Grandiose panoramic views, mighty red sandstone rock formations, idyllic lake landscapes and romantic valleys - this beautiful circular hiking trail has it all!
UFFBASSE! - Campaign for considerate coexistence in nature
Fires & smoking - Lighting fires, smoking and barbecues are strictly prohibited in the forest and must be avoided at all costs! This is the only way to prevent fires and the resulting damage to nature and wildlife.
Be considerate when out and about - Always behave in a forward-looking, friendly and considerate manner towards everyone you meet along the way.
Nature conservation - Stay on the designated paths and avoid unnecessary noise when you are out in nature. Leave the forest at dusk at the latest so as not to disturb the rhythm of nocturnal animals.
Picnic & garbage - Remember to take a garbage bag with you and take your garbage home with you. Only use the furnished rest areas for breaks and picnics.
Dogs on a lead - Please keep your dog on a lead at all times. Other visitors and animals will thank you for it.
Further information at: www.pfalz.de/uffbasse
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Restaurant & Pizzeria Gusto ToscanoGaststätte Forsthaus Beckenhof
Restaurant Avika
Hotel & Landgasthaus Ständenhof
Safety information
Caution - The fall protection on the Rotenstein must not be climbed on or over under any circumstances (danger to life).Hiking on nature trails and paths - Despite the markings, for safety reasons we recommend that you always have a suitable hiking map with you so that you can quickly find a safe area in the event of a thunderstorm or an emergency, for example. Please be aware of trail closures and detour!
Particularly in the fall, you should also be aware that leaves lying on the ground can hide uneven surfaces, roots, stones or holes in the path. After thunderstorms or rainstorms, trees can still fall over or branches can fall down. Especially in adverse weather conditions, muddy and slippery passages can occur on near-natural paths. This type of path impairment must always be expected on hikes. If you are of the opinion that certain sections of the trail are not passable, it is better to avoid them.
In addition, not all rocks or slopes are secured with ropes or railings. Sure-footedness is required in some places. Rocks should not be climbed, especially by children, as the brittle sandstone in particular poses a risk of falling for non-professionals. Never climb over railings and fall protection (danger to life).
Note - We always endeavor to announce all closures that occur due to forestry work or hunting parties on this platform. Nevertheless, there are situations in which hiking trails are closed and we may not have been informed. Should you unexpectedly encounter such a trail closure or detour, we ask you to follow the instructions for your own safety.
Notes on the adjacent core zone "Source area of the Wieslauter" - The eastern part of the tour leads along long stretches of the core zone "Source area of the Wieslauter". The protection provisions of § 7 of the State Ordinance on the Palatinate Forest Biosphere Reserve must therefore be observed there. Access to the core zone is only permitted on marked paths and at your own risk. It is also forbidden to leave the paths. Fallen trees and branches must always be left lying around in core zones. Standing dead or dying trees will not be felled. Falling branches or falling trees must therefore be expected at all times and without prior notice. Paths and trails are no longer cleared or maintained, even if they may still be included in hiking maps. In the event of an emergency, rescue operations are only possible to a limited extent and under difficult conditions!
Tips and suggestions
Tourist Information Gräfensteiner LandAm Rathaus 9, 66976 Rodalben
Tel. 06331/234-180
E-mail : tourist@graefensteiner-land.de
www.graefensteiner-land.de
Facebook
Travel guide page Gräfensteiner Land
Travel guide page Münchweiler/Rodalb
Community of Münchweiler/Rodalb
Münchweiler/Rodalb railroad station
Motorhome parking spaces in the center of Münchweiler/Rodalb
Hiking portal "Sauweiher" rest area
Waschtal valley with Annaweiher pond
Gastronomy of Münchweiler/Rodalb
YMCA recreation center Münchweiler/Rodalb
Hiking arena Palatinate Forest-North Vosges
Hiking Park Center Palatinate Forest
State ordinance on the biosphere reserve
Motorhome pitches Forsthaus Beckenhof
Butcher's shop and party service Groh
Roadbook
From the Wildsaufelsen, you first head south and climb a pair of rock steps to reach the narrow Rotenstein path, which winds steeply up the mountain past another group of seats. Following it in a south-easterly direction for around 400 meters, you finally reach a somewhat wider natural path, which you follow eastwards and later southwards to reach one of the absolute highlights of the hike, the Rotenstein natural monument, after around 1.4 more kilometers.
This mighty colossus of red sandstone is equipped with a cozy, stone hut with various seating areas, which is also ideal for lingering and picnicking. The view from the rocky plateau of the seemingly endless forests of the Palatinate Forest-North Vosges UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is breathtakingly beautiful. Autumn - also known as "Indian summer" - conjures up a symphony of colors from the magnificent mixed forests. A visit to the high-altitude hiking trail is particularly recommended at this time of year.
The steep descent from the Rotenstein follows a zig-zag path of around 400 meters in a southerly direction, from which the viewer really becomes aware of the immense dimensions of the rock formation. The path then leads a further 400 meters through changing landscapes to the southwest before it joins a somewhat wider natural path.
From now on, the tour continues on wider paths - steadily and gently until the end steeply downhill - for around 1.7 kilometers in a south-westerly direction down to the romantic Waschtal valley with the Annaweiher pond and its diverse flora and fauna. The silhouette of the forest and the sky are always reflected in the crystal-clear water of this small lake... An oasis of peace and tranquillity whose magic is hard to escape. With a bit of luck, you can see kingfishers hunting here. The pond is home to numerous fish, ducks and, last but not least, a trusting family of nutria, which should not be fed with food. A seating area under a small rock offers another opportunity to rest, refresh yourself and enjoy the idyllic atmosphere to the full.
Now follow the Pirminius or Gräfensteiner-Land cycle path for a while and you will pass the quaint end of the Annaweiher pond, which once again offers a completely different, mystical and enchanted marshland landscape with water-typical flowers and plants, fallen trees and mossy roots. Through an old, brick-built tunnel under the railroad line, you continue along the cycle path for quite some distance, always following the peaceful course of the Kaltenbach. Along the way, you will also pass its picturesque little waterfall, which is once again surrounded by a completely different, diverse flora and fauna.
After around 900 meters, you finally leave the cycle path to the right, cross the tracks at the level crossing and follow them parallel on the other side. Here you pass the building of the Münchweiler YMCA leisure center. About 200 meters after this, you finally leave the relatively wide path to the left and follow a short, steep path in a westerly direction, which in turn leads into another, somewhat wider path. This runs through beautiful mixed woodland for around 900 meters in a north-westerly direction. This takes you back to the starting point of the tour, the "Sauweiher" hiking parking lot.
The artistically designed seating area here offers the opportunity to rest and refresh yourself at the end of the hike. However, if you prefer a warm meal, you can of course stop off at one of the local restaurants instead.
Bahnhof Münchweiler an der Rodalb
Restaurant & Pizzeria Gusto Toscano
Gaststätte Forsthaus Beckenhof
Restaurant Avika
Hotel & Landgasthaus Ständenhof
Metzgerei & Partyservice Groh
Bäckerei & Konditorei Flick & Maly
Wohnmobilstellplätze Zentrum Münchweiler
Wohnmobilstellplätze Forsthaus Beckenhof
Ortsmitte von Münchweiler an der Rodalb
Rastplatz Wanderportal Sauweiher
Aussichtspunkt Bauwalder Felsen
Aussichtspunkt Wildsaufelsen
Aussichtspunkt Naturdenkmal Rotenstein
Waschtal mit Annaweiher, Kaltenbach und Wasserfall
CVJM-Freizeitheim
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
By train to Münchweiler/Rodalb station(VRN). Timetable information via the railroad and transport association websites or the "DB Navigator" or "myVRN" apps.Ideal ticket offers such as the Rhineland-Palatinate ticket also make rail travel an inexpensive pleasure.From here, take the Südwestpfalz local transport service, bus route 256 Pirmasens - Leimen/Pfalz or 248 Waldfischbach-Burgalben - Pirmasens to the Alter Friedhof or Gräfensteiner Park stop (timetables). In addition, there is also the call cab line 2571 from the bus stops in the area of the Rodalben municipality.
It is about a 10-minute walk (approx. 800 m) from both bus stops mentioned to the "Sauweiher" hiking parking lot, the start and finish point of the tour, and about 22 minutes (1,600 m) from the train station.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
B10, exit Münchweiler/Rodalb, L496 towards Rodalben, immediately turn right towards Münchweiler/Rodalb - industrial area, follow Lazarettstraße to its end, then turn right into Römerstraße, past the new cemetery, at the end of Römerstraße at the fork in the road is theRömerstrasse, past the new cemetery, at the end of Römerstrasse at the fork to Konrad-Adenauer-Ring is the Sauweiher hiking parking lot, the start and finish point of the tour.B270, in the Donsieders-Biebermühle area change to the L497 towards Rodalben, continue on the L497 towards Münchweiler/Rodalb, this then becomes the L496 from the junction to Merzalben, follow this, shortly before the junction with the B10 take the Münchweiler/Rodalb - industrial area, follow Lazarettstraße to its end, then turn right into Römerstraße, past the new cemetery, at the end of Römerstraße at the fork to Konrad-Adenauer-Ring is the Sauweiher hiking parking lot, the start and finish point of the tour.
Coming from Johanniskreuz on the L496 towards Leimen/Pfalz, drive through Leimen/Pfalz, drive through Merzalben, at the crossroads follow the L496 towards B10-Landau, shortly before the junction with the B10 take the Münchweiler/Rodalb - Industriegebiet exit on the left, follow LazarettstraßFollow Lazarettstraße to its end, then turn right into Römerstraße, past the new cemetery, at the end of Römerstraße at the fork to Konrad-Adenauer-Ring is the Sauweiher hiking parking lot, the start and finish point of the tour.
Parking
Hikers' parking lot "Sauweiher" at the end of the Römerstraße at the Konrad-Adenauer-Ring junction in Münchweiler/Rodalb, no parking fees!Please only park in the designated parking spaces and keep access routes for emergency vehicles and work paths in the forest clear. For overnight stays in campers and caravans, please only use designated camper van sites such as those in the Bürgerpark or at Forsthaus Beckenhof.
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
If you require further information or would like individual advice, simply contact our tourist information office:
Tourist-Information Gräfensteiner Land
Am Rathaus 9, 66976 Rodalben
Phone: 06331 - 234180
Mail: tourist@graefensteiner-land.de
Book recommendations for this region:
Insufficient information or not accessible.
Die Tour ist nur in einigen Teilbereichen barrierefrei nutzbar. Mehrere Abschnitte führen jedoch über schmale Wege und Pfade, die sich sowohl von der Ausbauart, als auch von der Topographie her nicht für Gehbehinderte und Rollstuhlfahrer eignen. Insbesondere gibt es Treppen und natürliche Hindernisse wie Steine, Wurzeln oder Baumstämme, die zu überwinden sind. Teils besteht aufgrund des hängigen Geländes und der Felsen auch Absturzgefahr. Von daher ist der Weg insgesamt als nicht barrierefrei anzusehen.
Completely accessible and fully usable.
Die Tour ist für vom Gehör her beeinträchtigte bzw. gehörlose Menschen problemlos nutzbar.
Reasonably usable, but not completely accessible.
Einige Abschnitte der Tour führen über schmale Wege und Pfade, die relativ steil und uneben sind. Insbesondere gibt es Treppen und natürliche Hindernisse wie Steine, Wurzeln oder Baumstämme, die zu überwinden sind. Teils besteht aufgrund des hängigen Geländes und der Felsen auch Absturzgefahr. Daher kann eine Begehung nur mit entsprechend geschulter Begleitperson empfohlen werden.
Reasonably usable, but not completely accessible.
Einige Abschnitte der Tour führen über schmale Wege und Pfade, die relativ steil und uneben sind. Insbesondere gibt es Treppen und natürliche Hindernisse wie Steine, Wurzeln oder Baumstämme, die zu überwinden sind. Teils besteht aufgrund des hängigen Geländes und der Felsen auch Absturzgefahr. Die Beschilderung erfolgt anhand von einigen wenigen Wegweisern, ansonsten durch Markierungszeichen mit dem Wegelogo. Die Orientierung im Gelände ist demzufolge nicht immer einfach. Daher wird eine Begehung nur mit entsprechend geschulter Begleitperson empfohlen.
Info in leichter Sprache:
Der schöne Weg führt durch den Wald und an Felsen und einem See vorbei. Immer wieder hat man eine tolle Aussicht. Er ist manchmal schwierig zu gehen und etwas gefährlich, man kann sogar abstürzen. Auch stehen nicht überall Schilder. Man muss dann dem Logo folgen. Daher nehmen Sie immer eine Begleitperson mit, damit Sie sich nicht weh tun oder verlaufen.
Equipment
We recommend the following equipment as standard for our hiking tours:- Sturdy shoes
- Clothing suitable for the weather
- Sun and rain protection
- Sufficient supplies of food and drink (rucksack food), as there are not always places to stop for refreshments/shopping available or open.
- Hiking map (see safety instructions)
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

User Questions