3-Valleys Route

The tour makes a large loop from Bad Rappenau via Waibstadt to Sinsheim. The route mainly follows paved paths, partly firm gravel/forest roads. Slightly hilly, the path takes us from Rappenau past the Wagenbacher Hof to the old forester's house. Unfortunately, the forester's house is now only an event venue and no longer invites hikers and cyclists to stop. From here, we let the bikes roll down through the forest into the Wollenbach Valley. At the retention basin below, there is the option to turn right to Wollenberg, another district of Bad Rappenau. Depending on the time of day, the rustic Herboldshof guesthouse invites you to rest here (check opening hours beforehand).

At the retention basin, we keep left towards Bargen, cross to the other side of the Wollenbach and cycle leisurely, sometimes closer and sometimes further away from the Wollenbach, through Fliensbach to Helmstadt. Here the Wollenbach flows into the Schwarzbach, and we turn left into the Schwarzbach Valley, following the idyllic valley to Waibstadt. Here you can stop for a break or enjoy a delicious ice cream. The impressive Catholic town church, also called the "Cathedral of the Kraichgau", can be admired here. Waibstadt is the only town in the Kurpfalz region that resisted the Reformation. From here, the route leads partly shaded to the Waibstadt Heights, from where we roll down to Sinsheim into the Elsenz Valley. In the large district town of Sinsheim, there is something for everyone; a variety of restaurants, beer gardens, and ice cream parlors offer everything the heart desires. Along the Elsenz, we ride up the Elsenz Valley through Steinsfurt to Reihen. In Reihen, we climb over the Binsenklinge to the height near Grombach, where we have a fantastic view of the A6 highway. This section had a special function during the Cold War; by removing the guardrails, it could quickly be converted into an aircraft runway for fighter jets. The flight control center was set up in a bunker at the Kraichgau service area in Sinsheim. From up here, we let ourselves roll down to Grombach, follow the railway line to the old train station and the former water castle, from where the path leads out to Babstadt and back to Rappenau. More routes at http://scout.rouven-rebel.de