Goldsteig Nordroute

The starting point of our hike is close to town at Dörflasplatz, near the tanner’s house in Marktredwitz. First, we follow the trail through Auenpark toward Waldershof, cross State Road 2121 after about 1.5 km, and continue along a meadow path to Rosenhammer. Once past the village, the Waldershof church comes into view. At the end of the forest road, we rejoin the road to Waldershof and walk through a residential area, at the end of which there is a beautifully landscaped grove of birch trees with a cross. We follow the dirt road to Neumühle, cross a bridge, and after a short distance reach the Mascherberg. Please pay close attention to the trail markers in the wooded area of the Mascherberg: Our hike continues toward Walbenreuth!

Ascent

383 m

Descent

363 m

Passing the gold-and-blue carp—a 2.20-meter-long and 1.20-meter-tall carp sculpture that, along with many of its “kind,” serves as one of the ambassadors of the Tirschenreuth district—the trail leads past meadows and fields to the forest cemetery (memorial stones of the Barons von Nothafft, who ruled over Weißenstein for over 550 years). Soon, the open landscape gives way to forest again, and the hiker comes upon the Haferdeck Rock and the Haferdeck Mill by the small pond. After Voitenthan comes the village of Muckenthal with its inn. Immediately after that lies the area of ponds, pools, and lakes, through which the trail winds in a gentle zigzag pattern. After the railroad crossing (please check in and out with the gatekeeper via the registration station to open the gates), a fitness trail and a fish education trail lead the hiker to the scenically beautiful Perlsee, and a small jungle trail continues on to the Neuweiher. Now only the Adamsteiche lie between the hiker and the village of Seidlersreuth, from where a meadow path leads to Falkenberg.

Ascent

81 m

Descent

143 m

With its 1,000-year-old castle, a wobbly rock, and a historic Zoigl beer brewery, Falkenberg is the perfect place for a short stroll through town. At the Hammermühle, the Waldnaab Valley becomes a nature reserve—the approximately 180-hectare area offers a pure nature experience: The riverside trail between Blockhütte and Neuhaus is a true adventure playground, information signs tell of legends and castles, the 12-km-long canyon with granite cliffs up to 40 meters high is truly impressive, and the Blockhütte—idyllically situated beneath old chestnut trees with a beer garden and waterwheel on the banks of the Waldnaab—invites you to take a break (closed on Mondays). Impressive rock formations, small river rapids, natural stone weirs with whirlpools, small floodplain landscapes, and marshes line the path. Passing the Waldfriedenhütte (open only seasonally) to the confluence of the Fichtelnaab and the Waldnaab, then just a short, steep climb, and the hiker arrives at the entrance to the hospitable Zoigl capital of Neuhaus/Windischeschenbach.

Ascent

140 m

Descent

157 m

The path leads through the courtyard of the restored Schafferhof to the castle, whose striking Butterfass Tower offers a magnificent panoramic view. Hikers leave Neuhaus behind: the Hutzlmühle mill, the Icelandic horse trail, and a railroad bridge lie along the way to the Waldnaab River, which leads them along natural paths to the Radschinmühle mill below Mühlberg. From the entrance to Neustadt/WN, the Goldsteig continues along the banks of the Waldnaab to the recreation and camping area; from there, the tree-lined avenue leads up to the old town. The Lobkowitz Palaces on the medieval town square, St. George’s Parish Church, the City/Glass Museum (use the passageway), the Old Bavarian Crystal Glassworks, and the Baroque monastery church of St. Felix—all of these lie along the route before you’re treated to some very beautiful views over the Waldnaab Valley, the town of Weiden, and the Parkstein basalt cone. Via Wilchenreuth and Theisseil, long stretches of unpaved trails lead to the Fischerberg with the “Vierlingsturm” observation tower and the Strobelhütte, a mountain hut operated seasonally by the Upper Palatinate Forest Association. Then the trail descends into the Hölltal valley.

Ascent

433 m

Descent

335 m

Today’s stage begins with a short climb and mostly follows the edge of the forest to Dreifaltigkeitsberg near Muglhof, with its chapel of the same name, and continues on to the little village of Oedenthal, which can already be seen in the distance. Just before Roggenstein, a massive European beech tree with a wayside cross makes a striking impression. The trail now descends into the Luhe Valley to Oberschleif, a former glass-grinding mill. And then the hiker soon reaches the legendary “Elm” forest area with the “Three Hand Crosses”—distinctive boundary crosses first mentioned as boundary markers of the Landgraviate of Leuchtenberg in 1361. Untouched trails lead further into one of the most remarkable forest areas: mystical names like “Mördergrube” and “Sargmühle” spark the imagination. Passing through the striking Wolfslohklamm Nature Reserve in the Lerautal valley, the Goldsteig continues to the Wolfslohfelsen, over a small bridge, past the “Teufelsbutterfass” rock formation, and on to the town of Leuchtenberg with its imposing Landgrave’s Castle.

Ascent

306 m

Descent

278 m

For centuries, this imposing castle served as the ancestral seat of the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg. Against this magnificent backdrop, the “Leuchtenberg Castle Festival”—known far beyond the region—takes place annually (May through August). First downhill and then uphill again via Wittschau, the Goldsteig trail leads to the “Roter Bühl” and into the village of Döllnitz, which marks the entrance to the “Pfreimd Valley.” The Pfreimd River now accompanies you all the way to the gates of Trausnitz, where the Kalvarienberg offers a breathtaking view of Trausnitz with its church and castle. Continuing along the Pfreimd, you’ll reach the dam of the Pfreimdtal Reservoir. From here, a sunken path leads to the hamlets of Bierlhof and Oberbierlhof, where forest trails take hikers onward via Kaufnitz to the Schlossberg hill in Tännesberg. A mighty castle once stood here. Today, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the town, the Upper Palatinate Forest, the Bohemian Forest, the Bavarian Forest, Franconian Switzerland, and the Fichtel Mountains.

Ascent

609 m

Descent

521 m

Immediately after descending from the Schlossberg in Tännesberg, hikers reach the “Geological Nature Trail,” which is of great geological interest. The St. Jodok Pilgrimage Church is also located nearby: Every year on the fourth Sunday in July, the “St. Jodok Ride” horse pilgrimage takes place here, featuring over 200 horses. The Goldsteig trail leads into the Tännesberg Forest and on to the summit of the Wildenstein with its castle ruins. Upon reaching the St. Jakob Pilgrimage Church, a mini-pilgrimage is also completed: on this stretch, the Goldsteig trail is, in fact, identical to the Way of St. James. The Goldsteig trail passes by the outskirts of Oberviechtach—but this festival town is an ideal stopover with plenty to see: The historical and scientific background of gold mining, for example, is explained at the Dr. Eisenbarth Museum and the Oberviechtach City Museum. Try your luck at gold panning and let the gold rush fever take hold of you on the gold hike (registration at the Tourist Information Office). New this year is the gold nature trail through the historic mining areas.

Ascent

296 m

Descent

412 m

Right from the start of the stage, you’ll be treated to magnificent views into the distance. In the distance, “Haus Murach” Castle greets you—its history is closely tied to Oberviechtach. A few kilometers further on lies a special gem: this is where the approximately 80-hectare Prackendorfer and Kulzer Moos Nature Reserve begins. This marsh is a habitat for more than 100 species on the Red List—the approximately 3-kilometer-long marsh nature trail allows nature lovers to immerse themselves in this mysterious world worthy of protection. After the keep in Thanstein and the Schwarzwihrberg, the next destination is the Steinerne Wand natural monument: This ridge stretches for about 300 meters through the forest, its weathered face dropping steeply in some places by up to 20 meters. The next highlight is the imposing Schwarzenburg ruins with the Powder Tower and the Schwanberg Tower (observation tower); the descent from there leads through a natural forest reserve to Bauhof, today’s stage destination. This village is part of the small town of Rötz, with its picturesque market square and Baroque cemetery church.

Ascent

634 m

Descent

610 m

This day hike takes you mainly through the Schwarzach Valley. Right at the start, you’ll be treated to a fantastic view—on a clear day, you can see Čerchov (1,042 m) with its striking tower, at the foot of which lies Waldmünchen, the destination for today’s stage. First, however, hikers arrive at the Eixendorf Reservoir, where a short detour allows them to visit the Upper Palatinate Crafts Museum (and its cozy museum tavern). The trail then winds leisurely through the wide Schwarzach Valley, sometimes right along the river but mostly along the edge of the forest, offering views of tranquil little villages. Shortly before Waldmünchen, the Burgenweg and the Goldsteig part ways; the final stretch takes hikers through Prosdorf, past the “Maria Hilf” chapel, a Way of the Cross, and a chestnut-lined avenue to the Rococo church in Herzogau.

Ascent

690 m

Descent

563 m

From Herzogau, the Goldsteig leads to the next peak, the Klammerfelsen, which features a 360-degree observation tower. The trail continues through beautiful rock formations before the Goldsteig leaves the forest near Althütte and heads toward the Gibacht Inn. Passing the “Pfennigfelsen,” the trail leads to the border with the Czech Republic, to the Drei-Wappen-Felsen (901 m), and to the “Drei Wappen” border crossing—an old border point dating back to 1766 between Bavaria, Bohemia, and the Upper Palatinate. The trail continues on to the Kreuzfelsen (938 m) and the Gläsernes Kreuz at Reiseck (902 m). After a steep descent, hikers reach the Robert-Hütte on the Gaisriegel—where they are once again treated to a magnificent view across the Further Senke to the Hohenbogen, the Osser in the Lamer Winkel, and the Voithenberg Castle complex. Passing the golf course and the game reserve, you’ll reach the stage’s destination, Furth im Wald.

Ascent

401 m

Descent

662 m

Beyond Furth im Wald lies the Hohe Bogen. Here, hikers face one of the steepest ascents on the Goldsteig, stretching about one kilometer. As a reward, a short break at Burgstall offers a magnificent panoramic view of the Chamb Valley and far into Bohemia. The trail then continues to the Hohenbogen mountain hut, and after a well-deserved stop, it heads downhill toward the south toward Grafenwiesen/Schönbuchen at the foot of the Kaitersberg. An alternative (long-distance hiking trail E6) would be to hike over the Osser starting from the Hohenbogen mountain hut: Day 1: to the Hohenbogen mountain lodge; Day 2: down into the valley and up the Osser on the opposite side; Day 3: from the Osser to the Arber. With this option, the route then continues along the Goldsteig trail. Time-wise, this doesn’t add much extra time—hikers simply replace stages N12 and N13 here.

Ascent

746 m

Descent

613 m

On the Kaitersberg, hikers can look forward to an impressive and varied high-altitude hike. Starting in Schönbuchen, the trail leads via Reitenberg toward Kaitersberg, passing the Räuber-Heigl Cave and the Mittagstein—where a monument commemorates the last world war—on the way to the Kötztinger Hut. There, hikers can stop for refreshments and enjoy a unique panoramic view of the Zellertal valley. The trail then continues through the almost alpine terrain of the Steinbühler Gesenke, with rocky outcrops some over 50 meters high, to the legendary Rauchröhren. Through a typical forest landscape dotted with rock formations and paths slightly overgrown with roots, hikers reach the picturesque Waldschmidt Monument at the Großer Riedelstein. The spot offers another opportunity to take in the view before heading downhill to the Eck Inn.

Ascent

600 m

Descent

307 m

This is one of the most fascinating—but also one of the most grueling—stages of the Goldsteig. Strenuous ascents, interspersed with occasional descents, summit crosses, blueberry bushes—untouched, pristine, wildly romantic: These are just a few of the landmarks along this stage of the Goldsteig, which leads over eight peaks over 1,000 meters. The eight peaks over 1,000 meters on this tour are: Mühlriegel (1,080 m), Ödriegel (1,156 m), Schwarzeck (1,238 m), Reischflecksattel (1,126 m), Heugstatt (1,261 m), Enzian (1,285 m), Kleiner Arber (1,384 m), and Großer Arber (1,456 m).

Ascent

933 m

Descent

406 m

The sunrise as seen from the Arberschutzhaus is impressive—so be sure to get up early. Otherwise, there’s no rush today, since the day’s itinerary includes “only” a 12-kilometer descent down to Bayerisch Eisenstein. First, the trail leads down typical forest paths to the Großer Arbersee, then continues along the Arberseebach to the Seebachschleife in the Regental valley. From here, follow the trail markers, staying along the Regen River, all the way to the center of Bayerisch Eisenstein. Thanks to the short stage, there’s plenty of time along the way for exploring nature: The Seewand above the Großer Arbersee, for example, is one of the oldest primeval forest areas in the Bavarian Forest.

Ascent

78 m

Descent

742 m

Today’s stage begins at the large hiking park in Bayerisch Eisenstein. Only the Local Railway Museum and the railroad tracks lie between hikers and the edge of the forest, where a signpost points the way to the Trifter-Klause Schwellhäusl (insider tip: the cozy beer garden). The Goldsteig then follows the Triftbach stream for quite a while all the way to Zwieslerwaldhaus. Right along the route is the “Watzlik-Hain” primeval forest adventure trail with its imposing giant trees. Shortly thereafter, you’ll reach Zwieslerwaldhaus with its numerous places to stop for refreshments. Also very close by: the “Wildniscamp am Falkenstein,” an international hut village in the Bavarian Forest National Park. Now the ascent begins through the primeval forest area of the Mittelsteighütte to the Ruckowitzschachten with its ancient trees. On clear days, this spot offers a beautiful view of the Bavarian Forest landscape. Passing through the mountain spruce forest, hikers finally reach the Großer Falkenstein shelter, where this stage ends.

Ascent

794 m

Descent

202 m

Today’s route follows the border ridge toward Bohemia, remaining within the Bavarian Forest National Park. To the north lies the Czech national park “Šumava” (meaning “the Rustling One” in German). Special highlights of the day include the many “Schachten” and “Filze.” In earlier times, “Schachten” were forest pastures, primarily for young cattle. The cattle were herded up here for the few summer months and tended by a shepherd. “Filze” are raised bogs with interesting flora and fauna—but please do not stray from the marked trails (mostly boardwalks)! Along the route are Sulzschachten, Albrechtschachten, Rindl- and Jährlingsschachten, Lindberger Schachten, Kohl- and Hochschachten, Alm- and Verlorener Schachten. Although this hike is strenuous, it is one of the most beautiful in the Bavarian Forest. To finish, however, there’s still a somewhat arduous climb uphill to the Waldschmidthaus, just below the Rachel summit.

Ascent

789 m

Descent

722 m

Natural steps lead to the summit cross on the Rachel, which, at 1,452 meters, is the second-highest mountain in the Bavarian Forest. Right at the start of the descent on the southeast side, a beautiful view of the Rachel Chapel and the Rachelsee below awaits. On the way to the Felsenkanzel—which offers yet another magnificent view—you can also take a detour to Lake Rachel. Narrow trails through mixed mountain forests then allow hikers to make quick progress. Many of the once-majestic spruce trees fell victim to the bark beetle, which has its positive side: the now-dead tree skeletons provide shelter and a nutrient-rich substrate. Beneath them, a new forest is emerging in its most natural form. After the primeval forest-like area at the Teufelsloch comes the long ascent up the rocky “Himmelsleiter” (Heaven’s Ladder) to the Lusen summit (1,373 m), home to the “Blockmeer am Lusen” geotope: One of the most impressive rock formations in the Bavarian Forest National Park, where granite boulders pile up over an area of more than 200,000 m². Just below the summit, you’ll reach today’s destination: the mountain hut.

Ascent

496 m

Descent

515 m

Hikers with plenty of stamina might have extended the previous day’s stage all the way to Mauth. Nature lovers will want to stay at the Lusenschutzhaus. The sunsets and sunrises, as well as the fantastic views into the distance, are reason enough to plan an overnight stay here. The descent the next day is easy and straightforward, inviting you to relax and take plenty of breaks. Highlights along the route include the wild and romantic forest meadow at the so-called “Tummelplatz” and the Steinbachklause. The latter was once used to dam the Steinbach stream for timber rafting. Soon after, you’ll reach the national park boundary, and the little village of Mauth emerges from the sea of trees.

Ascent

24 m

Descent

569 m

Today is another leisurely hike with plenty of breaks. First, the trail passes the Glasmacherhof on the way to Annathalmühle. From here, it heads uphill again over the Almberg to the Alpe. This is the highest point of today’s hike—the magnificent view is well worth it. From here on, the Goldsteig heads downhill again, and soon after, we reach Philippsreut.

Ascent

409 m

Descent

263 m

On the way to the summit of the Haidel, hikers pass Kricklsäge and Leopoldsreut, whose history is noteworthy: Founded in 1618, the village served as a toll station on the “Goldener Steig” until harsh winters and shortages of water and electricity led to its decline.

Ascent

374 m

Descent

465 m

The Goldsteig runs below Haidmühle (1 km) toward the former Triftklause at the foot of the Dreisessel before leading hikers to the next ascent. The view from the summit of the Dreisessel makes the very steep section in the final third well worth the effort. After a refreshment break at the mountain hut, one of the most beautiful and interesting sections of the Goldsteig lies ahead: The Adalbert Stifter Trail takes us across the boulder field of the Steinernes Meer, with its enormous rock slabs and granite boulders. In ideal, clear weather conditions, the view from here can even extend as far as the Alps. The Goldsteig crosses the Austrian border—back in the valley—shortly after the Lackenhäuser campground. After about 8 km in Austria, hikers cross the Grenzbach stream into Bavaria, reach the Hammerschmiede at the Gegenbach, and climb part of the way up the Höpfelberg toward today’s destination, Breitenberg.

Ascent

628 m

Descent

780 m

After Breitenberg, the Goldsteig and Witikosteig run parallel for a short distance before the Goldsteig hiker turns right. The trail then continues across the Gegenbach, to the Weaving Museum, and on to the main attraction of this area: the Nordic Center with its impressive ski jump complex (the view from the jump into the valley is also impressive!) In the village of Sonnen, hikers on the Goldsteig can decide whether to take the Sonnensystem Trail or the Goldsteig to Oberfrauenwald. There, the Goldsteig reaches the villages of Schauberg and Auhäusl, and finally the scenic fields of the hamlet of Geiersberg. Passing over the Oberfrauenwald summit with its observation tower, the trail leads to the houses of Oberfrauenwald. The hamlets of Neustift, Lindbüchl, and Freudensee—located on the lake of the same name—are the next stops before Hauzenberg comes into view: the trail through the Staffelbach Valley leads to the city park.

Ascent

592 m

Descent

809 m

Before we leave Hauzenberg, the trail takes us a little further through the beautiful spa gardens. But then it’s time to get back to some serious hiking. At the Danglmühle, the Goldsteig leaves Hauzenberg and heads toward the Staffelbach Valley; after a few gentle ups and downs, the trail continues to the Kaindlmühle, where the Goldsteig switches from the Staffelbach Valley to the Erlau Valley. Following a disused railroad right-of-way, hikers reach the former paper mill in Schmölz and continue—past the Eggersdorf ponds—into the village of Eggersdorf. A beautiful, unspoiled field and forest trail leads from here to the Grafenmühle. After climbing a small hill, hikers then reach Satzbach. Finally, the districts of Zieglreut and Grubweg—and then the long-distance destination, the “City of Three Rivers,” Passau, lies before the hiker—a magnificent finale: the view from the Veste Oberhaus down to the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers and the Passau Cathedral. You’ve made it.

Ascent

341 m

Descent

517 m