Steinbach walks

From the panoramic Schanzerkopf in the Mittlerer Soon to the Binger Wald The fourth stage also takes us through the unspoilt, almost untouched landscape of the Soonwald forest. However, we are noticeably closer to civilisation again. We pass through the village of Rheinböllen, walk through a wind farm and come across two former foresters' houses where we can stop for refreshments. On the section from Schanzerkopf to the Jägerhaus foresters' house, we can enjoy magnificent views and, in addition to the panoramic Soonwald ridge, we pass two viewing towers.

This is one of Germany’s ‘Dream Trails or Circular Loops’ (Traumpfade/Traumschleife). Steep ascents and descents, rock formations and views of seemingly unspoilt nature in the wild and romantic Baybachtal.

On the fifth and final stage, the Soonwaldsteig trail leads from the quiet and secluded forests of Lützelsoon and Großer Soon into the Middle Rhine Valley, a World Heritage Site. The route mostly follows narrow paths and rocky climbs. A narrow gorge, a turbulent torrent, two medieval ruins and several fantastic views of the Rhine Valley characterise this section of the trail, which begins at the Jägerhaus forest lodge and ends in Bingen am Rhein.

Circular starting from Mörsdorf, ending with a crossing of the Geierlay: Germany's longest suspension bridge, 100 metres above the valley and 360 metres long.

Through beech forests and nature reserves in the Großer Soon On the third stage of the Soonwaldsteig trail, from the Koppenstein hiking car park to the Schanzerkopf hiking car park, the long-distance hiking trail plunges into the total seclusion of the Greater and Middle Soon. It passes through a primeval forest, two marshy nature reserves and quiet beech forests. Wild paths over bumpy quartzite rock, natural forest trails and soft meadow paths are part of the route profile, which takes us over the highest point of the Soonwald, the 658-metre-high Ellerspring.

This stage of the Soonwaldsteig trail leads through the Hahnenbach Valley and over the quartzite ridge of the Lützelsoon. It follows idyllic riverside paths and wild trails from Rudolfshaus to the ruins of Koppenstein Castle. It passes a visitor mine, a reconstruction of a Celtic hilltop settlement, the historic Schmidtburg castle and the Hahnenbach Valley water adventure trail. Sure-footedness is essential on this stage.

The Soonwaldsteig trail runs for 85 km from Kirn on the Nahe river, right through the Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park to Bingen am Rhein. We first hike parallel to the Hahnenbach valley to Schmidtburg and then tackle the Lützelsoon hills. The trail then leads through the Kellenbach valley into the Soonwald forest. At Rheinböllen, we cross the Guldenbach Valley and finally pass through the Binger Forest to the Rhine at Bingen am Rhein.

Gentle adventure meets evidence of the exciting Middle Ages "Off on a gentle adventure" is the motto of the 84-kilometre-long Soonwaldsteig trail. It runs across the densely wooded quartzite ridges of Lützelsoon and Großer Soon from Kirn on the Nahe to Bingen on the Rhine. The long-distance hiking trail is very peaceful on its five (possibly six) stages, and we do not pass any human settlements for more than forty kilometres. The trail follows many paths past several medieval ruins, a series of observation towers with some outstanding views, and finally, the romantic Rhine. The very first stage of the Soonwaldsteig shows that this long-distance hiking trail is full of surprises and will not disappoint nature-loving hikers.