right towards Palmfelsen (Yellow Diamond). Turn right and ignore two paths on the left. After about 20 m, take the path on the left (Yellow Diamond). At Palmfelsen, there is a superb view of the vineyards and the Rhine plain (and its famous layer of pollution!). It is an ideal spot for a picnic: there is a table and benches, which may already be occupied, but there are plenty of comfortable rocks!

(10) The trail then descends to the foot of the imposing rock formation (Yellow Diamond). Further on, the trail turns into a path. At the next junction, go straight ahead (Yellow Diamond). Cross the road. After about 20 metres, take the road on the left. At the junction, take the road on the right towards Stierfelsen.

(11) Turn right at the next junction, then go straight ahead at the next one. Take the path that climbs to the left (Yellow Diamond). At the next fork, go left. You will arrive at Stierfelsen, which consists of huge granite boulders (no access to the summit).

(12) Opposite, about 100 m away, is the Karschrofen rock formation. Be careful not to miss the arrow and the letter F painted in yellow on a tree. Return to the path.

(12) Continue to the left. Where the path turns left, take the path straight ahead (Yellow Diamond). At the Burstenstein rock, there is a magnificent view of the vineyards, the Rhine plain and Strasbourg (on a clear day). Continue along the path that descends (Yellow Diamond) and soon turns into a track. At the Bobenholz sign, turn left onto the path that descends. Turn left and cross a path. Continue along the path on the left. Stay on this path until you reach a T-junction. Turn left.

(13) After 10 m, descend the path on the right. Cross a path. Turn left onto the next path. Turn right onto Sclossbergstrasse and descend to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 262 m - Rodeck Castle car park.
  2. 1 : km 0.34 - alt. 315 m - Forest path on the left.
  3. 2 : km 2.2 - alt. 440 m - Sommereck Route.
  4. 3 : km 3.56 - alt. 349 m - Entrance to Lauenbach.
  5. 4 : km 5.13 - alt. 385 m - Path opposite the chalet.
  6. 5 : km 6.43 - alt. 549 m - Sesselfelsen.
  7. 6 : km 7.49 - alt. 591 m - Spitzfelsen.
  8. 7 : km 8.35 - alt. 656 m - Rappenschroffen.
  9. 8 : km 10 - alt. 652 m - Pfennigfelsen.
  10. 9 : km 11.08 - alt. 616 m - Katzenschroffen trail.
  11. 10 : km 12.01 - alt. 600 m - Palmfelsen.
  12. 11 : km 13.19 - alt. 531 m - Turn right at the fork.
  13. 12 : km 13.71 - alt. 602 m - Stierfelsen and Karschroffen.
  14. 13 : km 15.62 - alt. 442 m - Downhill trail.
  15. S/E : km 16.58 - alt. 262 m - Roddeck Castle car park.

Notes

There are no shelters, water sources or places to eat on this route. Wear sturdy shoes.

Worth a visit

The rock formations of Sesselfelsen, Spitzfelsen, Breitfelsen, Rappenschroffen, Pfennigfelsen, Katzenschroffen, Palmfelsen, Stierfelsen, Karschroffen and Burstenstein.
The Bühler-Mühle mill.
Roddeck Castle: this is private property (winegrower). Only the exterior can be visited at certain times.
The deer park.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
lolo67
lolo67

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike with a good elevation gain and beautiful views. Much of the trail is shaded.

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clemencito
clemencito

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful circuit, once you leave the forest roads. With the possibility of taking shelter in the witches' hut!

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Les M&M's
Les M&M's

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk, most of it in woodland, with some great viewpoints.
The route description is very precise.

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Cb22
Cb22

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike, very varied, a mistake at the start led us to do the hike in the other direction, beautiful viewpoints, in the end 18 km for 870 ascent. Top
A tricky section on the ridge in the middle of the rocks, to be avoided with young children.

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Mickerle
Mickerle

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very well-balanced trail, as described
A little long at the beginning from the start to the climb

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Positiver68
Positiver68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk in very good weather, well shaded, many views (despite the haze of good weather) from the rocks, we came across 4 places to taste Schnaps (brandy) and self-service cold drinks 😁

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