Fall is one of the best seasons to explore nature. Whether that happens in an afternoon or over several days is almost irrelevant. We know of three varied fall bike tours in Rhineland-Palatinate, from bikepacking to gravel biking.
Off to the Hunsrück
Bikepacking is all the rage. The idea of simply attaching your bags and belongings to your trusty bike and cycling off into the sunset is simply tempting. Just as far away from everyday life as possible. The low mountain range Hunsrück in the west of Germany seems to be the perfect place for this. That’s what they thought locally, too, and so the “HuNaX” – the Hunsrück-Nahe Gravel Crossing – was established without further ado.
The tour takes seasoned bikepackers and those who want to become one on a journey of almost 150 kilometers through vineyards, nature parks, and a national park. And that’s over an impressive 2,000 meters of elevation gain. The route, which can be divided into three daily stages, is designed so that it can be cycled continuously. Overnight stays are in trekking camps along the route, with sleeping bags and tents attached to the bikes. This allows you to cycle along nature trails and gravel roads through the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park, the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park, and the Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park in a wonderfully natural setting. And don’t worry, the section through the vineyards of the Nahe wine region with its many panoramic views provides some variety to all this idyllic forest and meadow scenery.
The “HuNaX” is easily accessible by public transport, both at the starting point in Türkismühle and at the destination in Birkenfeld. Although the route does not pass through any sensitive natural areas, it is not signposted. However, the GPX tracks can be downloaded from the Rhineland-Palatinate tour planner.
👉 Click here for a detailed tour description on the “Tourism Rhineland-Palatinate” website.
Through the Wild Westerwald
It’s going to be bumpy in the low mountain range Westerwald! The “Holy Gravel” bike tour literally takes you over hill and dale. And along the way, you’ll pass crossroads and chapels on 28 challenging kilometers. The name says it all, so to speak. However, there’s no need for quick prayers, even though the tour is quite challenging with a total of 657 meters of ascent and descent. You should allow between three and four hours.
But it’s well worth the effort. Shortly after setting off from the start and finish point in Waldbreitbach in the Wiedtal valley, you pass the Kreuzkapelle chapel, which has stood here since the end of the 17th century. And the views that reveal themselves in the chapels of nature – the dense forests that give the Westerwald its name – more than compensate for the muscular effort required. Especially now that the forest has donned its most beautiful attire for autumn.
👉 Click here for a detailed tour description on the “Tourismus Rheinland-Pfalz” website.
A Quick Trip Through the Eifel
60 kilometers through the southern Eifel, with 650 meters of elevation gain and loss. If you want to do this in one day, you’ll either have to pedal really hard or simply zip along on an e-bike. The South Eifel tour starts in the beer town of Bitburg, 30 kilometers north of Trier. But it’s still too early to stop for a break. First, you cycle into the past to the romantic moated castle in Rittersdorf.
From there, the route continues to Biersdorf (beer again!), where you can take a short break on the lakeside terrace if the weather is good. From here, the route continues south along the Prüm river and past several hop fields. Until it finally leaves the river behind at Irrel and heads north again towards Bitburg. Once there, it’s finally time to stop for a bite to eat and a refreshing drink!
👉 Click here for a detailed tour description on the “Tourismus Rheinland-Pfalz” website.
