Franconian Forest trail Arnica Path

We naturally start our hike at the starting point, at the old sports field. This can be reached via district road 8 between Teuschnitz and Reichenbach. The description follows the path clockwise.

At the starting point, an overview board explains to us how and why this path was named after the Arnica and in what relationship this valuable plant stands to the town and the landscape. Fresh to the task, we want to hike and experience the landscape. We circle the sports field and walk a short distance along a field path to a small spruce forest that briefly leads us into the dark, threatening silence of a monoculture. We already experience the first contrast. How relieved the hiker is when the tunnel-shaped view can open after a few meters into a wide meadow landscape again. The meadow path, past grasses and herbs, leads us down to the meandering stream of the young Teuschnitz.

Here we reach a service road called "Crooked Shoots." This path leads us, we keep right, across the open floodplain past extensively used meadows with a variety of rare grasses, flowers, and herbs. Poor soils and low fertilization lead to species-rich colorful meadows. Here many partly endangered plants and animals such as Arnica, Bear's root, Periwinkle, Dukaten butterfly, and chirping cricket find their habitat. Our path rises only slowly. To the right we overlook the wide meadow landscape, the spring area, and further course of the Teuschnitz. Ponds for fish farming and flax processing were created here. Dragonflies, gray herons, and black storks benefit from their food supply. In the area of natural silting, rare plants like fever clover can exist. The Teuschnitz may find its winding path by itself. On the left begins a forested ridge, the Kohlwald, which shows the forest in its diversity. At the next fork, we take the left path uphill to the forest, but not without paying some attention to the landscape monument in front of us. Before us lies the "Stone Arnica." Built in 2008 by young people from many European countries. It is worth resting there, letting your eyes and thoughts wander, and perhaps searching for the many inscriptions of the builders. Then it goes uphill until we have reached the height. Now we dive into the silence of the high forest. A typical uneven-aged forest appears to us. No clear-cutting, only harvestable wood is taken, and the forest regenerates itself. Immediately after entering the forest, we leave the service road and take a narrow hiking trail that leads us directly through the forest downhill until we reach gravel under our feet again. Only a few meters more and we see a meadow with a resting place on the left. Time to catch your breath and relax, but also to enjoy a wonderful view into the Haßlach valley and our stage destination, the Bastelsmühle. The path clinging to the slope also leads us there. We cross the babbling stream shortly and stand before the Bastelsmühle. The former mill today invites hikers and guests to stop by and have a snack. For better orientation, trail signs have been mounted on the telephone pole opposite. We now take the road towards Haßlach and after a few steps, just before the forest begins, turn left. Along the forest edge, we now come very close to the railway line. It will accompany us for about a kilometer.

It is worth introducing it: The Franconian Forest Railway with the ramp "Pressig-Rothenkirchen to Steinbach am Wald" and its counterpart "Probstzella to Steinbach am Wald" is considered, with a gradient of 29%, alongside the Black Forest Railway, the only double-track mountain railway in Germany. It was put into operation in 1885.

After the next curve, we reach another contrast point on the path. We hike right through a rock area. This is a graywacke rock, a mixture of fine and coarse siliceous material. Here you can clearly see differently sized pebble inclusions.

Gradually, we make some distance from the railway line and reach a narrow forest path, which we leave after a short distance via a footpath and immediately reach a valley meadow. We circle this, cross a narrow stream, and climb a steep slope a few meters. Now we have reached a recently created path that is intended to serve as an escape route for the railway. On this, we go comfortably, with a slight incline, further up to a railway underpass. From there, the Seenweg, a long-distance hiking trail, and the Heeresstraßenweg, a regional circular hiking trail, join us and accompany us for part of our route. After about one hundred meters, we say goodbye to the railway and turn sharply right. Our path quickly gains elevation and overcomes a flank of the Zillings Hill. Our path is colloquially called "Queraweg." In earlier times, this was a cattle driving route that avoided populated places to prevent the spread of cattle disease. After reaching the height, we leave the forest and reach district road KC 8 Haßlach/Steinbach via the service road, which we cross straight ahead. Past a timber yard with a striking, free-standing spruce, we continue through intensively farmed agricultural land, the "Haßlach Garden Fields." About 800 meters after the district road, it is worth taking a look to the left, across to Steinbach station and the Wiegand-Glas glass container factory. Remarkable is the size of the recycling glass depots, as most of this is processed. A few meters further, an important junction is reached. The Heeresstraßenweg leaves us, and the Burgenweg, a long-distance hiking trail from Lauenstein to Kulmbach, joins us. We turn right and hike over open field down to Haßlach. Already at the first cross street in the village, we turn left, past the Haßlach fire station. Immediately after, turn right again, past the catholic pilgrimage church "Maria, Queen of the Martyrs and the Fourteen Holy Helpers," until we reach Steinbach Street. There is an important junction for various hiking trails. For us, it continues southward on Steinbach Street until the street "Am Berg." We also climb the hill a few meters but then turn right into the "Bergbrunn." At first, we hike almost flat out of Haßlach until we pass a barn on the right. Now it also goes uphill for us again, briefly on a gravel path, then on a grass path along the forest edge and past a striking beech. Soon our path turns into the forest, first through tall spruce forest, then a short clear-cut area. Now, just before a young spruce forest, we turn right and go through a young beech stand. After a few meters, a service road crosses, which we use for the last meters uphill. Arriving at the forest edge and thus at the height, a meadow landscape spreads out before us. We cross it on the meadow path and enter a small forest patch. We quickly leave the gravel road there again and take the narrow forest trail to the next cross path. Here our last companion, the Burgenweg, which also wants to visit the "Stone Arnica," leaves us and turns right. Those who want can accompany it for another 50 m and visit the source area of the Teuschnitz. Many small waters gather there and form the Teuschnitz. We now walk straight ahead on the service road and enjoy the view of the Teuschnitz floodplain after leaving the forest, this time from the other side. We also find a lounger by the edge of the forest to relax and let our gaze wander over the floodplain. A small beech grove accompanies us on the left for a few meters while we head towards the starting point.