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Lahnwanderweg 01-19 upstream (entire tour, tour with stages)

Long Distance Hiking · Lahntal · Open
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Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V. Verified partner  Explorers Choice 
  • Burg Gleiberg
    Burg Gleiberg
    Photo: Jörg Thamer, © Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
The Lahnwanderweg trail will make hikers‘ dreams come true. It will lead you through some very different, beautiful landscapes and you will come along picturesque towns and castles.
Open
difficult
Distance 294.5 km
86:00 h
7,026 m
6,522 m
664 m
61 m
The Lahnwanderweg trail roams the landscapes of the valley of the river Lahn thereby charmingly linking lively places and their sights. There will be plenty of possibilities to step outside of your daily routines and enjoy nature. In the lower Lahn valley, the river meanders along precipitous rocks in a wild and romantic way. The floodplain landscapes in the middle Lahn valley offer plenty of chances to look into the distance. The landscape in the upper Lahn valley and at the source of the Lahn evoke an enchanted atmosphere. With a total distance of 290 kilometers, the Lahnwanderweg trail reveals the full beauty of the river valley with its sublime castles and palaces, its lively villages and towns and its peaceful forests and floodplains. You can even try to accomplish an easy via ferrata. Either way, there will be magnificent views at different parts of the route. Besides, the train connections are excellent.

Author’s recommendation

Tour suggestions for long hiking weekends:
  • Lahnstein - Balduinstein (3 stages)
  • Balduinstein - Weilburg (4 stages)
  • Weilburg - Gießen (3 stages)
  • Gießen - Marburg (3 stages)
  • Marburg - Biedenkopf (3 stages)
  • Biedenkopf - Lahnquelle (3 stages)
Profile picture of Jörg Thamer
Author
Jörg Thamer 
Update: April 20, 2023
Quality route according to "Wanderbares Deutschland"
Difficulty
difficult
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
664 m
Lowest point
61 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 8.57%Dirt road 33.85%Forested/wild trail 43.42%Path 11.29%Road 2.67%Unknown 0.18%
Asphalt
25.2 km
Dirt road
99.7 km
Forested/wild trail
127.9 km
Path
33.3 km
Road
7.9 km
Unknown
0.5 km
Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Bock Hotel Restaurant
Pension Historisches Wirtshaus an der Lahn
ehem. Kloster Allerheiligenberg
Hotel Restaurant Adria
Restaurant & Café Concordiaturm
Hotel Restaurant Gasthaus Lahnhof
Nassau Castle
Hotel-Restaurant Zur Krone
Pension-Restaurant Mediterran
Hotel-Restaurant "Nassauer Löwen"
Landhotel Weinhaus Treis
Hotel "Am Goetheberg"
Hotel-Restaurant Balduin
Restaurant Platia
Eiscafé Bacio am Schillerplatz
Ludwig´s Bar Restaurant
Café Born
Bistro der Lebenshilfe
Restaurant Shiva
Ventura - Feinkost aus Spanien
Eiscafé Ponte Vecchio
Palais Bar & Restaurant
Kaffee Danin
Lahn-Café am Rosengärtchen
Restaurant Hauptwache
Ristorante La Piazza
Café Leitz im Leitz-Park
Burg Gleiberg
Landgasthof Der Katzenbacher
Restaurant Seeblick
Romantik Landhotel Doerr

Safety information

For information on diversions and relocations, please see our "Current Information".

Information on restrictions in the rail network can be found here.

Tips and hints

Lahnwanderweg  

Lahnwanderweg Facebook

Lahnwanderweg Instagram

Collecting memories with the hiking pass

 

The free pocket guide "Lahnwanderweg" and further information are available at www.daslahntal.de and from

 

Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.

Brückenstraße 2, 35576 Wetzlar

Tel. 06441-30998-0

info@lahnwanderweg.de

 

www.daslahntal.de

info@daslahntal.de

 

Start

Lahnstein-Niederlahnstein (access route from Niederlahnstein, railway station, Bahnhofstraße 1, 56112 Lahnstein) (70 m)
Coordinates:
DD
50.316191, 7.600045
DMS
50°18'58.3"N 7°36'00.2"E
UTM
32U 400330 5574724
w3w 
///sagging.identity.month

Destination

Source of river Lahn near Netphen (Forsthaus Lahnquelle, Lahnhof 1, 57250 Netphen)

Turn-by-turn directions

The daily stages start at the banks of the river Lahn and most of them lead up into the heights as well as into the side valleys. Because of this, cyclists and hikers do not get into each other’s way. The Lahn hiking trail takes you past numerous castles and palaces. Interesting rock formations and vantage points add up to the hiking experience. Hikers can even enjoy an exciting route which includes a number of great views. The Kammweg (small via ferrata) before the Goethepunkt near Obernhof will be a good choice for the brave ones but you can also find a leisurely variant. Underground experiences such as the Kubacher Kristallhöhle or the exciting Ruppertsklamm gorge provide cooling on hot summer days.

 

The Lahnwanderweg connects numerous towns such as Lahnstein, Bad Ems, Nassau, Diez, Limburg, Weilburg, Braunfels, Wetzlar, Gießen, Marburg, Biedenkopf and Bad Laasphe. At the end of the stage you can often cool your feet in the Lahn or in a Kneipp pool or even swim a few lengths in the public open-air swimming pool.

 

If you want to walk the Lahnwanderweg in one go, you will need about three weeks’ time. But since there are excellent rail connections at the starting points and the destinations, the trail can also be walked in 19 daily stages. Walking the entire trail in walking direction to the source, you will start at the mouth of the Lahn in Lahnstein (rheinland-pfälzisch). After the first beautiful kilometres through Rheinland-Pfalz, the Lahnwanderweg leads through Hessen and ends in the nordrhein-westfälischen Rothaargebirge at the Lahn source at 628 m above sea level after a total of more than 290 hiking kilometres.

 

It might be hard to decide since the Lahnwanderweg’s markings are excellent in both directions. Here you can find the Lahnwanderweg in walking direction to the mouth.

 

 

Marking and signposting

 

In order for you to know that you are on the right track anytime, the Lahnwanderweg is marked with the red LW on a white background continuously. This applies for both directions, no matter whether you will walk towards the source of the Lahn or Lahnstein. On straight sections, you will find the red LW at regular intervals, as well as at all crossings and junctions. When the path turns, this will also be indicated by arrows. The access routes between the Lahnwanderweg and many railway stations, sights and locations of the stages are marked with the red LW on a yellow background.

 

Signposts at junctions and crossroads indicate the direction and distance to towns and places of interest. The blue peak marks the main path while a yellow peak shows access paths. In addition to the information about distances, pictograms indicate services that hikers can find at the respective destination such as overnight accommodation or local transport stops.

 

The location sign, which you will find on every signpost, is meant to help with the orientation. In addition to the name of the location and information on the altitude, you will also see the corresponding GPS coordinates. We also provide the telephone number of the regional route management that you can use to report any defects, for example.

Public transport

The public transport connection is excellent. 18 of the 20 townships where stages start or end can be reached directly by train and one additional by bus.

You only need a taxi-transport from the Feudingen railway station, if you want to start or end at the source of the Lahn.

Railway station at the mouth of the Lahn: Niederlahnstein Nearest railway station to the source of the Lahn: Feudingen

Long-distance train stations with ICE connections: Marburg, Gießen, Limburg-Süd, Koblenz

www.bahn.com

By road

A3 or A61 plus A48 and B 42 to the mouth of the Lahn in Niederlahnstein

Approach to further stages on the Lahnwanderweg (a selection)

A5 and B3 to Marburg, Gießen, Wetzlar

A5 or A3 plus B 49 to Weilburg

A3 to LimburgA3 (AS Montabaur) plus B49 to Bad Ems

A45 (AS -Siegen or AS-Olpe) to source of river Lahn or to Feudingen

Coordinates

DD
50.316191, 7.600045
DMS
50°18'58.3"N 7°36'00.2"E
UTM
32U 400330 5574724
w3w 
///sagging.identity.month
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Book recommendation by the author

Pocketguide "Lahnwanderweg" (free) at  www.daslahntal.de or order at Lahntal Tourismus Verband (see "details") 

Hikeline Lahnwanderweg, 14,90 €, 1. Auflage 2014 ISBN: 978-3-85000-535-7

Rother Wanderführer Lahnwanderweg, 14,90 €, 1. Auflage 2016 ISBN: 978-3-7633-4492-5

Author’s map recommendations

Rheinland-Pfalz-App free download

Book recommendations for this region:

Show more

Recommended maps for this region:

Show more

Equipment

Ordinary hiking equipment for uplands (sturdy shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, drinks and, if necessary, food)

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Photos from others


Status
Open
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
294.5 km
Duration
86:00 h
Ascent
7,026 m
Descent
6,522 m
Highest point
664 m
Lowest point
61 m
Multi-stage route Scenic Refreshment stops available Family-friendly Cultural/historical interest Geological highlights Flora Fauna Linear route

Statistics

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Features
2D 3D
Maps and trails
  • 19 Stages
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 1 Open
Distance 16.4 km
Duration 5:15 h
Ascent 395 m
Descent 389 m

If you hike the Lahnwanderweg trail from the mouth of the river to its source, this stage will be the first one to accomplish. Its 16.4 kilometers ...

4
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty difficult Stage 2 Open
Distance 19.3 km
Duration 7:15 h
Ascent 751 m
Descent 710 m

This stage will delight people who love good views as well as those who love culture. You will get to the Nassau castle, the Schiefe Turm of ...

1
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty difficult Stage 3 Open
Distance 19.3 km
Duration 6:45 h
Ascent 798 m
Descent 774 m

This stage will be sporty! It even includes a small via ferrata. Highlights of this trail will be wonderful views such as Goethepunkt, Wolfslei or ...

4
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 4 Open
Distance 13.9 km
Duration 4:15 h
Ascent 329 m
Descent 328 m

Castles, fortresses, half-timbered houses and rocks will be the highlights of this stage. Yet there is even more to discover!

from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 5 Open
Distance 13.4 km
Duration 4:45 h
Ascent 159 m
Descent 148 m

Although it's hard to leave Limburg, the next highlight is already ahead: the medieval town of Runkel. Hikers who are fans of nature and great ...

from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty easy Stage 6 Open
Distance 12.7 km
Duration 4:15 h
Ascent 166 m
Descent 165 m

The meadows and forests high above the river Lahn are fascinating aspects of the area that is “home” to the Lahn marble. Whenever the weather is ...

from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 7 Open
Distance 19.5 km
Duration 6:15 h
Ascent 393 m
Descent 353 m

This stage provides a lot of pure peace and quiet. Before arriving at Weilburg city, a real highlight awaits you as soon as you reach the Ernst ...

from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 8 Open
Distance 17.9 km
Duration 6:15 h
Ascent 332 m
Descent 243 m

This tour is highly diversified and offers many highlights: Kubacher Kristallhöhle, the animal park in Weilburg, the pond near Braunfels and two ...

2
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty easy Stage 9 Open
Distance 13 km
Duration 4:15 h
Ascent 151 m
Descent 237 m

Starting from Braunfels castle, you will get through the nature and bird sanctuary Weinberg. Moreover, you will walk through the castle ruins of ...

1
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 10 Open
Distance 16.4 km
Duration 4:45 h
Ascent 332 m
Descent 298 m

Through the park of the Ilmenau Anlage (park) you will get up to the Garbenheimer Warte. Afterwards, walking through the Lahn meadows will finally ...

1
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 11 Open
Distance 21.4 km
Duration 6:45 h
Ascent 368 m
Descent 403 m

Fans of castles will quite like this part of the trail. Through the Wißmarbachtal you will get up into the forest, after which the route takes you ...

2
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty easy Stage 12 Open
Distance 11.9 km
Duration 3:45 h
Ascent 215 m
Descent 205 m

A comfortable day is waiting for hikers of this tour with wide views from the Altenberg. There used to be eight mills in the romantic Salzbödetal.

1
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 13 Open
Distance 24.6 km
Duration 7:30 h
Ascent 352 m
Descent 331 m

This will be the king's stage: a length of 25 km as well as more than 680 meters of altitude difference have to be mastered today. But this won’t ...

1
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 14 Open
Distance 15.9 km
Duration 5:15 h
Ascent 398 m
Descent 356 m

This tour begins at the famous Elisabethkirche. The short detour to the ruins of Weißenstein is worth it. Afterwards the hike goes along the river ...

2
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 15 Open
Distance 13.4 km
Duration 4:00 h
Ascent 438 m
Descent 435 m

Let’s hope that you will be lucky with the weather for today’s tour in order to be able to enjoy the views. One of its highlights is the Rimberg.

1
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty easy Stage 16 Open
Distance 12.5 km
Duration 3:45 h
Ascent 338 m
Descent 299 m

Buchenau and Biedenkopf are not only connected by the Lahnwanderweg trail but also by the tradition of the Grenzgänger. It is an ancient custom ...

2
from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 17 Open
Distance 17.5 km
Duration 5:45 h
Ascent 576 m
Descent 524 m

Because of his height of 535 meters, the Entenberg is a popular take-off point for hang- and paragliding. It also offers a great view of ...

from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
Hiking Trail · Siegerland-Wittgenstein
Lahnwanderweg stage 02 upstream Bad Laasphe - Feudingen
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 18 Open
Distance 16.8 km
Duration 5:15 h
Ascent 484 m
Descent 413 m

Now that we are on our way to Feudingen, we will have to accomplish further meters of altitude. The section through the romantic Ilsetal promises ...

from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 19 Open
Distance 14.3 km
Duration 4:15 h
Ascent 459 m
Descent 244 m

Today we will visit the birthplace of the river Lahn because this stage ends at the source of the river Lahn which is situated at an altitude of 606m.

from Jörg Thamer,   Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.
Distance  km
Duration : h
Ascent  m
Descent  m
Highest point  m
Lowest point  m
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