Bergmannspfad

The starting point of this circular hike is the Stampermühle. We follow the signposted route through the idyllic valley floor to the Etzenbacher Mill, a former equestrian center. Here we turn left and after a few meters turn right into the forest. On the narrow steep path, we reach a field path at the end of the forest. We follow this path to the left, cross the intersecting country road, and walk along horse paddocks and colorful fields to the charming village of Käshofen, whose landmark is the water tower, visible from afar. The themed trail leads us through the village, over the Höhenstraße onto country road 465, which bends right after the village. We follow the road until a sharp left curve where we continue straight ahead and pass the sports ground in front of us. Now it goes downhill and in a wide arc through the forest, over two small springs, and finally north again to a small farmstead at the right forest edge, where we meet the Herzog-Karl II.-August Trail coming from Bechhofen, marked with a white head on a light blue background. Both paths run from here over the Karlsberg to Bechhofen on the same route.

After crossing the Lambsbach, we follow the signposting west. A short stretch along the forest edge leads the path after a sharp right turn steeper uphill into the dense forest. We are in the WaldPark Schloss Karlsberg. Past the ruins of the Tschifflick Pavilion, the Swan Ponds, and the so-called Vogeltränke, we reach the Apple Alley, which leads straight to the former Schloss Karlsberg. However, we turn right, pass the natural monument Herzogskastanien, and descend on a narrow path to the romantically located Hirschbrunnen in the forest. After another ascent, we come to a large junction in the forest. Immediately next to it are the ruins of the orangery, which, like the rest of the castle, was destroyed down to the foundations during the French Revolution. Downhill, we reach the idyllic Karlsberg pond embedded in the forest, where a Kneipp basin offers a welcome change before going up to the Karlsberg one last time to a forest path, which we follow until we turn right. At the end of the path, we reach a forest parking lot at the L 215, cross it to enter the Großer Kehrberg, where the Kehrberghaus with dining options is located. From here, the path leads downhill through the forest until we reach the L 215 again to cross it and on the other side follow the forest path past meadows through a hollow way back to the outskirts of Bechhofen. We walk along the main street to the village square. At this point, the Bergmannspfad diverges from the Herzog-Karl II.-August Trail. Straight over the bridge, we come to the Alte Straße, which we follow to the end of the buildings to climb right uphill to the Sickinger Höhe. Past colorful cornfields, we reach Rosenkopf, cross the Höhenstraße at the roundabout, and walk slightly downhill on the main road to the Im Roseneck street. Just behind the first farm building, we turn sharply right. We follow the path, which changes into a gravel road at the end. At the fork, we keep right and hike downhill through the forest to the L 467. We follow this road to the Wiesbach sports home. Here we turn right and walk between the valley floor and forest edge, past the Etzenbacher Mill, back to the Stampermühle.