recommended route
Hiking Trail
· Dahner Felsenland
Busenberger Holzschuhpfad
Dahner Felsenland Verified partner
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View from LöffelsbergPhoto: Michael Kugler, Dahner Felsenland
Dazzling viewpoints, the mysterious Drachenfels castle ruins, wild romantic paths, and unique rocks make the premium hiking trail, the Busenberger Holzschuhpfad, a hiking route of the highest class. The path also goes through the idyllic meadow valley, past the Sprinzelsfelsen, up to Eichelberg, and those who are hungry will be served hearty meals at the PWV "Drachenfelshütte".
A scenic premium hiking trail is the Busenberger Holzschuhpfad in the Dahner Felsenland. A total of 10 viewpoints that you reach over 7 hills await you. The 23-kilometer-long trail has everything that makes a path particularly beautiful: unusual rocks, red buntsandstein, huts, and Drachenfels Castle make this route entertaining and make the 790 meters in elevation quickly forgotten.
The hike starts at the Hexeplätzte in the extended Waldstraße in Busenberg. Since it is a circular route, you can also start the tour at any other point. You immediately enter the forest, and after a small loop around Löffelsberg, you already enjoy the first views over the Palatinate Forest. The next highlight is Puhlstein with its views. You can also reach this special rock formation via the Puhlsteintour.
At kilometer 9.5, you pass the Chapel of St. Gertraud and are now on the way to Drachenfelshütte, where one should not pass without a stop. Here you get the best Palatinate cuisine, and well fortified, you can tackle the last meters to Drachenfels castle ruins. The panoramic view from the ruins is fantastic, especially the view to other castles. Then the Busenberger Holzschuhpfad makes a loop around the castle and goes on to Sprinzelsfelsen.
WATCH OUT! - Campaign for respectful coexistence in nature
Always behave considerately, kindly and respectfully towards everyone you meet on the way.
Take care of nature, do not destroy any plants and always stay on the paths.
Remember to carry a trash bag with you and take your waste back home.
Please always keep your dog on a leash. Other visitors and animals will thank you.
For your own safety, comply with all path closures. Even on weekends.
Only park in designated parking spaces. Leave room for emergency routes and agricultural machinery.
Give priority to agricultural and forestry traffic.
Author’s recommendation
Places to eat:
Drachenfelshütte of PWV Busenberg, Tel. 06391/3877, www.pwv-busenberg.de
Opening hours: Wed, Sat, Sun and holidays 11:00 - 18:00, all year round; except Christmas and New Year
Weisensteiner Hof, On the B427, Tel. 06391/3559, www.weissensteinerhof.de
Opening hours: Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun 11:00 - 19:00, closed Monday and Tuesday
Pizzeria Sardegna, Eichelbergstraße 12, Tel. 06391/993777, Friday to Sunday from 18:00.
Bakery Busch, Hauptstraße 72-74, Tel. 06391 4090690 www.busch-naab.de
Bühlhofschänke, Oberschlettenbach, Tel. 06398/276, Wed, Sat, Sun and holidays 11:00 - 18:00, closed Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
as well as the local gastronomy in Bruchweiler-Bärenbach
Restoration work will be carried out on the Drachenfels castle ruins from February/March 2025 until summer, which may lead to restrictions. The castle ruins will, however, remain open to visitors.
Attention souvenir hunters!
The marking signs of our premium hiking and walking trails are available for 1.00 euro at the Tourist Information Dahner Felsenland.
Dahner Felsenland Verified partner
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Landgasthof WeissensteinerhofPWV Drachenfelshütte
E-Bike-Ladestation Drachenfelshütte Busenberg (während Öffnungszeiten)
Pizzeria Sardegna
Café - Bäckerei Busch und Naab Busenberg
Safety information
Especially in autumn, be aware that leaves on the ground can cover unevenness, roots, stones, or holes in the path. After thunderstorms or rainstorms, trees may still fall or branches fall down afterwards. Especially in adverse weather conditions, natural paths can have muddy and slippery passages. Not all rocks or cliffs are secured with ropes or rails. Surefootedness is required in some places. You should expect such path impairments when hiking. If you believe certain sections of the path are impassable for you, you should bypass them. Despite the "unmissable" markings of the premium hiking trails, we recommend always having an appropriate hiking map for safety reasons so that in case of a thunderstorm or emergency you can quickly find a safe area.
NOTE:
We strive to announce all closures due to forestry work or hunting societies on this platform. However, there may be situations where trails are closed and we have not been informed. If you encounter closures or detours on site, please observe the instructions for your own safety.
Tips and suggestions
Tourist Information Dahner Felsenland
Schulstraße 29
66994 Dahn
www.dahner-felsenland.de
www.busenberg.de
Roadbook
From the „Hexenplätzel" at the Busenberg sports field, the premium hiking trail immediately leads into the forest. A loop around Löffelsberg ends at a magnificent viewpoint offering wide views over the Wasgau. After a short climbing section, the next viewpoint follows. Then comes the ascent to Puhlstein (6.8 km), a whole gallery of rock blocks accompanying our adventurous path over the ridge. In the middle of a wet meadow lies the legendary Chapel of St. Gertraud (9.5 km), from which you continue hiking towards the „Drachenfelshütte". A real climbing section follows, where you ascend the 420 m high Heidenberg to gain a splendid view of Berwartstein Castle from the Schlüsselfels viewpoint (11.8 km).
The manned Drachenfelshütte and the mysterious Drachenfels castle ruins are the highlights around the middle of the route (13.8 km). Then the „Busenberger Holzschuhpfad" makes a big loop without ever losing sight of Drachenfels Castle.
A swampy meadow valley provides a sunny passage, then the next ascent follows to the Sprinzelsfelsen viewpoint (21.0 km). You hike over the elongated rocky ridge on mysterious paths, meet protruding rock noses with gigantic viewing scenes, and finally reach the valley where the B427 road must be crossed.
A big loop then leads on shaded forest paths around the Eichelberg (24.0 km), where a prominent viewpoint over Busenberg offers a welcome resting place once again. Along mighty rock barriers, the path finally leads back along a beautiful slope path to the Hexenplätzel in Busenberg.
Löffelsberg
Puhlstein
Buhlstein
Bushaltestelle Erlenbach
St. Gertraudenkapelle
Wanderparkplatz Busenberg (Nähe Weißensteinerhof)
Landgasthof Weissensteinerhof
Aussicht am Schlüsselfels
Schlüsselfelsen/Heidepfeiler
Buchkammerfels
Buchkammerfels
Waldsofa
Wanderparkplatz Busenberg Drachenfelshütte
PWV Drachenfelshütte
E-Bike-Ladestation Drachenfelshütte Busenberg (während Öffnungszeiten)
Drachenfels Castle ruins
Schutzhütte am Jüngstberg
Jüngstbergkanzel
Bahnhaltepunkt Bruchweiler-Bärenbach
Bahnhof/Bahnhaltepunkt Bundenthal
Geiersteine
Sprinzelfelsen
Bahnhaltepunkt Busenberg-Schindhard
Bushaltestelle Dahn, Haus des Gastes
Bahnhof Dahn
Bahnhaltepunkt Dahn Süd
Eichelberg
Bushaltestelle Busenberg Ortseingang
Bushaltestelle Busenberg Ortsmitte
Pizzeria Sardegna
Café - Bäckerei Busch und Naab Busenberg
Parkplatz Busenberg (Hexenplätzel)
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
By train to Hinterweidenthal station, from there by bus to Dahn and onwards to Busenberg.
From May to October, excursion trains "Bundenthaler" and "Felsenland-Express" run on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Mannheim/Karlsruhe to the Schindhard/Busenberg stop, then continue with the RegoBus to Busenberg.
Info: www.der-takt.de , www.bahn.de (travel planning from door to door).
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
B 10 to Hinterweidenthal, then continue on B427 via Dahn to 76891 Busenberg, Waldstraße 31. From there towards sports field/tennis club. Or 76891 Busenberg, Drachenfelshütte PWV Busenberg or at all entry points.Parking
76891 Busenberg, Waldstraße 31, direction sports field/tennis club, Hexenplätzel
76891 Busenberg, Drachenfelshütte PWV Busenberg or at all entry points
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Premium hiking book "Palatinate Forest" with 17 premium circular routes and trail routes.
Publisher: idemedia GmbH, ISBN 978 - 3 - 942779 - 54 - 8
Authors: Ulrike Poller and Wolfgang Todt
Castle brochure in three languages (German, English, French) Boundless castle experience in the Dahner Felsenland and the adjacent northern Alsace/F.
The brochure describes 13 castles/castle ruins (trilingual) on 64 pages and presents them with inspiring pictures. Shipping of this article is only after prepayment: Castle brochure 3.70 euros plus shipping costs 1.60 euros!
Author’s map recommendations
Hiking and cycling map Dahner Felsenland 1:25,000, 9.90 euros plus postage costs of 1.60 euros, 7th edition: Hiking and cycling in the Dahner Felsenland with premium hiking trails, main and circular hiking trails, cycling routes as well as the rescue point system; with app support, www.topstern.app at scale 1:25,000, ISBN 978-3-945138-12-0
Equipment
Sturdy footwear, weather-appropriate clothing, sun and rain protection, and sufficient supply of food and drinks should be taken with you in case no places to eat or shop are available or open. Although the path is very well marked throughout, for safety reasons you should always carry a suitable hiking map.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Statistics
Panorama Drachenfels
Hotels/Pensionen/Privatvermieter
