Needle Gin Trail

The “Needle Gin Trail” starts at the parking lot next to the Oppenau train station. Initially, it follows the yellow diamond to the starting point of stage 2 of the Renchtalsteig, to the Hugenhöfe. The route now steadily ascends, following the Renchtalsteig signs past Schellenberg and Vorderbühlhof with its farm shop to Vorderbühl. After a few meters, the trail reaches Bühlmatt, where it ascends to the right following the yellow diamond. After about one kilometer, the Needle Gin Trail passes the location Unterm Bühl and changes back to the “Oppenau” signage, which it leaves again at the next location, called Hölle, switches to the yellow diamond, and follows the path to Höllwegle. At this point, the hiking trail turns left over paths to the Holiswald hunting lodge. There you have a wonderful view of Oppenau and the Renchtal. Over the Kranzweg, a beautiful path leads over Sod to Kalikutt.

Here a visit to the St. Josef chapel and a stop at the Höhenhotel-Restaurant “Kalikutt” are recommended. Additionally, you have a great view of the Hornisgrinde from there. After a short break, the path continues, together with the Renchtalsteig, over a short section of asphalt road to Börsgritt. There, it sharply turns right, across the farm property and follows the gravel path. This then changes to a beautiful path and finally leads from Holiswald over Hugeneck, where it follows the “Oppenau” signage again, past the Black Forest Association’s resting place at Guckinsdorf (from here Renchtalsteig signage), and meets the Hugenhof again. From there, the Needle Gin Trail leads back to the starting point in Oppenau as at the beginning.