Along the Otterbach through the eastern Bienwald

Directions:

The starting point of the circular route is at the train station in Kandel. From the station, first head to the railway crossing and from there take the cycle path beside Lauterburger Straße heading south. At the edge of the town of Kandel (Völkel specialist market), you reach the Petronella-Rhein cycle path, which you follow turning left towards Wörth. Ride along the railway tracks to the signalman's house. Here, turn left, cross the tracks, and ride straight ahead on a paved forest path for 2.6 km to a path junction, where you turn left. After 700 m, turn right and for the first time encounter the Otterbach stream.

Bypass the roundabout at the entrance to Jockgrim towards Hatzenbühl and there turn right onto the forest path. Now follow the hiking trail signs "1" (Otterbachbruchweg). The signposting leads you along the Otterbach in a curve to the northern edge of Jockgrim. When the path ends, turn left, go under the railway tracks, and continue to follow the signposting "1", after which you cross the L 540 at the edge of town by the quirky high-rise from the 1950s. On the roadside cycle path along this road, head a short distance towards Rheinzabern. Shortly after the Otterbach bridge, turn right onto a small path leading back to the Otterbach. Continue following the signposting (1) to the dam just before the Rheinniederung hollow. Here the hiking trail branches right to the dam. Ride another 100 m along the broad path, then you will meet an asphalt road which you turn into on the left. After 300 m, turn right at the northern edge of the forest and cycle through the Rhine lowlands on a paved field path towards Neupotz. After crossing the B 9, cycle again alongside the Otterbach. Shortly before Neupotz, at a junction, you meet the Riesling-Zander cycle path. Follow it through Rheinzabern and Hatzenbühl towards Kandel. In the forest between Hatzenbühl and Erlenbach, turn left onto the Kraut- und Rüben cycle path and return to the starting point in Kandel.