Rheinsteig

Rheinsteig
Rheinsteig
	View of the river Rhine
Length	320 km (200 mi)
Location	Rhineland-Palatinate/Hesse/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Trailheads	Bonn, Wiesbaden
Use	Hiking
Elevation change	9,500 m (31,200 ft)
Highest point	Lykershausen, 351 m (1,152 ft)
Lowest point	Kennedy Bridge, Bonn, 60 m (200 ft)
Difficulty	Easy
Season	All year
Sights	Numerous castles along the Rhine Gorge and Siebengebirge. Vineyards of Rheingau. Woodland in Naturpark Rhein-Taunus.
Hazards	Cyclists
Website	www.rheinsteig.de

The Rheinsteig is a hiking trail following a mainly elevated path along the east bank of the Rhine River in Germany.^[1] Its 320 kilometres (200 mi) route stretches from Bonn to Wiesbaden, running parallel to the Rheinhöhenweg Trail and Rheinburgenweg Trail.

Description edit

Rheinsteig trail marker

The Rheinsteig passes through woodlands and vineyards, and has challenging ascents and descents.^{[citation needed]} It is signposted by signs with an 'R' on a blue background. The Rheinsteig allows either longer-distance hiking or a number of short tours.^{[citation needed]}

Route and sights of interest edit

Wiesbaden-Biebrich, Schloss Biebrich,^{[coord 3]} Wiesbaden-Schierstein, Goethestein, Burg Frauenstein,^{[coord 4]} Wiesbaden-Frauenstein
Schlangenbad,^{[coord 5]} Burg Scharfenstein, Kiedrich,
Eberbach Abbey (Kloster Eberbach),^{[coord 6]} Steinberg, Schloss Vollrads
Johannisberg (Geisenheim), Schloss Johannisberg,
Marienthal Monastery, Eibingen Abbey,
Rüdesheim am Rhein, Niederwalddenkmal,^{[coord 7]} Assmannshausen
Lorch, Ruine Nollig, Burg Gutenfels^{[coord 8]}
Kaub, Dörscheid, Lorelei
Sankt Goarshausen, Nochern, Burg Maus
Kestert, Lykershausen, Burg Liebenstein, Burg Sterrenberg,^{[coord 9]} Filsen
Osterspai,^{[coord 10]} Marksburg
Braubach
Lahnstein, Oberlahnstein, Niederlahnstein, Lahneck Castle^{[coord 11]}
Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress^{[coord 12]}
Vallendar
Sayn (part of Bendorf)
Rengsdorf
Leutesdorf
Rheinbrohl
Leubsdorf, Linz am Rhein
Unkel^{[coord 13]}
Bad Honnef, Drachenfels
Königswinter
Niederdollendorf
Kennedy Bridge,^{[coord 14]} Bonn

Literature and maps edit

Opened on September 8, 2005, hikers can find maps and books giving information about where to join and leave the track, should hikers want to do just a short section.^[tone]

Coordinate list
^ 50°44′07″N 7°06′07″E / 50.73531°N 7.101930°E / 50.73531; 7.101930 (Bonn) Bonn (Northern end) ^ 50°02′14″N 8°14′03″E / 50.037250520°N 8.234180450°E / 50.037250520; 8.234180450 (Wiesbaden) Wiesbaden (Southern end) ^ 50°02′15″N 8°14′03″E / 50.0375°N 8.234167°E / 50.0375; 8.234167 (Schloss Biebrich) Schloss Biebrich ^ 50°03′55″N 8°09′16″E / 50.065139°N 8.154583°E / 50.065139; 8.154583 (Burg Frauenstein) Burg Frauenstein ^ 50°05′39″N 8°06′12″E / 50.094167°N 8.103333°E / 50.094167; 8.103333 (Schlangenbad) Schlangenbad ^ 50°02′33″N 8°02′48″E / 50.0425°N 8.046667°E / 50.0425; 8.046667 (Eberbach Abbey) Eberbach Abbey ^ 49°58′51″N 7°53′59″E / 49.980833°N 7.899722°E / 49.980833; 7.899722 (Niederwalddenkmal) Niederwalddenkmal ^ 50°05′16″N 7°45′56″E / 50.087806°N 7.765611°E / 50.087806; 7.765611 (Burg Gutenfels) Burg Gutenfels ^ 50°12′48″N 7°37′59″E / 50.213417°N 7.633139°E / 50.213417; 7.633139 (Burg Sterrenberg) Burg Sterrenberg ^ 50°14′44″N 7°36′58″E / 50.245556°N 7.616111°E / 50.245556; 7.616111 (Osterspai) Osterspai ^ 50°18′23″N 7°36′45″E / 50.306389°N 7.6125°E / 50.306389; 7.6125 (Lahneck Castle) Lahneck Castle ^ 50°21′54″N 7°36′55″E / 50.365°N 7.615278°E / 50.365; 7.615278 (Ehrenbreitstein Fortress) Ehrenbreitstein Fortress ^ 50°36′03″N 7°12′54″E / 50.600833°N 7.215°E / 50.600833; 7.215 (Unkel) Unkel ^ 50°44′17″N 7°06′37″E / 50.738167°N 7.110333°E / 50.738167; 7.110333 (Kennedy Bridge) Kennedy Bridge
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as: KML GPX (all coordinates) GPX (primary coordinates) GPX (secondary coordinates)

Gallery edit

Rheinsteig
Arenfels castle
Honigberg near Kiedrich
Eberbach Abbey
The Rheinsteig in winter, Roßstein between Kaub and St. Goarshausen, view of Oberwesel
Goethestein, Wiesbaden-Frauenstein