Kölner Weg Stage 12

Description

In Dreifelden, the rolling plateau spreads between the mountains of the Hachenburg and Höchstenbach forests to the north and the valley of the Saynbach to the south. Here we start our stage. The Kölner Weg runs almost around the entire Dreifelder Weiher and leads through wooded landscape to Haiden-, Brinken- and Postweiher. We continue hiking with a magnificent view into the Saynbachtal to Maxsain, pass a beautiful half-timbered house there and ultimately head for Selters.

Route profile: A longer stage mostly on wide forest paths, which only runs on forest paths in the area of the northern Dreifelder Weiher. A bigger ascent before Maxsain has to be mastered.

Along the way: Seeburg, mini golf course at Postweiher, parish church in Maxsain, former mayor's house in Maxsain, museum in the school, Jahnstraße 10, 56424 Selters, Tel. (0 26 26) 97 84

Approach

Follow A3 to B255 in Heiligenroth, take exit 40-Montabaur on A3.

Follow B255, B8, and L303 to the destination in Dreifelden.

Public transport

Start point: no public transport on weekends, also no significant public transport on weekdays;

End point: RMV bus 115 to Montabaur ICE station, then ICE or from Montabaur ICE station with RMV bus 460 to Koblenz ZOB and further with IC, RE or RB, no public transport on weekends from Selters

Parking

Start point: parking lots in Dreifelden;

End point: numerous parking lots in Selters

Directions

In front of the church in Dreifelden, we turn left onto the Kölner Weg and go through Kirchstraße into Eichenweg. At the end, we turn right and walk along the Dreifelder Weiher, which initially hides to the left behind a reed belt. Then the hiking trail narrows, approaches the pond, leads through reeds and finally through a riparian forest. Occasionally the reed belt opens up, allowing a view of the pond. This way we reach the northern part of the pond, where there is again a magnificent view.

Soon after, the path meets the K1. Here we are on the dam of the pond. To the right we see the spot where the Wied flows out of the pond and in autumn the water is drained to fish the pond. Afterwards, we reach the guesthouse Haus am See. From here, the Kölner Weg leaves the shore area. Shortly afterwards we pass the Hofmannsweiher on the right at some distance, continue along a side path along the K1, and come to Seeburg, a small village with a little castle (3.3 kilometers).

On the K1, lined with avenue trees, we reach the Haidenweiher on the right. The path runs directly along the wooded shore. The ponds, like today, were not always surrounded by forests. Rather, the name “Haiden” hints at a different former vegetation. Until the 19th century, large heath areas bordered the ponds. These had developed in the former forest area as a result of centuries-long livestock grazing.

Soon after, we turn right again into a forest, walk straight ahead to the K138, turn right and march a short distance along the K138. Then we turn left and shortly afterwards pass the Brinkenweiher. Finally, the K leads us left to the Postweiher.

The K runs through a beautiful deciduous forest and directly along the Postweiher, finally reaching a weekend settlement, around which the Kölner Weg skirts widely until it meets the B8. There it turns right onto the B8 (7.7 kilometers).

We go right, pass a campsite and the pizzeria Il Lago and continue until we reach the underpass beneath the B8. Those who walk straight ahead a short distance can stop at the guesthouse Seestern. On the other side of the B8, the Kölner Weg turns right, crosses a meadow, passes a mini golf course, then turns left onto a gravel path. The path now runs along the forest edge. On the left, we see Freilingen at some distance and, in the distance, the Montabaurer Höhe.

Later, the Kölner Weg grazes Zürbach. At a fork before Zürbach, we keep right. We continue hiking halfway up the slope through a beautiful deciduous forest toward Maxsain. After a while, after a right curve, we reach the Saynbach, which accompanies us on the left. The path winds along the forest edge towards Maxsain. At the outskirts of Maxsain (12.6 kilometers), we reach the street Am Rübengarten, which merges into Hartenfelser Straße. Then we turn left, cross the Saynbach, enter Alleestraße, cross the main street, and reach Kirchweg.

We leave Maxsain by turning left into Schönstraße and slowly ascend into an extensive high forest. On the way, not far from Selters, we pass on the right side a small forest lake surrounded by coniferous forest, deeply embedded in a hollow. Gradually, we approach Selters and cross the L305, walk toward the freight route Siershahn – Altenkirchen, turn right, pass the Oberwaldhütte of the Westerwald-Verein Zweigverein Selters, and continue toward a sports field. There, the K leads left into Jahnstraße.

The Kölner Weg passes under the railway line, runs through Heidestraße to Rheinstraße, and passes the Hotel Adler as well as the guesthouse Zur guten Quelle. A few hundred meters further, we reach the market square of Selters where the stage ends after 18 km.

Safety instructions

If you think certain sections of the path are not passable for you, you should bypass them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, natural paths may have muddy and slippery passages.

In autumn, particular attention should be paid to the fact that fallen leaves can conceal unevenness, roots, stones or holes in the path. You should expect such path impairments when you go hiking.

Although the path is very well marked continuously, for safety reasons you should always have a suitable hiking map with you or download the free app "Experience Rhineland-Palatinate".

Equipment

Wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate, functional clothing that protects against cold and wet as well as heat and sun.

Take enough fluids with you. There are not drinking opportunities everywhere.

Please wear suitable hiking shoes that provide sufficient grip even on slippery, steep, rocky, and uneven paths.

Hiking poles are advantageous!

Destination

Selters

Starting Point

Dreifelden