WesterwaldSteig Rotenhain Station - Nistertal Station (Stage 6)

Description

From the Rotenhain station, a connecting path leads you to the main WesterwaldSteig trail at the Wiedquelle near Linden. One of the outstanding sights of this hike awaits you with the breathtaking view from the lookout tower on the Gräbersberg. A touch of mysticism is in the air when you reach the legendary Welterstein, a 480-meter-high basalt rock supposedly inhabited by the Heinzelmännchen. Your goal for this stage is the Stöffel Park, which offers a unique backdrop and the opportunity to discover fossils and other interesting exhibits. In Nistertal, there are several places to eat and stay overnight. It is also worth visiting the Birkenhof distillery, where you can buy, among other things, a WesterwaldSteig schnapps as a souvenir.

Public transport

The Hessische Landesbahn usually runs hourly between the two stations (travel time about 7 minutes).

www.bahn.de

Parking

Use parking facilities at the stations!

Directions

You start at Rotenhain station, from where a connecting path about 3 km long (marker: green "W" on yellow background) leads to the Wiedquelle near Linden. There, cozy tables and benches invite you to take a break before you walk through picturesque beech forest to the Großer Weißenstein and finally to the Gräbersberg. Here you will find not only the rustic Alpenroder Hut with a refreshment option but also an impressive panoramic view from the lookout tower.

On the way to the legendary Welterstein and the Monsberg, you can enjoy beautiful views. The hike finally leads you to the Tertiary and Industrial Experience Park Stöffel in Enspel. There you can trace the earth's history of the last 25 million years in the deposits of a maar lake. A historic industrial ensemble also documents the 100-year history of basalt mining and offers insights into the processing of the rock. In the over 100-year-old smithy is the "Historic Workshop," which takes visitors on a fascinating journey through industrial history and offers insights into the hard working world of past times. After a detour to the famous Stöffel mouse, a well-known find from prehistoric times, you finally reach the stage destination past an idyllic chapel just behind the Nister. From here it is only about 1 km to Nistertal with the Nistertal-Bad Marienberg station, gastronomic facilities, and accommodation options via a connecting path (marker: green "W" on yellow background).

If you prefer a shorter distance, you can take the train in the morning from Enspel (instead of Nistertal). This shortens the route to 11.5 km. The station there is connected by a connecting path about 400 m long.

Safety instructions

• If you consider certain sections of the path impassable for you, you should bypass them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, natural paths can become muddy and slippery.
• Especially in autumn, note that fallen leaves can hide unevenness, roots, stones, or holes in the path. You must expect path impairments of this kind when you go hiking.
• Although the path is very well marked throughout, for safety reasons you should always carry a suitable hiking map or download the free "Rhineland-Palatinate Experience" app .

Equipment

• Wear sturdy footwear as well as weather-appropriate, functional clothing that protects against cold and wet or heat and sun.
• Take enough fluids with you. There are not refreshment options everywhere.
• Please wear suitable hiking boots that provide sufficient support even on slippery and steep or rocky and uneven paths.

Tips

Park your car at the end point of your hike and first take the train to the start of your route. Then you can hike back relaxed and without time pressure.

Destination

Nistertal-Bad Marienberg Station, Bahnhofstraße, 57647 Nistertal

Starting Point

Rotenhain Station, Bahnhofstraße, 56459 Rotenhain