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Best Forest Hikes in Hesse

There are 49 hikes in Hesse in our database that fit. They average 9.4 km and 207 m (679 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 95.4 km.

That is 2 percent of the 1,972 routes we map in Hesse. They are shorter than the local average, 9.4 km against 16.5 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 207 m (679 ft) against 367 m (1,204 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Forest trails are the dependable choice: shade when it is hot, shelter when it is not, and a completely different character once the leaves turn. The mix is broad: 22 are rated easy and 2 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day. A good share of them are loops, so you can park once and finish where you started.

Trails

Easy

Oberorke Nr.7

Hesse · Germany

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
110 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Schelder-Wald-Weg

Hesse · Germany

Distance
18.3 km
/ 11.4 mi
Elevation gain
402 m
Typical duration
4 hr 30 min
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Bad Arolsen Wanderweg A1

Hesse · Germany

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
92 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Dörnhagen, Rundweg 5

Hesse · Germany

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
120 m
Typical duration
1 hr 19 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Fahrenbacherkopf-Weg

Hesse · Germany

Distance
6.1 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
134 m
Typical duration
1 hr 28 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Galgenhöhenweg

Hesse · Germany

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Gieseler Forst Nord 1

Hesse · Germany

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
121 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gieseler Forst Nord 2

Hesse · Germany

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
300 m
Typical duration
3 hr 17 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Gieseler Forst Nord 3

Hesse · Germany

Distance
16.1 km
/ 10.0 mi
Elevation gain
354 m
Typical duration
3 hr 55 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Gieseler Forst Nord 4

Hesse · Germany

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
54 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gieseler Forst Nord 5

Hesse · Germany

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
228 m
Typical duration
2 hr 30 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gieseler Forst Süd 1

Hesse · Germany

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
187 m
Typical duration
2 hr 3 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gieseler Forst Süd 2

Hesse · Germany

Distance
10.3 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
227 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gieseler Forst Süd 3

Hesse · Germany

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
187 m
Typical duration
2 hr 3 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gieseler Forst Süd 4

Hesse · Germany

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
183 m
Typical duration
2 hr 1 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Großalmerode, Rundweg 18

Hesse · Germany

Distance
8.2 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
180 m
Typical duration
1 hr 59 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Großalmerode, Rundweg 21

Hesse · Germany

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Hasenmühle, Rundweg 3

Hesse · Germany

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
89 m
Typical duration
59 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Helgenberg- Forst Laubach

Hesse · Germany

Distance
6.4 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
141 m
Typical duration
1 hr 33 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Helsa, Rundweg 13

Hesse · Germany

Distance
7.0 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
154 m
Typical duration
1 hr 41 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Helsa, Rundweg 16

Hesse · Germany

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
81 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Hungen Rundweg Nordschleife

Hesse · Germany

Distance
11.8 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
260 m
Typical duration
2 hr 51 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Kaufunger Wald, Rundweg 23

Hesse · Germany

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
183 m
Typical duration
2 hr 1 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Kirchblick 2

Hesse · Germany

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
202 m
Typical duration
2 hr 13 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Naumburg, Rundweg 1

Hesse · Germany

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
93 m
Typical duration
1 hr 1 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Naumburg, Rundweg 2

Hesse · Germany

Distance
6.6 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
146 m
Typical duration
1 hr 36 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Niederkaufungen, Rundweg 25

Hesse · Germany

Distance
9.0 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
197 m
Typical duration
2 hr 10 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Niederkaufungen, Rundweg 28

Hesse · Germany

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.2 mi
Elevation gain
150 m
Typical duration
1 hr 39 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Nieste, Rundweg 14a

Hesse · Germany

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
108 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Pfannenweg

Hesse · Germany

Distance
18.8 km
/ 11.7 mi
Elevation gain
413 m
Typical duration
4 hr 39 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Premiumweg P14 Bilstein

Hesse · Germany

Distance
9.7 km
/ 6.0 mi
Elevation gain
213 m
Typical duration
2 hr 20 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Premiumweg P7 Söder Wald

Hesse · Germany

Distance
15.3 km
/ 9.5 mi
Elevation gain
336 m
Typical duration
3 hr 42 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Rund um Wildsachsen

Hesse · Germany

Distance
8.8 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
194 m
Typical duration
2 hr 8 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
European Long distance path E1 - part Germany, Hessen (region Forest of Odes north)Hesse95.4 km2,099 m25 hrExpertApril to October
Oberorke Nr.7Hesse5.0 km110 m1 hr 13 minEasyApril to October
Kaufunger Wald, Rundweg 14 - Königs-AlmHesse4.1 km90 m59 minEasyApril to October
Rundwanderweg Wald-Michelbach Lichtenklingen 1: Lichtenklinger-Hof-WegHesse3.5 km77 m51 minEasyApril to October
Schelder-Wald-WegHesse18.3 km402 m4 hr 30 minHardApril to October
Bad Arolsen Wanderweg A1Hesse4.2 km92 m1 hr 1 minEasyApril to October
Dörnhagen, Rundweg 5Hesse5.5 km120 m1 hr 19 minEasyApril to October
Fahrenbacherkopf-WegHesse6.1 km134 m1 hr 28 minEasyApril to October
GalgenhöhenwegHesse2.8 km62 m41 minEasyApril to October
Gaudernbach - Hasselbach - SpießwaldHesse6.5 km144 m1 hr 35 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with European Long distance path E1 - part Germany, Hessen (region Forest of Odes north), Guxhagen-Wellerode, Kaufunger Wald, Rundweg 14 - Königs-Alm. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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