Zoo route - From Isenburg to Neuwied Zoo and back

Description

Single trail route past the Hausenborn church ruins over various premium trails such as the Iserbach Loop, Limes Trail, and Rhine Trail, past the Neuwied Zoo. The route branches off from the Rhine Trail towards the Schauinsland Hut and follows narrow trails to the Anhausen Forest and Nature Trail. From here the return is via the Rhine Ridge Trail and again parts of the Iserbach Loop back to Isenburg. Along the way there are always great viewpoints that invite you to linger, but please remember, we are doing trialrunning. I completed the round with my two poodles. They thought the route was great.

Approach

Motorway A3, exit Dierdorf, direction Kleinmaischeid via the B413 to Isenburg to the village community center.

Or coming from Sayn through the Sayn valley.

Parking

Free at the village community center

Directions

The route starts in Isenburg at the parking lot next to the village community center. From there along the federal road to the town exit towards Bendorf. From here, turn right up a narrow path "WW-Tour Iserbach Loop" up to the Isenburg church ruins.

After the church ruins, turn left on a narrow path in switchbacks up to the Fernwanderweg 3 (nice view back to Isenburg with castle ruins). Then continue towards the Limes Trail. This is reached after about 2 km.

We now follow the Limes Trail to the Jahn Oak (named after Turnvater Jahn). Here, go right down past the Neuwied Zoo to the Rhine Trail. For us, this starts with the bird trail maintained by Nabu.

Follow the Rhine Trail northwest to the ascent to the Schauinsland Hut (signposted). Here we have a beautiful view over the Rhine valley.

Behind the Schauinsland Hut, we follow a narrow forest path (Hasenweg) to the Anhausen Forest and Nature Trail. We follow this past the Meiler Hut, then shortly afterwards turn right onto a forest path. We stay on this until we reach the Rhine Ridge Trail.

After a short section on the Rhine Ridge Trail, turn left at the Spielmanns-Heiligenhäuschen towards Isenburg. We follow the path to the WW-Tour Iserbach Loop. After a short section on this path, turn towards Isenburg and continue into the Iserbach valley to the Isenburg-Thalhausen road. At the fisherman's hut there, turn right back to Isenburg and reach the starting point of our trialrunning route at the village community center.

Safety instructions

About 80% of the paths are narrow single trails, partly exposed. Being free from dizziness would be good in some places.

Equipment

Clothing suitable for trial running. Running shoes that grip well on slippery, muddy ground.

Tips

Visit to the Hausenborn church ruins. From the Rhine Trail there are always beautiful views over the Rhine valley to the Eifel.

Destination

Village community center in 56271 Isenburg

Starting Point

Village community center in 56271 Isenburg