Vital Tour "3-Castle Path"

Back on the main route, you descend cheerfully to a saddle where two very comfortable sensory benches invite you to take your first break. The Three-Castles-Path then follows a trail into the idyllic Trübenbachtal. The successful mix of rustic forest, gently babbling water, and winding path makes hearts race, and in the middle of the valley, a short detour to a small waterfall beckons.

The narrow path continues to wind steadily but leisurely uphill and eventually leads through varied mixed forest to K30. After a cautious crossing, an old quarry is passed before the route continues to ascend through dense undergrowth.

At the edge of the forest, a field passage begins with some changes in direction, leading to a small grove from which you can enjoy a great view towards the Nahe valley and the surrounding mountains.

After circling the grove, the perspective changes, and at Pfaffenheckshöhe, the focus is on Castle Wartenstein, Kallenfels, and the Soonwald. The descent also begins with good views, but soon the Three-Castles-Path winds down through the forest in tight curves. Passing the impressive Wehlenfels, you reach the outskirts of Kallenfels. High above the houses, the rocks crowned with castle ruins rise up. After crossing the Hahnenbach and L 182, the route runs alongside the road to the northern edge of the village, where there is another entry point into the tour at the Kallenfels parking lot.

Upon entering the forest, the buildings are left behind, and accompanied by a forest educational trail, the Three-Castles-Path initially ascends only slightly towards Castle Wartenstein. But as the logos point left to a path, it quickly becomes strenuous, as the path leads steeply uphill in serpentine turns. This ascent ends at the newly designed castle garden, right at the gate of Castle Wartenstein.

Now it's time to catch your breath, which is easy on the wide forest path and gentle slope. But at the latest at the Pidoll Oak, it becomes strenuous again. The Three-Castles-Path now sets off for the ascent to Oberhausen. Initially on a rustic forest path lined with rocks, later through open meadows and fields, you gain significant elevation. With a small detour, you make a quick visit to the village before heading towards the sports field below the houses. Before entering the forest, you cross an asphalt road: here, the access path to the nearby parking lot at Oberhausen sports field branches off, which is also suitable as a starting point for the hike.

The Three-Castles-Path dives into the green of the forest and leads over several well-marked forks to the proverbial highlight of the tour: the Kirner Dolomites! A bench offers the opportunity to enjoy the fantastic panorama of Kirn and the Nahe valley in peace, while the surrounding rugged rocks challenge many a climber. But for hikers, a real challenge follows: the descent along the rocks. The path is steep and narrow, and especially in wet conditions, very good foot stability and sturdy hiking boots are absolutely necessary. After a successful descent, it's time for leisurely hiking again, as a nearly level, slightly paved path framed by vegetation leads to an orchard. A meadow path leads down from this to another field path that heads southwest. Wonderful views of Kirn and the Kyrburg accompany this passage. In a thicket, you meet the Soonwaldsteig and descend together with it to the edge of the town. You reach the Hahnenbachtal via footpaths and finally part ways with the Soonwaldsteig. After crossing the Hahnenbach, you walk past the shopping center, which offers dining options except on Sundays. Now the final ascent calls. You cross the L182 via a zebra crossing and reach the Jewish cemetery via a staircase. You walk straight through the old cemetery, where the old trees create an elevated atmosphere. At a crossroad, you leave the cemetery and walk left until you reach the access road to the Kyrburg. But instead of climbing up the road, you can tackle the last exhausting meters of elevation on the meadow next to the tree-lined avenue. The route rewards this effort with an extraordinary attraction, as just 100 meters below the parking lot, a giant XXL bench (Gulliver's bench) awaits for resting.

After this last scenic break, you reach the Kyrburg parking lot, where the loop on the Three-Castles-Path closes after 13.5 km.

Other starting points are:

Kallenfels parking lot: N49° 47' 56.9'' E7° 26' 03.3''

Oberhausen parking lot (200m access path): N49° 48' 14.1'' E7° 27' 08.3''

Text: Dr. Poller, Schönes Wandern

Our tips for a carefree hiking experience:
Hiking is the perfect sport. With the right clothing and shoes, it is twice as much fun. Functional clothing, trekking poles, and breathable backpacks are pleasant while hiking. However, good shoes are essential. Sturdy jogging or leisure shoes are only suitable for short distances on flat paths. For longer trails, we recommend stable hiking shoes with a grippy, non-slip sole. Also, think about sun protection and bring a drink. One liter of water is ideal.