Gräfensteiner-Land cycle path

Attention: In the area of the town of Rodalben, existing one-way regulations must be strictly observed. So with the described route clockwise, the entrance to the town towards the Wanderbahnhof (Bahnhofstraße) is signposted via the eastern main street and Am Spiegelbrunnen street; in the opposite direction, the route leads from the Wanderbahnhof via Bahnhofstraße and Pirmasenser Straße (L482) to the eastern main street. 

The Route in the Cycle Network:
Between Merzalben and Münchweiler an der Rodalb there is an additionally signposted connecting route through the Merzalbtal valley, which can be used as an alternative to the described circular route or as a shortcut. The Gräfensteiner-Land cycle path also connects the northern and southern Palatinate Forest regions. Source and more info: www.radwanderland.de.

Route Description:
The Gräfensteiner-Land cycle path starts at the easily accessible Wanderbahnhof of the town of Rodalben. From here, there is also the opportunity to take excursions to some highlights of the Rodalber Rock Hiking Trail, such as the Bärenhöhle (largest natural rock cave in the Palatinate) or the Bruderfelsen, the town's landmark.

Following the cycle path, you ride through Bahnhofstraße and Dr. Johann-Peter-Frank-Straße – past the first sculptures of the Rhineland-Palatinate Sculpture Trail and past the birthplace of Dr. Johann Peter Frank and the square named after him with further sculptures by the local artist Stephan Müller – then left into Hauptstraße. Here numerous opportunities for sightseeing (Old Town, Marienkirche etc.), shopping, or stopping at surrounding restaurants and cafes are already available. Via Hauptstraße and Zweibrückerstraße with the Theos Risto restaurant and a shopping center (Edeka, Lidl, Kik, Tedi, Rossmann etc.) you finally reach Eischweiler Weg where the cycle path runs parallel to L497 towards Biebermühle.

Shortly before the junction with K27, follow a steep climb on the right through beautiful mixed forests eastward up to Bieberberg. After the barbecue hut of the Palatinate Forest Association Donsieders at Kaltenbrunnen, the cycle path sharply turns west, soon bending back northeast. Here you leave the cool forest and can enjoy a new panorama: fields, orchards, and meadows as far as the eye can see. Several seating groups here offer opportunities to rest and linger.

Further on you reach Gartenstraße in Donsieders. The rural community offers, besides a neat village square, the Dorfstübchen and several bronze sculptures, another highlight: the distinctive sandstone monolith on Orleberg. This can be reached via a short, steep climb along Höhgasse as a detour. Visiting is especially worthwhile towards evening to enjoy fantastic sunsets from the seating groups and comfortable loungers there and to unwind. Back on the circular route, follow Gartenstraße and Clauser Straße until the cycle path turns left towards the idyllic village of Clausen.

Just before entering Clausen, a cozy rest area lies picturesquely on the right side of the state road, perfect for a lovely picnic with wonderful views. From here, follow the main road (L498) refreshed, passing the historic village center with the parish church Sel. Bernhard von Baden and the Hawebrunnen fountain to the eastern exit of the village, where turn left into An den Drei Eichen street. After a small commercial area, the forest begins.

At the Peace Cross, which commemorates the Cold War history and the chemical weapons of the US forces removed years ago in the so-called “Lindwurm” operation, the cycle path turns northeast. Long stretches of sunlit mixed forests line the path over Krötenköpfel and Rehkopf. Near Krötenköpfel there is also the option of a detour to the aforementioned former chemical weapons depot on Hesselberg, which has since been converted by the community of Clausen into a modern solar park, making it literally climate-neutral.

Returning to the round trail, pass several former military storage buildings and reach the picturesque district Röderhof of the municipality of Leimen/Pfalz, above which proudly stands the viewpoint Natural Monument Hoher Fels on Schmalen Kopf. The route now heads southeast through meadows, horse paddocks, and fields. Shortly before reaching Leimen/Pfalz with its recreational park (minigolf, playground, open-air stage, village café etc.) and the Inn Zum Stern, the Gräfensteiner-Land cycle path turns right at another cozy seating group inviting you to a short break in rural idyll.

From now on, the motto could be “downhill.” Always heading southwest, you comfortably roll through the beautiful Ringelstal - past the Ringelsberg with the mighty Hubertusfelsen - further down towards the castle village of Merzalben. Shortly before the Schützenhaus, another nice seating group invites you to rest again. Arriving in the village with its lovely old town center, the cycle path runs along Hirten- and Hauptstraße (L496) past the neat recreation facility, again briefly towards Leimen/Pfalz.

Immediately after the recreation facility, turn right onto K52 towards Gräfenstein Castle. On the way up to the Schäferei hiking parking lot, pass the Gräfenstein hut of the Palatinate Forest Association Merzalben, which with its cozy guest room and large beer garden is popular for a break. The hut is currently open Thursday to Sunday.

At the Schäferei parking lot, there are again options for worthwhile but relatively steep and time-consuming detours. Turn left to the viewpoint on the front Winschertkopf or right up to Gräfenstein Castle. The view from the rock plateau or castle tower (attention: flashlight/app needed for the lower part) over the sea of forests of the Palatinate Forest Nature Park is breathtaking either way. The well-preserved castle ruin, a jewel from the Staufer era with a unique seven-sided bergfried, also gives its name to the Gräfensteiner Land holiday region.

From Schäferei parking lot, the cycling tour descends steadily through the picturesque Zieglertal, right through the core zone spring area of the Wieslauter of the Palatinate Forest-North Vosges Biosphere Reserve, whose protection regulations must be strictly observed. After numerous kilometers through the untouched nature, the path leads under the railway line into the neighboring Hauenstein holiday region to Hinterweidenthal, known not only for the legendary Devil's Table with its adventure playground.

Passing the Hinterweidenthal station, also an optional starting point for the tour, keep right towards the romantic Waschtal valley. Just after the railway underpass, you reach the idyllic Annaweiher pond with its charming residents, ducks, and nutria. Feeding these animals with food of any kind should definitely be avoided to prevent harm. Always along the Kaltenbach stream, past its small waterfall, the route steadily climbs up to Münchweiler an der Rodalb, the second largest community in the Gräfensteiner Land with shopping, leisure, and gastronomy options. You can also start the Gräfensteiner-Land cycle path at the local station, located on Bahnhofstraße, directly on the connecting route between Münchweiler and Merzalben and close to the actual circular route.

After passing the dog club and the Sauweiher hiking parking lot with its artistically crafted new wooden seating group (another rest opportunity), the path leads down via Konrad-Adenauer-Ring and Römerstraße into the old town center with the beautiful St. Georg parish church and the Peace Cross. Via Hanauer Straße and Mühlstraße, from where you can see the well-kept Bürgerpark with its many leisure facilities and the previously mentioned station with the Avika restaurant (currently take-out and delivery only), the cycle path continues north under the bypass road.

Along beautiful forests at the edge of the Rodalb valley, the path finally bends west. Before reaching the Neuhof district of the town of Rodalben, you pass Imsbacher Mühle, a small rural annex. Following Neuhofstraße, passing a Netto market with the Café & Bistro Kleine Auszeit, you reach the entrance ramp to bypass road (L497).

Shortly before L497, leave it on the left to pass the mini golf restaurant Schwallbornanlage via the parking lot. Besides the restaurant, it offers several play, sports, and leisure facilities like mini golf, skateboarding, playground, ball field, etc., inviting young and old to linger. Parallel to L497 and finally under it, the Gräfensteiner-Land cycle path leads towards Hauptstraße. Before the junction with Lindersbachstraße (L482), you pass the Arme-Sünder-Brunnen Anlage, also artistically designed by Stephan Müller, remembering a less honourable part of Rodalben history.

Passing the hotel & restaurant Zum Grünen Kranz, which like the other gastronomy businesses can be used for a cozy finish to a perfectly successful cycling tour, the final part follows. It leads left from Hauptstraße into Am Spiegelbrunnen street with its beer garden and finally right back to Wanderbahnhof Rodalben, the starting point of the tour, where in the surrounding area you will also find numerous other restaurants, public toilets, a snack bar, and a supermarket.