A rock slab with history: the Schwörstein

To hike over the Schwörstein to the Böchinger Hut in the Pottaschtal, walk back into the village on Haingeraidestraße (main thoroughfare). At the height of Sulzbachweg and the car workshop, the hiking trail to Schwörstein ascends to the left after house number 66. Follow the PWV sign "Schwörstein" with the green-blue marking and the red-white marking of the Palatinate Wine Trail.

After a short, steep climb past a horse paddock, follow a wide forest trail gently uphill heading east. The path leads through mixed forest of beeches, oaks, Douglas firs, pines, and spruces. After 20 to 30 minutes, the path forks. Follow the forest trail going left and uphill with the green-blue marking and the red-white square of the Palatinate Wine Trail. This short ascent brings you to a junction where the path to Schwörstein and the Wine Trail split. Signs "Schwörstein" and the green-blue mark as well as the sign "Böchinger Hut" direct you to the left uphill right after the junction. Follow this path. The buildings seen on the right belong to the Eußerthal specialist clinic. Your path ends after 20, at most 30 minutes. You reach a cross forest trail. Turn left toward west. The green-blue marking can be found on a sandstone at the path’s edge; a direction sign to Böchinger Hut is on one of the first small trees on the left. Accompanied by birches and pines, this forest path gently ascends. After some bends, you reach a junction. Choose forest trail number 903 with the signs "Schwörstein" and "Böchinger Hut" and the green-blue stripe. You climb briefly and then stroll comfortably through high mixed forest with beeches and oaks for about 20 to 25 minutes to the Schwörstein.

The Schwörstein is a huge rock slab, colloquially called "brät Platt". It seems embedded into the forest floor. Forest and hiking trails branch out in all directions. This historic Schwörstein served as a boundary stone for centuries. During boundary inspections, so-called forest sworn men were particularly sworn here to protect the forest. Walter Eitelmann reports in his book "Rittersteine im Pfälzerwald" of the old legend that witches also gather on the Kreuzweg at the Schwörstein on the first night of May to perform their May dance.

At Schwörstein, look for the right path and continue following the green-blue marking towards Forsthaus Heldenstein, Lärchengarten, and Ramberg. Additionally, the parallel circular route no. 1 to Böchinger Hut is marked. Hiking almost flat, you come to the Ramberg high trail marked with a red dot, which runs a short distance parallel to the green-blue stripe. At the green-white sign "Anfahrtspunkt 6713-190 for rescue vehicles," take the forest road turning left westward (red dot and circular route no. 1) and descend in 10 to 15 minutes to the resting spot at Böchinger Hut in the Pottaschtal.

From Schwörstein, there's also an alternative route for hikers who love quiet paths and narrow trails. Follow the yellow sign "circular route 1 to Böchinger Hut, 3 km" and walk on a forest trail northward. Descend a slope with the no. 1 after a short flat section and then merge into a narrow pine-lined trail. You walk the last segment first on a forest trail and then over roots and stones on a rustic path down to Böchinger Hut.

After a break with Palatinate dishes and a good Böchinger drop, follow the red dot downhill through the Pottaschtal, further along the Katzenbach stream to the crossroads in the Birkental.

From the crossroads, an asphalt road leads back to Eußerthal if you turn left downhill. However, we recommend following the red dot towards Siebeldinger Hut across the stream. On a narrow path, you reach a forest road on the west side of the valley after a few meters. From here to Eußerthal, follow this path on the left in walking direction (white-blue stripe). Both routes are equally long, but this valley side route avoids the asphalt road.

At the end of this route, you reach the hiking parking lot directly unless you want to linger for a final stop in Eußerthal.

TOUR INFO:

The total hiking distance is about 12.5 km. For the way over Schwörstein to Böchinger Hut, allow a good 2 hours for about 8 km. After the break, it goes always downhill without climbs in about an hour (4.5 km) back to Eußerthal.