Nature Reserve Guide
Hochwald is a nature reserve located in western Germany, spanning parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. This region is characterized by dense forests, including ancient beech and oak, along with rocky ridges, wetlands, and rolling hills interspersed with deep valleys. The landscape, primarily composed of Taunus quartzite, sandstone, and Devon slate, offers varied terrain suitable for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, mountain biking, jogging, and more. Erbeskopf, the highest peak in Rhineland-Palatinate, is a prominent elevation within Hochwald.
158
Routes
4.6
(2064)
Average rating
9833
People visited

4.8
(753)
2,971
hikers
9.47km
03:11
230m
230m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.9
(94)
443
hikers
14.8km
05:39
550m
550m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.7
(64)
235
hikers
9.63km
03:14
450m
450m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(85)
469
hikers
7.02km
02:23
160m
160m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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4.6
(57)
327
riders
56.3km
04:52
1,100m
1,100m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.8
(84)
437
riders
43.2km
03:51
430m
430m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(22)
143
riders
52.7km
03:41
950m
950m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(23)
125
riders
48.2km
03:23
870m
870m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.4
(5)
46
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.5
(12)
46
riders
17.9km
01:50
560m
560m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.6
(7)
32
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(4)
22
riders
33.0km
03:47
1,310m
1,310m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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4.0
(4)
264
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(2)
55
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
18
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.5
(2)
13
runners
6.55km
00:46
170m
170m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.3
(4)
60
hikers
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(2)
39
hikers
16.7km
05:54
630m
630m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
33
hikers
19.5km
06:45
730m
730m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.3
(4)
31
hikers
8.15km
02:44
190m
190m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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5.0
(1)
21
riders
19.2km
00:47
120m
120m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(4)
17
riders
42.9km
02:27
770m
770m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
50.8km
02:38
890m
890m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(3)
9
riders
64.5km
03:30
1,190m
1,190m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.0
(2)
15
riders
47.4km
03:01
830m
830m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
4
riders
23.5km
01:34
360m
360m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
4
riders
30.5km
02:08
580m
580m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
44.6km
03:17
920m
920m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Hochwald is a nature reserve in western Germany, encompassing parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. It is part of the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park, established in 2015, and is recognized as a hotspot for biodiversity.
Hochwald offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, touring cycling, mountain biking, jogging, mountaineering, gravel biking, and road cycling. The region features diverse landscapes suitable for various skill levels.
One of the most popular hiking trails is the Hochwald Deadwood Area – Guardian Rock loop from Pleckensteiner Wald, which is about 5.9 miles (9.5 km) long. Other highly-rated options include the Plešné jezero – Hochwald Deadwood Area loop and the View from the Dreisessel – Guardian Rock loop.
Yes, Hochwald offers easy hiking routes suitable for beginners. For more information and specific suggestions, refer to the komoot guide on Easy hikes in Hochwald. Many trails are designed to be completed in a few hours.
For touring cyclists, the Riedelsbach Reservoir – Dreisesselhaus Mountain Inn loop is a highly-rated option, covering about 32.7 miles (52.7 km). Mountain bikers can explore routes like the Dreisesselhaus Mountain Inn – Frauenberg Railway Bridge loop, which is approximately 16.2 miles (26.0 km) long.
Hochwald features dense forests, including ancient beech and oak, rocky ridges, and unique geological formations like the quartzite cliffs of the Schwarzwälder Hochwald. Erbeskopf, the highest peak in Rhineland-Palatinate at 2,684 feet (818 meters), is also located here. Wetlands, moors, and tranquil streams add to the diverse landscape.
Yes, Hochwald features routes that include waterfalls. Specific trails and information can be found in the komoot guide dedicated to Waterfall hikes in Hochwald.
Hochwald is a popular destination, with more than 7,000 visitors having shared their experiences on komoot. The routes in Hochwald have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, indicating high satisfaction among users.
Komoot offers several guides for Hochwald, including Hiking in Hochwald, Cycling in Hochwald, MTB Trails in Hochwald, and Attractions in Hochwald. These guides provide detailed information for various activities and points of interest.
The highest point in Hochwald is Erbeskopf, which stands at an elevation of 2,684 feet (818 meters). It is the highest peak in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The official website for the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park is nationalpark-hunsrueck-hochwald.de. The National Park Office can be reached by phone at +49 6131 884152-0.

