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Hard Hiking Trails in Hesse

There are 521 hikes in Hesse in our database that fit. They average 42.9 km and 956 m (3,136 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 292 km.

That is 26 percent of the 1,972 routes we map in Hesse. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 42.9 km against 16.5 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 956 m (3,136 ft) on average versus 367 m (1,204 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Expert

Jakobsweg Via Regia 6

Hesse · Germany

Distance
97.5 km
/ 60.6 mi
Elevation gain
2,145 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Ederhöhenweg Etappe 7

Nationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee · Hesse

Distance
16.6 km
/ 10.3 mi
Elevation gain
365 m
Typical duration
4 hr 3 min
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Jakobsweg Bremen (Rhön)-Fulda

Hesse · Germany

Distance
51.6 km
/ 32.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,135 m
Typical duration
13 hr
  • Mountain
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Hessenweg 1 (Etappen 11-15)

Hesse · Germany

Distance
106 km
/ 66.2 mi
Elevation gain
2,343 m
Typical duration
28 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Hessenweg 11- Dornröschen-Route

Hesse · Germany

Distance
103 km
/ 64.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,275 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path

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
Hessenweg 8 (Teilstück Korbach - Bad Wildungen)Nationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee64.9 km1,428 m17 hrExpertApril to October
Hugenotten- und Waldenserpfad (Hauptweg - Teilstrecke Frankenberg - Naumburg (Hessen))Nationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee68.5 km1,507 m18 hrExpertApril to October
Kellerwaldsteig, Nordschleife (mit Alternative A1)Nationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee83.0 km5,945 m28 hrExpertApril to October
X6 Robert-Kolb-Weg (Etappe Münden bis Bad Wildungen)Nationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee42.1 km927 m10 hrExpertApril to October
European Long distance path E1 - part Germany, Hessen (region Taunus east)Hesse50.9 km1,120 m13 hrExpertApril to October
European Long distance path E1 - part Germany, Hessen (region Forest of Odes north)Hesse95.4 km2,099 m25 hrExpertApril to October
Jakobsweg Via Regia 6Hesse97.5 km2,145 m26 hrExpertApril to October
Jakobsweg Fulda - Frankfurt - Mainz (Teilstrecke Frankfurt - Mainz)Hesse54.9 km1,208 m14 hrExpertApril to October
Jakobsweg Fulda - Frankfurt - Mainz (Teilstrecke Fulda - Wächtersbach)Hesse57.6 km1,266 m15 hrExpertApril to October
Jakobsweg Fulda - Frankfurt - Mainz (Teilstrecke Wächtersbach - Frankfurt)Hesse53.8 km1,183 m14 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Hugenotten- und Waldenserpfad (Hauptweg - Teilstrecke Frankenberg - Naumburg (Hessen)), Hessenweg 8 (Teilstück Korbach - Bad Wildungen), Kellerwaldsteig, Nordschleife (mit Alternative A1). 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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