Rheinsteig-Saynsteig-Brexbachtal-Iserbach loop (with dog)

Description

The trail starts at the hiking parking lot near Anhausen. The route initially passes the Braunsberg ruin into the Aubachtal to the Schwanenteich. There we meet the Rheinsteig. We follow this southwards to Sayn and then switch to the Saynsteig. However, we leave it after just a few kilometers and descend behind the Oskarhöhe into the Brexbachtal. Here we run upstream until we meet the Saynsteig again, which now ascends to Stromberg. From there, it goes down via Caan to Isenburg, to the entry of the Wäller route Iserbach loop. On a narrow path we reach the Hausenborn church ruin and return over varying trails back to Anhausen and to the starting point at the hiking parking lot.

Approach

From Neuwied via L258 towards Anhausen. Shortly before coming out of the forest before Anhausen, turn left onto the hiking parking lot in the forest.

From the A3 (Frankfurt/Cologne): Exit Dierdorf, take L258 towards Neuwied via Rüscheid and Anhausen and about 2 km behind Anhausen turn left into the forest onto the hiking parking lot.

Parking

Hiking parking lot at Anhausen

Directions

The trail: From the hiking parking lot in Anhausen, you start on a paved service road towards Anhausen. Halfway, we branch left onto a field path into the Aubachtal. Before that, you can already enjoy the first views over the Rhine valley, Siebengebirge, Grube Georg, towards Straßenhaus and Dernbacher Kopf, etc. The descent into the Aubachtal initially passes over solid service and forest roads to the Braunsberg ruin. There, just before the buildings, we leave the path and turn left onto a trail leading through a fenced gate (please close the gate again because of the mouflons). On switchbacks it goes down into the Aubachtal. There we first reach the Oberbieber Schwanenteich (reservoir) and not far from there, near a riding arena, we get onto the hiking trail Rheinsteig.

We follow this trail for a longer time. First, there is a short steep climb to the street "Am Alteck" and the "House at the Mushroom". Then begins the most pleasant part of the running route on the Rheinsteig. Here it runs at a medium height between the Rhine valley and Westerwald towards Sayn. Along the way we have numerous views into the Rhine valley, including the Neuwied districts Gladbach and Heimbach, which keep the route interesting. After the Rheinsteig crosses Burghofstraße in the forest near Heimbach, we reach the Nature Trail Vogelspfad (= Rheinsteig). There, more viewpoints and informative panels about bird species and ornithology await us. At the end of this path and after a few short switchbacks downwards, we reach the Neuwied Zoo. At the time of writing, it was closed due to coronavirus. From here, at consistent altitude, above Heimbach, a short stretch on asphalt leads to the left ascent to Bismarckhöhe. As usual, from here it goes downhill again. First gradually and finally steeper on switchbacks down to Sayn.

At the local butterfly park, we first reach the Saynsteig, which initially leads us up to Sayn Castle. There are wonderful views of Bendorf, the Rhine, Sayn, and Brexbachtal here as well. To keep things interesting, the trail then descends into the valley towards Brexbach. However, only for a short stretch, before climbing evenly to Oskarhöhe. Again, the view is worth it — first into Brexbachtal and looking back to Bendorf-Sayn. After a short break, we leave the Saynsteig here and descend steep switchbacks into the Brex, uh… of course, into the Brexbachtal.

Along the “Brex,” we now run upstream past and over many scout campsites (almost at every river bend). We go under viaducts of the Brexbachtal railway and follow increasingly narrow natural paths until we encounter the Saynsteig again below Stromberg. We now leave the Brexbachtal on this trail.

Through switchbacks in the forest, the trail "saynsteigt" ascends to Stromberg. (Note: By the end of the tour, we will have collected about 1000 meters of elevation.) Once there, we still have to climb Isenburger Straße. Shortly before the town exit, at the tennis courts, we leave the Saynsteig and turn right toward Caan.

Since we can now run for a while at a steady altitude, there is time to catch our breath, and we have plenty of distant views: right toward Montabäurer Köppel, left across the Sayntal toward Siebengebirge, and straight ahead into the high Westerwald. This section is about 2.0 km long and we reach the village of Caan. Behind the first houses, there is an intersection. Here we turn left into Waldstraße, toward Isenburg. A longer descent follows. This passes over an old, former district road, which unlike today’s common asphalt or cobblestone, is paved with so-called Gestück — a former road construction type, made of vertical and closely packed basalt stones. Not very even and not very comfortable to run on today. Before asphalt construction became common here, this was a usual road surface in our area. On this path, we also pass the Isenburg quarry. Many stones for road construction were probably quarried here. Between the trees at this point, there are views down into Sayntal and to Isenburg with the castle ruin and the Catholic Church of St. Katharina. After another short steep descent, we reach the first houses of Isenburg and run a short stretch parallel to the Wibbelsbach, down the street into the village and finally cross the Saynbach. Opposite the Saynbach bridge lies the Porz, an old gate of the castle. There begins Hintertal street. We follow this to the junction with Iserstraße, crossing the Iserbach beforehand. Now we turn left onto the main street and reach the right-hand edge of town toward Bendorf.

At this point begins probably the most beautiful and demanding section of the Wäller route Iserbach loop and also of our tour today. The path starts immediately right behind the town exit and ascends more or less steeply to the Hausenborn church ruin. Behind this ruin is a small pond fed with fresh spring water. Samu and I have often drunk at the spring and find it wonderfully refreshing. After a short break and visiting the ruin, we leave the Iserbach loop for a short detour to the Rabentisch. For this, we follow a inconspicuous path on the northeast side of the church ruin up into the forest. The Rabentisch is reached after about 1.0 km on a hunter’s trail, below the Iserkopf. The Rabentisch is a small exposed rock plateau about 150 m above Sayntal with a dramatic and beautiful view. The front part of the plateau requires surefootedness and a head for heights. After this short detour, we go first east and then on a firm forest path north around the Iserkopf back to the Iserbach loop. Once reached, we lose a few more meters of altitude descending into Steinebachtal, before ascending slightly again back to Anhausen. At the ponds located halfway up, we leave the Iserbach loop and continue straight on the solid forest path past an orchard and reach the hilltop before Anhausen.

There we turn left on the upper asphalt path toward the hiking parking lot of Anhausen, our starting point for today. After about 1 km, we reach the junction that took us shortly after the start into the Aubachtal. Those satisfied with 35 km can safely run straight ahead back to the car. Others turn left at this junction and add another 2.5 km into the Hohenwiesenbach valley, past the now dried Schnepfenteich pond. On the trail of the Anhausen forest nature trail, we then reach back to our starting point at the hiking parking lot.

Safety instructions

Note: It is recommended to run the route with the help of a GPS tracker. I have created the route description as well as possible. But for practical reasons, you won’t want to look at the description too often while running to see where to go next. Nevertheless, the route can also be managed well with the map and description.

Equipment

Individual trail equipment for 4 - 5 hours of sporting activity. So that would be: trail running shoes, drink, energy bar or similar, mobile phone, weather-appropriate clothing.

The trail passes through terrain that is difficult for runners in several places, so wearing proper and well-profiled trail shoes is advisable.

Tips

In Isenburg, you can start on beautiful single trails. Particularly recommended and well-known here is the Wäller route Iserbach loop.

www.tourenplaner-rheinland-pfalz.de/de/tour/wanderung/waeller-tour-iserbachschleife/7176907/

Destination

Hiking parking lot on L258, about 2.5 km behind 56584 Anhausen towards Neuwied

Starting Point

Hiking parking lot on L258, about 2.5 km behind 56584 Anhausen towards Neuwied