Timber rafting experience path Legelbachtal (Elmsteiner Tal)

Just some info beforehand. The route starts at the parking lot with information board 2. Those who want to start at information board 1 have to cross the country road (L499) via a small path from the parking lot. Once there, you will see an old information board about the timber rafting experience. We cross the small bridge and turn left onto the path. There you will find information board 1 (approx. 150m). After that, return to the hiking parking lot and information board 2.

We start our hike from the hiking parking lot "Alte Schmelz". From the parking lot, you can already see information board 3, then a few sandstone steps lead up where the path takes us past the Altschmelzklause and information board 4. We continue along the "large Legelbach", past information boards 5 and 6. Below a bunker area (shortly before information board 7) the path goes steeply up to the right. We follow the path that leads along the hillside above until it goes down to the road. Here you must decide whether to continue the medium loop or cross the road to follow the small loop (2 km) via the Nibelungenfels. (See *)

The medium loop (8.5 km) goes right, first on asphalt along the small Legelbach and leads at a fork in the path left to the Trockentalklause (information board 11). Past the hut (not operated), the path goes left past it to the spring and then rather steeply up the mountain to a forest road. Here it goes briefly left and then immediately follow the right forest road further up. At the T-junction, turn right and at the fork left until you reach the Nibelungenhaus. This house is privately owned by the Ludwigshafen Nibelungen Association.

Here you must again make a decision. Continue the medium loop or follow the large loop.

To reach Schwarzsohl (large loop, 11.5 km), continue right. Ignore side paths until a fork in the road. Follow this to the left and shortly before the road take the path left. Cross the road and immediately take the first path left again downhill. At the end of this path, you can already see an overview board on the other side of the road. Pass it and shortly after information board 21, turn right onto the path. After the seating area, the path continues below a former Christmas tree plantation.

At the Legelbachtal hut (not operated), cross the road again and follow the path. Next T-junction left to the Heinrichsklause (information board 18) with the interesting plunge pool. Cross the bridge and turn left onto the forest road above.

The path soon passes above the Ludwigsklause until the junction with the medium loop.

Now description of the medium loop from the Nibelungenhaus to the Ludwigsklause: With the Nibelungenhaus in view, the left path leads back into the Legelbachtal. At the next fork turn right and at the next path fork follow the path left. This leads over the old quarry directly to L504 and the meeting point of the medium and large loop at the Ludwigsklause.

Continue downstream. Back near the road, a forest track first leads right and then curves left to continue uphill. This slight effort is rewarded with a view of the Gandertklause (information board 13). This is located a little above the Köhlerhütte (tipi). A rest spot with tables and benches invites you to stay a while.

Behind you is a small path opposite that mystically leads back into the valley. When you see the road again, a small path to the right leads to the Johannisquelle (information board 14), a sensitive spring biotope, and further until you must again cross the road diagonally downhill to reach the Nibelungenfelsen. (*) There is also an opportunity for a rest here. The path then goes around the rock back to the starting point. On this 1 km section, the road must again be crossed downhill before shortly after following the entrance path, where information board 8 is also located, to the Altschmelzklause.