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Best Mountain Hikes in Germany

246 routes in Germany qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 8.6 km and 192 m (630 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 254 km.

That is 1 percent of the 24,726 routes we map in Germany. They are shorter than the local average, 8.6 km against 10.9 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day.

Mountain routes trade effort for scale. Expect sustained climbing, quick weather changes and views that make the numbers worth it. The mix is broad: 164 are rated easy and 27 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Easy

Mehlplätzle - Überzwercher Berg

Nationalpark Schwarzwald · Baden-Württemberg

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
66 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Gelber Punkt #6

Rhineland-Palatinate · Germany

Distance
24.8 km
/ 15.4 mi
Elevation gain
546 m
Typical duration
6 hr 17 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Heinrich-Uhl-Weg

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
33.5 km
/ 20.8 mi
Elevation gain
736 m
Typical duration
8 hr 38 min
  • Mountain
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Dutch Mountain Trail

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
101 km
/ 62.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,221 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Kelten-Erlebnisweg

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
254 km
/ 158 mi
Elevation gain
5,598 m
Typical duration
68 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Kreuzbergweg

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
87.4 km
/ 54.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,922 m
Typical duration
23 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

König-Ludwig-Weg

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
122 km
/ 75.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,681 m
Typical duration
32 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Taunusklub Route 045

Hesse · Germany

Distance
24.9 km
/ 15.5 mi
Elevation gain
547 m
Typical duration
6 hr 18 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Thüringen, Der Lange Berg

Thuringia · Germany

Distance
26.5 km
/ 16.5 mi
Elevation gain
583 m
Typical duration
6 hr 44 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Easy

Harzklub-Weg 34E

Saxony-Anhalt · Germany

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
74 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Harzklub-Weg 40A

Saxony-Anhalt · Germany

Distance
5.8 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
128 m
Typical duration
1 hr 24 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Harzklub-Weg 63B

Saxony-Anhalt · Germany

Distance
4.8 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
106 m
Typical duration
1 hr 10 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Harzklub-Weg 67G

Saxony-Anhalt · Germany

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
110 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Jura-Gebirgsweg

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
42.9 km
/ 26.6 mi
Elevation gain
943 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Nordvariante Wittekindsweg

Lower Saxony · Germany

Distance
14.5 km
/ 9.0 mi
Elevation gain
318 m
Typical duration
3 hr 29 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Rennweg Haßberge

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
57.4 km
/ 35.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,263 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Singer Berg Tour

Thuringia · Germany

Distance
18.9 km
/ 11.7 mi
Elevation gain
415 m
Typical duration
4 hr 40 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Taunusklub Route 046

Hesse · Germany

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
171 m
Typical duration
1 hr 53 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Velburger Weg

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
41.8 km
/ 26.0 mi
Elevation gain
919 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Nassauer See

Baden-Württemberg · Germany

Distance
7.1 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

EifelSchleife Berg und Tal

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
190 m
Typical duration
2 hr 11 min
  • Mountain
  • Cave
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gomaringen - Roßberg

Baden-Württemberg · Germany

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
165 m
Typical duration
1 hr 48 min
  • Mountain
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Großer Rundweg Burg Feuerstein

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
15.0 km
/ 9.3 mi
Elevation gain
329 m
Typical duration
3 hr 37 min
  • Mountain
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Mettener Rundwanderweg Nr. 10

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
10.9 km
/ 6.8 mi
Elevation gain
240 m
Typical duration
2 hr 38 min
  • Mountain
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Naturlehrpfad

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
6.2 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
137 m
Typical duration
1 hr 30 min
  • Mountain
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Naturlehrpfad Rauener Berge

Brandenburg · Germany

Distance
5.9 km
/ 3.7 mi
Elevation gain
130 m
Typical duration
1 hr 26 min
  • Mountain
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Berg - Altdorfer Wald

Baden-Württemberg · Germany

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
30 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Naturpfad Ahornreitweg

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
5.8 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
128 m
Typical duration
1 hr 24 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Mernes - Wanderweg Schmetterling

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
12.4 km
/ 7.7 mi
Elevation gain
273 m
Typical duration
3 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

22 Im Spalter Hügelland

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
7.1 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
1 hr 42 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

3-Berge-Tour

Brandenburg · Germany

Distance
10.0 km
/ 6.2 mi
Elevation gain
221 m
Typical duration
2 hr 25 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

3_Gipfel_Weg

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
12.6 km
/ 7.8 mi
Elevation gain
278 m
Typical duration
3 hr 3 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Easy

3_Gipfel_Weg_Alternative

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
44 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

6 – Gipfel Runde

Baden-Württemberg · Germany

Distance
9.8 km
/ 6.1 mi
Elevation gain
215 m
Typical duration
2 hr 21 min
  • Mountain
  • 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
Hinterer Plon - Überzwercher BergNationalpark Schwarzwald0.5 km11 m7 minEasyApril to October
Mehlplätzle - Überzwercher BergNationalpark Schwarzwald3.0 km66 m44 minEasyApril to October
Heidschnuckenweg Etappe 10: Faßberg - Oberoher HeideLower Saxony18.8 km413 m4 hr 38 minHardApril to October
Heidschnuckenweg Etappe 9: Müden (Örtze) - FaßbergLower Saxony7.3 km160 m1 hr 45 minModerateApril to October
Gelber Punkt #6Rhineland-Palatinate24.8 km546 m6 hr 17 minHardApril to October
Neuberthelsdorf - Hochstein (grüner Strich)Saxony28.1 km619 m7 hr 11 minHardApril to October
Heinrich-Uhl-WegBavaria33.5 km736 m8 hr 38 minExpertApril to October
Dutch Mountain TrailNorth Rhine-Westphalia101 km2,221 m26 hrExpertApril to October
Kelten-ErlebniswegBavaria254 km5,598 m68 hrExpertApril to October
KreuzbergwegBavaria87.4 km1,922 m23 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Hinterer Plon - Überzwercher Berg, Mehlplätzle - Überzwercher Berg, Heidschnuckenweg Etappe 10: Faßberg - Oberoher Heide. 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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