Stage

9.02 Darmstadt (Oberwaldhaus) - Lautertal-Reichenbach


30.1km
Distance

-
Walking time

337m
Total climb

293m
Total descent
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Stage description

This stage is particularly beautiful halfway through and sets the tone for the stages that follow. In the Odenwald, the trails wind their way along the slopes and mountainsides, but also across the ridges. This means there can be some pretty steep ascents and descents at times. The Odenwald is actually a particularly beautiful place to hike, as forests and meadows alternate in a lovely, short-term rhythm. From here on, the E1 offers constant, sweeping views of the Odenwald landscape and, at times, the Rhine Valley.

While the route continues far beyond Darmstadt through flat terrain – often along long, straight stretches – and through vast forests, things change once you reach Ober-Ramstadt. This is a good place to check your supplies again, as there’s really nothing else available until Reichenbach. Only in Frankenhausen, 7 km further on, is there a bakery where you can also get a small selection of other groceries. The next opportunity to buy food isn’t until Reichenbach.

There are quite a few places to stop for a bite to eat along this route. However, keep in mind that many of these restaurants are geared toward weekend business.

There are also a few (shelter) huts. However, not every hut is suitable for spending the night, should that ever be necessary. The floors are often dirty, covered with gravel, or loose soil. A pretty good shelter is the one with an attached kiosk and a (fenced-off) seating area shortly after the start of the descent at the Felsenmeer near Reichenbach. 

Update October 2020: Unfortunately, the shed next to the kiosk is now locked with a metal gate.

Last text update: 09.10.2020
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Hiking maps

  • Kompass Karte 828: Frankfurt und Umgebung (1:50.000)

    Map Available at mapfox.de (Ad) and amazon.de (Ad)

  • Kompass Karte 827: Bergstraße-Odenwald - Neckartal (1:50 000)

    Map Available at thalia.de (Ad) and amazon.de (Ad)

Marking

  • Andreaskreuz (Grün) Andreaskreuz (Grün)

Accommodation

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DJH Jugendherberge Darmstadt
Darmstadt
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Kuralpe Kreuzhof
Lautertal
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Book at Expedia (Ad)
Felsberghütte (DAV Hütte - unbewirtschaftet)
Lautertal (Odenwald)
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Gästehaus "Am Nibelungensteig"
Lautertal (Odenwald)
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Book at Expedia (Ad)
Waldgasthaus am Borstein
Lautertal (Odenwald)
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Hessischer Hof
Ober-Ramstadt
Price group:
Book at Expedia (Ad)
Naturfreundehaus Ober-Ramstadt
Ober-Ramstadt
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Sights

Felsenmeer

Shortly before the end of the stage, the E1 descends through the impressive Felsenmeer (sea of rocks) from Felsberg to Reichenbach. The Felsenmeer is a bizarre rocky landscape, which was already used by the Romans to extract stone. Traces of stonemasonry work can be found in numerous places. Especially a not removed Roman giant column catches the eye.

Further information in the german Wikipedia article

Sources and copyright

GPX track coordinates: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Published under Open Database License (ODbL)

Legally we have to tell you that we cannot be held responsible for the information supplied.

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