Hikes in Martinshöhe

Premium hiking trail over the Sickinger Höhe shaped by mill culture and the Westrich moorland with meadow valleys, forests, fields, bizarre rock formations, and wild gorges. Beautiful views of the neighboring Saarland and towards Zweibrücken included.

There are legendary things to discover around the "Sickinger Höhe" and the mystical "Westricher Moorniederung".

Discover for yourself what already impressed Fritz Claus, the "Singer of the Palatinate Forest," at the Sickinger Höhe.

Through the Elendsklamm natural monument to the beginning of the Sickinger Höhe. Impressive gorge with "primeval forest" that represents a unique habitat for rare animal and plant species. The path is well developed and secured with railings, bridges, and steps.

Hike on the Sickinger Stufe Elendsklamm,Fritz-Claus-Hut,Giant sequoias,Rock path at Fleischhackerloch,Bismarck Tower are the most interesting stops. The route largely follows the marking "white bar with black dot" (wristwatch path). The "legendary forest trail" from Bruchmühlbach can be integrated into this hike, then significantly over 20 km.

Palatinate Forest AssociationMotto: "The Palatinate walks for the Cathedral"On the Way of St. James from Landstuhl to Bruchmühlbach-Miesau on Saturday, September 16, 2023.Start at 10 a.m. at Landstuhl station.

A fabulously beautiful tour

Following in the footsteps of legends, you’ll explore two unique types of landscape: the legendary Sickinger Höhe, named after Knight Franz von Sickingen, who lived at Nanstein Castle near Landstuhl until 1523, and, above all, the mill culture that has shaped the landscape. From the hilltop, we look down upon the mystical Westricher Moorniederung. Many informational signs along the way tell the story of this region. ▶ We start at the municipal administration office 01 Bruchmühlbach-Miesau, turn right onto Alte Straße, then right again up Münchenhäuslweg, and reach the first signpost for the certified trail “Sagenhafter Waldpfad” at the edge of the forest. On the outskirts of the village, we hike west toward Vogelbach through the first forest sections on a gentle ascent. In Vogelbach, we turn left, head up Steinstraße, and after about 300 m, turn left toward the forest. Our first stop along the way is a facility with Kneipp Basin 02, where we can cool our calves according to the Kneipp method. After a steep climb, we’re rewarded with the first panoramic view of the nearby Saarland (northwest). We circle around the ridge and, shortly thereafter, are treated to a new panoramic view to the south toward Pirmasens/Zweibrücken. Green meadow slopes and fields symbolize the agricultural character of the highland villages. We now pass through one of the high-altitude villages, Lambsborn 03 (a trail points the way to the village center), and reach the edge of the forest through the open countryside. We cross the L 464 and hike through a beautiful deciduous forest to the southern part of the Elendsklamm gorge, which we’ll come to again later on our route and can marvel at once more. On natural trails and paths, passing deep gorges and rocks that could inspire many stories, we come across the signpost below the L 466 road indicating the access trail to the Fritz-Claus-Hütte 04, operated by the Martinshöhe branch of the Palatinate Forest Association. You should definitely visit this hut—a wooden cabin with a special charm and good food (check the opening hours!). We follow the short access path back to the main trail and hike to the right (northwest). Following the trail downhill, passing the large sand trap 05 on the left, we reach the valley, accompanied by a stream that meanders wildly and romantically toward Bruchmühlbach. From a distance, we can already see stone sculptures guiding us along the way. At the small pond by the Belzmühle 06, we keep to the left toward another sculpture and a private shelter. We follow the path up into the forest, up a few steps, and then turn right along the natural forest trail. On the paved road to the left, we pass the Schützenhaus 07 (check opening hours!). The certified trail now runs once again through the wild and romantic, well-maintained northern ElendsklammGorge 08—arguably the most beautiful part of the hike. The Elendsklamm Gorge, a natural monument, is a very special scenic attraction due to its diverse geobotanical features. Small, stepped cascades and bubbling waterfalls, bizarre weathering formations in hard quartz sandstone, seas of boulders, and overhanging layers of red sandstone have borne witness since the Mesozoic Era to the powerful force of flowing water—the Frohnbach. The next stop is the Tausendmühle09, a grain mill with over 400 years of tradition. As times change, it aims to turn a visit to the mill into a special experience through creativity, fresh ideas, and exclusive offerings (mill shop, bread-baking classes, chocolate-making workshop; check opening hours!). Our hiking trail leads past the Bierkeller 10, with the silhouette of Bruchmühlbach-Miesau visible on the right, back to the first signpost on “Münchenhäusl-weg,” where we turn right and walk downhill to Alte Straße, then follow it to the left until we reach the starting point at the municipal administration office 01.

We started from the hiking parking lot on the L464 at Tausendmühle Bruchmühlbach and follow the marking "Sagenhafter Waldpfad"

A fantastic local hike in the forest. Start at the Tausendmühle and follow the Sagenhafter Waldpfad to the Fritz Claus Hutte, then loop back through the canyon. Tausendmühle is a family-run bakery and organic store located in their historic mill. They sell flour, bread, and other wonderful foods. The Hütte is open on weekends for a traditional German meal. This hike is suitable for families with older children. It is not stroller-friendly since the terrain is wonderfully rugged.