Merzalber Gräfensteinweg

From here, first take the right-hand side of the two somewhat wider natural paths in a north-westerly direction. After about 100 meters, keep right at the fork, follow a hollow path for about 250 meters and then turn right onto a narrow path. This leads steadily uphill to the northeast. Through wonderfully light-flooded mixed forests, you reach the first highlight of the tour, the Winschertfelsen rock, at an altitude of 521 meters. Due to its immense dimensions, it is already impressive from below. A staircase leads up to the rock plateau. From this colossus of red sandstone, you have a magnificent panoramic view of Merzalben, Gräfenstein Castle and the forests of the Palatinate Forest Nature Park.

After descending from the rock, follow a path in a north-easterly direction, which turns into a natural path after about 200 meters. This easy path leads for about 800 meters - always in a north-westerly direction - over the entire Winschertrücken to the rear Winschertkopf. Here you are on a section of the well-known Pfälzer Waldpfad long-distance hiking trail, whose exemplary signposting also accompanies the Gräfensteinweg in other sections.

Once you reach the rear Winschertkopf, the gentle descent from this elongated mountain ridge begins. You leave the path in a north-easterly direction and follow a steeply sloping zig-zag path. After about 200 meters, this path meets another wild and romantic path, which you turn left onto. After about 1,500 meters past smaller rocks and through beautiful nature park forests, this path then leads into a wide nature trail, which you follow in a southerly direction.

After approx. 200 meters, turn right off this path onto a path that meets the parallel path below after just under 100 meters. Follow this for a short distance in a northerly direction before turning left onto a beautiful path. After about 300 meters, this path crosses the road to the castle and after another 100 meters leads into a slightly wider path, which you keep to the right. After just a few meters, however, you leave this path again and turn left onto a path. After approx. 300 meters, this path leads into an interesting hollow path, which - keeping to the right - leads down into the Hafertal valley.

Here you will find the Gräfensteinhütte, run by the local Palatinate Forest Association.This rustic hut, which in addition to the "good parlor" also has plenty of free parking spaces, a children's playground and a sunny beer garden with rustic seating areas, trees, umbrellas and outdoor catering (self-service), is definitely worth a stop. Incidentally, it is only about 500 meters from here to the nearest bus stop at the leisure facility, making this an ideal starting point for hikers arriving by bus or train.

Freshly fortified with Palatinate delicacies and a cool drink, you finally leave the Hafertal via a slightly ascending path in a south-easterly direction. After around 600 meters, you will come to a forest path, which you turn left onto. Here the hiker is immediately presented with the first wonderful views of the majestic Gräfenstein Castle enthroned on the Schloßberg, which will be the destination of the next crisp ascent.

First follow the Fostweg for around 400 meters until you reach the large crossroads. Cross this by following a path straight ahead in an easterly direction. After approx. 300 meters, take a sharp left onto a natural path, which you leave again after another 200 meters. This is where a wild and romantic path begins on the right in a north-easterly direction, which zigzags steeply up towards the last attraction on the trail.

Once at the top, the proud Gräfenstein Castle - especially from its unique, heptagonal keep - offers a breathtaking view of Merzalben and the sea of forests of the Palatinate Forest-North Vosges UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, just like the Winschertfels. The perfect symbiosis of castle walls and natural red sandstone rock, which the builders of the time made ingenious use of, is also beautiful to behold.

After an extensive tour of the castle, which is also the backdrop for the municipality's traditional medieval castle festival every year, a narrow zig-zag path about 300 meters long leads steeply down the other side of the mountain in a south-westerly direction to the Schäferei hiking parking lot, the starting point of the tour, where the circle closes. If you like, you can now - after completing the beautiful hike - stop for a bite to eat and round off the day in comfort.