recommended route
Hiking Trail
· Dahner Felsenland
Dahner Circular Trail
Dahner Felsenland Verified partner
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Hiking in the Dahner Felsenland: Dahner RundwanderwegVideo: Outdooractive – Flyover Videos
The 18.7-kilometer long premium hiking trail, the Dahner Circular Trail, leads over narrow paths and varied forest trails through the diversity of the Dahner Felsenland. Starting from the rock massif Hochstein, the Alt-Dahn castle group, the Römerfelsen over the Jungfernsprung and Satansbrocken to the Neudahn castle ruins.
On the nearly 18.7 kilometers of the premium hiking trail, the Dahner Circular Trail, the diversity of the Felsenland unfolds. Over the Hochstein rock massif, the trail leads to the largest castle complex in the Palatinate, the castle massif Alt-Dahn-Grafendahn-Tanstein.
Here you should plan time for an extensive visit. Comfortable forest trails lead over the Römerfelsen, with its great 360° view, further to the famous rock massif Jungfernsprung above the town of Dahn. Legendary, the route continues on the other side of the valley past the Satansbrocken and Hexenpilz rocks to the imposing Neudahn castle ruins. After a short descent into the Moosbachtal nature reserve, a stop at the Dahner Hütte of the Palatinate Forest Club is recommended. Two more impressive rock massifs are passed before the trail ends in the Kurpark, the starting point of the circular route.
UFFBASSE! - Campaign for respectful coexistence in nature
Always behave considerately, kindly, and respectfully towards everyone you meet on your way.
Respect nature, do not destroy plants and always stay on the paths.
Take a trash bag with you and take your rubbish home.
Please keep your dog on a leash at all times. Other visitors and animals will thank you.
Observe all trail closures for your own safety, even on weekends.
Park only in designated parking areas. Leave space for emergency routes and agricultural machinery.
Give priority to agricultural and forestry traffic.
Author’s recommendation
Dining options:
Haus des Gastes (start/finish) currently closed, Burgschänke Burgengruppe Alt-Dahn (currently closed), Dahner Pfälzerwald-Hütte in Schneiderfeld, FelsenGraf/Steakhouse, Gaststätte Büttelwoog at the campsite, Hotel Pfalzblick, Restaurant Wasgauperle as well as local gastronomy in the town of Dahn (please observe respective closing days).
Haus des Gastes, Weißenburger Straße 17, 66994 Dahn,
Castle complex Alt-Dahn will reopen from July 5 to October 31, 2025!
The comprehensive traffic safety measures have been completed and thus the castle complex can be reopened. The complex was temporarily closed due to these safety measures. After completion of the necessary work, guests can now safely visit the castle again and enjoy the historic ambiance.
www.burgen-rlp.de and www.burgenlandschaft-pfalz.de
Castle tavern: still closed
Castle museum: closed
Castle tours: do not take place
PWV hut in Schneiderfeld near Dahn
April to October: Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, except holidays. Other opening times for the rest of the year. Tel. 06391/1793 (hut) or 06391/409903 (PWV Dahn) www.pwv-dahn
FelsenGraf Steakhouse, Im Büttelwoog, 66994 Dahn, open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Guesthouse campsite Büttelwoog, Am Campingplatz 1, 66994 Dahn, Tel. 06391/924718, www.campingplatz-buettelwoog.de
Opening hours: 1 week before Easter to early November, shoulder season 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., peak season 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Pfalzblick Wald Spa Resort, Goethestraße 1, 66994 Dahn, Tel. 06391/4040, open daily
Restaurant Wasgauperle, Goethestraße 14, 66994 Dahn, Tel. 06391/1340, www.wasgauperle.de
Open daily 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (kitchen until 9:00 p.m.), closed Monday and Tuesday
as well as other local gastronomy in the town of Dahn
Attention souvenir hunters!
The marking signs of our premium hiking and walking trails are available for €1.00 at our Tourist Information Dahner Felsenland.
Dahner Felsenland Verified partner
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileRest stops
Castle complex Alt-Dahn - Grafendahn - TansteinWasgau Bäckerei Dahn
Blümchen & Beere
PWV-Hütte im Schneiderfeld
FelsenGraf
Hotel Pfalzblick
Restaurant Wasgauperle
Café - Bäckerei Busch und Naab Dahn
Safety information
Especially in autumn, be aware that the fallen leaves on the ground can conceal unevenness, roots, stones, or holes in the path. After thunderstorms or heavy rain, trees may still fall or branches may drop. Particularly under adverse weather conditions, natural trails can have muddy and slippery passages. Not all rocks or cliffs are secured with ropes or railings. Surefootedness is required in places. You must expect impairments like these when hiking. If you think certain sections are not walkable for you, you should avoid them. Despite the "unmistakable" marking of the premium hiking trails, we recommend always having an appropriate hiking map with you for safety reasons so that you can quickly reach a safe area, for example, during a thunderstorm or emergency.
NOTE:
We strive to announce all closures due to forestry work or hunting groups on this platform. Nevertheless, there are situations where trails are closed and we may not have been informed. If you encounter closures or detours on site, please observe the signs for your own safety.
Tips and suggestions
Tourist Information Dahner Felsenland
Schulstr. 29, 66994 Dahn
Tel. 06391 9196222
www.dahner-felsenland.de
Roadbook
The approximately 18.6-kilometer long premium hiking trail, the Dahner Circular Trail, which can be divided into two circular sections, is definitely one of the most beautiful and interesting hiking trails in the Palatinate. It leads around the spa town of Dahn into the world of bizarre rocky giants, to mighty castle complexes, through wide forest areas as well as to romantic valley meadows and lakes.
The start is in the Kurpark Dahn. Over the mighty rock massif Hochstein, from which hikers have a wide view over the Dahner Felsenland, the trail leads to the largest castle complex in the Palatinate, the castle massif "Altdahn-Grafendahn-Tanstein". A visit to the castle museum is highly recommended. The next impressive destination on the route is the rock massif "Römerfelsen". A ladder leads up to the secured viewing platform on the rock. Here hikers can enjoy a magnificent view over the sea of treetops of the Palatinate Forest. The path then continues on comfortable forest trails over the Lachberg, with views of the Altdahn castle complex, past mighty rock walls and over the ridge of the Vogelsberg to the viewing platform on the famous rock massif "Jungfernsprung" directly above the town of Dahn. After a short descent, Dahn is reached again. This marks the end of the first section of the trail.
Now the path leads to the other side of the valley to the viewing platform on the rock massif "Sängerfelsen" and further past the rock massifs "Satansbrocken" and "Hexenpilz" to the mighty castle ruins "Neudahn" with its towers and rock chambers. This is followed by a short descent into the Moosbachtal nature reserve, which will delight nature-loving hikers. Past several small lakes, the managed "Dahner Hütte" of the Palatinate Forest Club is reached after a short time. After a cozy rest in the middle of a wonderful landscape, the trail continues on beautiful forest paths to the rock massifs "Braut und Bräutigam" and "Wachtfelsen" in Dahn. "Summiteers" have the opportunity to climb the viewing platform of the Wachtfelsen via a ladder. The path then leads back through Dahn to the starting point in the Kurpark.
Hochstein
St. Michaelskapelle mit Ehrenfriedhof
Wanderparkplatz (Nähe Burg Alt-Dahn, Privatbesitz)
Castle complex Alt-Dahn - Grafendahn - Tanstein
Römerfelsen
Tourist-Information Dahner Felsenland
Wasgau Bäckerei Dahn
Deutsche Post Filiale
Blümchen & Beere
Jungfernsprung
Schillerfelsen
Bahnhof Dahn
Galgenfelsen
Bubenfelsen
Sängerfelsen
Hexenpilz
Satansbrocken
Burgruine Neudahn
Dahner Felsentor
Bahnhaltepunkt Moosbachtal
Campingplatz Neudahner Weiher
Campingplatz Moosbachtal
Wanderparkplatz Moosbachtal (Nähe PWV-Hütte im Schneiderfeld)
Elwetritschefelsen
Hirschfelsen
Parkplatz PWV-Hütte Dahn "Im Schneiderfeld"
PWV-Hütte im Schneiderfeld
Campingplatz „Büttelwoog“
FelsenGraf
Pfaffenfels
Felsland Badeparadies und Saunawelt
Schwalbenfelsen
Braut und Bräutigam
Jugendherberge Dahn
Wachtfelsen
Hotel Pfalzblick
Bahnhaltepunkt Dahn Süd
Restaurant Wasgauperle
Café - Bäckerei Busch und Naab Dahn
Edeka Kissel SBK Dahn
Bushaltestelle Dahn, Stadtmitte
Bushaltestelle Dahn, Haus des Gastes
Parkplatz Dahn (Haus des Gastes)
Elwetritsche Denkmal Kurpark Dahn
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
By train to Bad Bergzabern or Hinterweidenthal, then by bus to Dahn. From the town center, walk to the Kurpark/Haus des Gastes.
From May to October with the excursion trains "Bundenthaler" and "Felsenland-Express" on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from Mannheim/Karlsruhe to Dahn South, Dahn station, or Moosbachtal in Dahner Felsenland. Info: www.vrn.de , www.bahn.de (door-to-door travel planning).
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
B10 to exit Hinterweidenthal, continue on B427 to 66994 Dahn, then follow the signs to Kurpark/Haus des Gastes.
Parking
Parkplatz Haus des Gastes/Kurpark, Weißenburger Straße 17 d, 66994 DahnCoordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Premium hiking book "Pfälzerwald" with 17 premium circular and linear trails.
Publisher: idemedia GmbH, ISBN 978 - 3 - 942779 - 54 - 8
Authors: Ulrike Poller and Wolfgang Todt
Castle brochure trilingual (German, English, French) Boundless castle experience in the Dahner Felsenland and the adjacent Northern Alsace/F
The brochure describes 13 castles/castle ruins on 64 pages (trilingual) and presents them with inspiring images. Shipping of this item is only done after prepayment: Castle brochure €3.70 plus postage €1.60!
Author’s map recommendations
Hiking and cycling map Dahner Felsenland 1:25,000 scale, €9.90 plus postage of €1.60, new from December 2022, 7th edition: Hiking and cycling in Dahner Felsenland with premium hiking trails, main and circular hiking trails, cycling routes, and the rescue point system; with app support, www.topstern.app scale 1:25,000, ISBN 978-3-945138-12-0
Equipment
Sturdy footwear, weather-appropriate clothing, sun and rain protection, as well as sufficient supply of food and drinks should be carried in case no dining or shopping opportunities are available or open. Although the trail is very well marked throughout, for safety reasons you should always have a suitable hiking map with you.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Statistics
Hotels/Pensionen/Privatvermieter
