Westerwald Lake District - loop "Helleberg" 7-Pond Hiking Trail

Description

Experience the diversity of the Westerwald lake district on the 7-Pond hiking trail, loop "Helleberg" (7-HLB)! Start in Freilingen at the cemetery parking lot and discover a natural paradise full of highlights. After a short walk along L304, you cross the Saynbach and reach the idyllic beaver pond. Picturesque stepping stones and a playground in Wölferlingen invite you to pause before you can admire the jurors’ lime tree and the baroque church.

An ascent leads you to Düringen, where a historic well awaits off the path. On a forest path, you go to the Helleberg observation tower. Before crossing the B8, a sign informs about the "Hohe Straße." Pfaffenstein impresses with an artistic wayside shrine and a wonderful view. More highlights: the memorial cross in Seifen, the Lourdes grotto made of lava stone, and the parish church built from Weidenhahn trachyte.

The path leads back to Freilingen via the Sayntal, once an important post station. Starting points are also available in Wölferlingen and Weidenhahn. A hiking experience that connects history, nature, and relaxation!

Approach

From Hachenburg (north): We leave Hachenburg via Steinebacher Straße. At the town’s edge, we follow the L292 to Steinebach. In Steinebach, we continue on Hachenburger Straße until at the town’s edge, we follow L292 again. We follow this road to the end and then turn left onto the B8. We follow B8 to Freilingen, where we turn left onto Wölferlinger Straße. At the town’s edge, we find the parking lot of the Freilingen cemetery on the right.

From Selters (southwest): We drive via L304 to Freilingen. In Freilingen, we turn left into Hohe Straße. Then, in Freilingen, we turn right again onto L304 (Wölferlinger Str.) and follow it for about 300 meters. On the right side, we find the parking lot of the Freilingen cemetery.

From Westerburg (east): We leave Westerburg via Langenhahner Straße and turn right onto L288 at the street’s end. We follow this street to Hinterkirchen, where we turn left onto Westerburger Straße. At the intersection with B255/Koblenzer Straße, we turn left and then immediately slightly right onto Freilinger Straße. We continue on L304 until we see the cemetery on the left before Freilingen. We start the hike from its parking lot.

Public transport

Take bus line 463 from Bad Marienberg / Montabaur to Freilingen.

Taxi companies:

Taxi Schmidt: Hachenburg, Tel.: 02662/6119 or 02662/6688

Taxi Uwe Bischoff: Hachenburg, Tel.: 02662/944444

Taxi Kappi-Tullius: Hachenburg, Tel.: 02662/939390

Taxi Hetzler: Selters, Tel.: 02626/6445

Parking

Freilingen: Free parking lot at the cemetery L 304/Wölferlinger Straße.

Directions

Starting point: Freilingen, parking lot at the cemetery (Wölferlinger Straße).

1. Follow the L304 towards Wölferlingen for about 250 meters.

2. Cross the country road and the large Saynbach.

3. You reach the idyllic beaver pond and continue along a tributary of the Saynbach with stepping stones.

4. At the playground opposite the cemetery in Wölferlingen, benches along the cemetery avenue invite you to rest.

5. Next, proceed to the jurors' lime tree and the Protestant church in South German Baroque style.

Ascent to Düringen:

6. Follow a field path to the outskirts of Düringen.

7. In Düringen, off the path, you will find the well chamber.

Ascent to Helleberg:

8. A beautiful forest path leads you to the Helleberg with an observation tower.

9. Before crossing the B8, an information board informs about the historical significance of the "Hohe Straße".

Through the forest at Pfaffenstein:

10. At Pfaffenstein, you can discover an artistic wayside shrine and a bench with a view of Weidenhahn.

11. Afterwards, you pass the memorial cross in Seifen.

12. The Lourdes grotto made of lava stone is another highlight.

13. In Weidenhahn, the parish church made of Weidenhahn trachyte impresses.

Return to Freilingen:

14. The descent leads into the Sayntal, where you cross the Saynbach on a bridge in Maxsain-Zürbach.

15. After a longer climb, you reach Freilingen, where seating invites you to rest.

Tip: Freilingen, once an important post station between Cologne and Frankfurt, offers historical insights.

Alternative starting points:

Wölferlingen, cemetery parking lot.

Weidenhahn, parking lot at the community center opposite the church.

Safety instructions

• If you believe certain sections are not passable for you, you should bypass them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, natural paths can have muddy and slippery passages.
• Especially in autumn, be aware that fallen leaves on the ground can cover uneven spots, roots, stones, or holes along the path. You should expect such path impairments when hiking.
• Although the path is very well-marked throughout, for safety reasons, you should always have a suitable hiking map with you.

Equipment

• Wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate, functional clothing that protects against cold and wet or heat and sun.
• Bring enough fluids. There are not always places to eat along the way.
• Please wear suitable hiking boots on the trail that provide sufficient support even on slippery, steep, rocky, and uneven paths.

Tips

The bench at the wayside shrine "Am Pfaffenstein" in Weidenhahn offers not only a short rest but also a wonderful view over the Westerwald landscape.

Destination

56244 Freilingen, parking lot at the cemetery (Wölferlinger Straße)

Starting Point

56244 Freilingen, parking lot at the cemetery (Wölferlinger Straße)