Nibelungensteig (4): Grasellenbach – Güttersbach

We start at the Ringhotel Siegfriedbrunnen on Hammelbacher Straße in Grasellenbach.

(S) From the hotel, we walk down Hammelbacher Straße, passing the hotel's swimming pool on the right. At the Landgasthof Dorflinde, we turn right into Siegfriedstraße, with the village shop on the left, and cross Guntherstraße.
If you are coming by bus, get offat the Nibelungenhalle stop , walk along Guntherstraße towards the Hotel Siegfriedbrunnen and then turn left into Siegfriedstraße, which you follow uphill. Immediately after the Gudrun guesthouse, leave the paved road and walk uphill on the gravel path on the left until you reach the edge of the forest.

(1) Follow the sign for Siegfriedbrunnen, a steep path for 20 minutes. Pass a shelter and continue straight ahead into the forest, turn right immediately and follow the sign on a beautiful forest path uphill. Ignore all turnoffs and pass the Adam-Helm shelter.

(2) Continue straight ahead uphill until you reach the forest path, which you follow straight ahead, i.e. to the left. Shortly afterwards, you will unexpectedly come to a number of signposts. Here, turn right, climb the steps and after about 100 metres you will reach the idyllically situated and legendary Siegfriedbrunnen.

(3) Here, we walk diagonally across the square, pass a refuge hut on the left and finally reach the forest path, where we turn left. Unfortunately, this path is badly damaged by forestry work in spring 2023. The path winds its way uphill, and at the next fork we keep to the right and finally reach the Spessartkopf.

(4) This is the highest point of today's stage. At the next fork, keep left, and at the following T-junction, also keep left. You will reach a crossroads with a signpost.

(5) Take the left-hand fork (signposted for Güttersbach) and at the next crossroads, do not follow the signs for Güttersbach, but keep right on the Nibelungensteig. At the next opportunity, turn right – the sign for the Nibelungensteig is rather inconspicuous at this point – and walk downhill into the Rotes Wasser nature reserve.

(6) At the Rotes Wasser high moor, the narrow path leads us uphill to the left – the moor is no longer accessible – and above the moor along a wonderful root path. We reach a wider unpaved path. On the right, we see a footbridge that crosses the moor, but we continue slightly uphill to the left. After about 50 metres, we turn right at a fork and shortly afterwards we reach a gravel forest path, which we follow to the right until we reach a T-junction.

(7) At the signpost, follow the paved path uphill to the left, ignore all turnoffs, pass the Olfener Bild and finally reach the road. Cross this, walk a few metres to the left and then turn onto a forest path that runs parallel to the road. You will reach a fork in the path with no signposts and continue straight ahead. Shortly before reaching a wider unpaved forest path, walk a few metres up the embankment on the left and cross the road again. The path leads past a hiking car park, a seating area and a signpost. Pass a barrier and keep right at the next fork. At the first fork before a slight left turn, take the path to the right. This fork is not marked, but after a few metres you will see the Nibelungensteig sign on a tree. Follow the path, reach a meadow and walk towards a solitary tree with a signpost.

(8) Güttersbach is directly in front of us. We reach a paved path, which we follow to the right until we reach the road (Hüttenthaler Straße), which we follow to the left downhill until the next bend. At the apex of the bend, we turn left and follow a sunken path downhill until we reach a paved path, which we follow to the right downhill until we reach Hüttenthaler Straße again at the Schönblick house (closed). We turn sharply left and follow the road downhill, passing two benches on the right. Immediately afterwards, our path turns right, we follow it downhill and reach the Mitnahmebank (pick-up bench) in Güttersbach.

(E) This is where our stage ends. If you are staying at the Zentlinde, turn left and you will see the hotel entrance directly in front of you.

There is a hiking pass for the Nibelungensteig, in which you can document your stages and then submit it. This qualifies you for the Nibelungensteig hiking badge

Trail markings: The trail is marked throughout with a red N, and the access trail with a green N.

Trails: Partly easy forest trails, partly unpaved forest paths, not to be underestimated in terms of fitness. Most of the trails are used by mountain bikers and hikers at the same time.

Rest and refreshments

(S) Hotel Siegfriedbrunnen in Grasellenbach or farm shop and chemist's in Grasellenbach

(E) Hotel Zentlinde in Güttersbach with delicious food and a wellness area

There are no other places to stop for refreshments or food along the route, so be sure to take plenty of drinks and provisions with you

Rest areas and shelters

(1) and (2) shelters with seating, (3) beautiful shaded rest area with several table and bench combinations and two shelters, (4) rest area at the "summit" of the Spessartkopf

Accommodation

in Güttersbach:

Hotel Zentlinde: a little more expensive, but with a great spa area including indoor pool, delicious food, half board available

Gasthof Goldener Löwe: bed and breakfast

Bus

Grasellenbach: Bus line 667 from Heppenheim or bus line 681 from Weinheim, stop Nibelungenhalle

Güttersbach:Lines 45 and 46 OREG – runs very infrequently, no evening departures

Map: Hiking map Nibelungensteig, Zwingenberg - Freudenberg: Leporello hiking map with excursion destinations, places to stop for refreshments and leisure activities, weatherproof, tear-proof, wipeable, GPS-accurate. 1:25000 (Leporello hiking map / LEP-WK)

(3) According to legend, Siegfried was murdered here by Hagen. However, there are several wells in the Odenwald where Siegfried was apparently murdered.

(6) NSG, also known as Olfener Moor, one of the last remaining original moors in the Odenwald.