- 46: 10 pm
- 163,64 km
- 3.665 m
- 3.665 m
- 204 m
- 670 m
- 466 m
- Start: Frankenau, hiking car park "Kellerwaldhalle"
- Destination: Frankenau, hiking car park "Kellerwaldhalle"
All the sights in the almost 600-square-kilometer nature reserve and the centrally located Kellerwald-Edersee National Park are located on the hiking trail. True to the motto: "Really unwind for a moment," you can recharge your batteries for everyday life in the mild low mountain climate. Experience the Edersee lake with its clean and clear water, the pristine stunted forests in the north, the giant beech trees in the national park, idyllic villages with inviting country inns, and, especially in the south, the forests, fields, and meadows so popular with hikers.
Along the Kellerwaldsteig trail, there's a hiking pass with ten stations where you can collect a motif for the pass and a geocache. As a reward, you'll receive a unique hiking coin or a Travel Bug! >>> Hiking Pass Info <<<
Tip: New to the Kellerwaldsteig trail are trekking sites, allowing you to spend the night in nature. The first trekking sites are located on the northern loop, which you can book online on the Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park website . An alternative route between Hüddingen and Frankenau connects the Kellerwaldsteig in the middle, thus enabling hikers to complete either a northern or southern loop.
Note: Extensive route changes took place on the Kellerwaldsteig trail at the end of 2024 to increase the proportion of natural paths and make the trail more attractive for hikers. The new routes are fully marked on the trail, but the revision of the signposts is not yet complete. You can find more information about the changes under Details.
Path surfaces
- Unknown (4%)Street (2%)Asphalt (8%)gravel (49%)Way (30%)Path (8%)
Best Season
- suitabledepending on the weather
Directions
- The Kellerwaldsteig can be started from any location. The official tour described here starts in Frankenau, which is located roughly in the middle of the Kellerwaldsteig. The trail then heads clockwise north, passing Lichtenfels, Edersee, and Waldeck. From Waldeck, it then heads straight south, passing the Eder Dam, Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, small villages in Bad Wildungen, Bad Zwesten, and back via Haina (Kloster) towards the starting point Frankenau.
Tour features
Accessibility
refreshment possibility
Culturally interesting
Flatly
Equipment
- Trekking backpack (approx. 50 liters) with rain cover, sturdy and comfortable footwear, change of shoes/sandals if necessary, weather-appropriate and durable multi-layered clothing, a change of clothes, telescopic poles, sun and rain protection, provisions and drinking water, first-aid kit, pocket knife, cell phone, headlamp, maps, travel documents, toiletry bag and travel towel, hand soap and clothesline, and camping equipment (tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, cooking equipment) if necessary.
Arrival & Parking
- How to find usTo get to the starting point in Frankenau, it is recommended to travel via the B253 federal road. Then either via the connections L3332 or L3085. You will find the “Kellerwaldhalle” hiking car park just before you leave Frankenau in the direction of BW-Frebershausen.ParkingYou can of course park for several days free of charge at the official hiking car parks, e.g. to the west of “Kellerwaldhalle” (Frankenau), to the north of “Hochstein” (Vöhl), etc.Public transportation
Line 520 - Bad Wildungen - Frankenberg / Eder
Frankenau is well connected to public transport via the east-west connection. In general, AST taxi should also be included in the planning.
AST - call share taxis
With CallSammelTaxis (AST), the NVV ensures mobility on routes that are not in great demand. Instead of taking the bus, you can travel here in normal taxis or rental cars. AST also have fixed timetables - you just have to register your wish to travel by telephone (usually) up to 30 minutes before the journey. Also remember that AST only run when there are no normal buses running at the same time.
Call-a-ride taxi center: +49 (0) 5631-5062088
All connections can be clearly seen via the NVV timetable information!
More information / links
- The ideal time for hiking is between April and October. Before and after this period, there may be wind damage and increased forestry work.
Attention: Trail changes on the Kellerwaldsteig
Extensive route changes took place on the Kellerwaldsteig trail at the end of 2024. The new routes are fully marked on the ground, but the revision of the signposts is not yet complete. The changes were made to increase the proportion of natural paths and to make the trail more attractive for hikers.
Please use the digital route guidance or an up-to-date hiking map if you are still unsure of the terrain. If you are still using an outdated hiking map or the guidebook "Outdoor: Kellerwaldsteig with Urwaldsteig Edersee" by Thorsten Hoxer, please note the following changes:
From Asel to Basdorf: The Kellerwaldsteig trail follows the Aselbach stream for a while behind Asel and then the Vollmarsbach stream to Basdorf.
Nieder-Werbe to Waldeck: The Kellerwaldsteig trail turns off at Reiherbachstraße near the volunteer fire department and leads towards the edge of the forest past the Lärenberg trekking site.
From Hemfurth to Kleinern: After leaving the national park at the Kleinersche Tor, the Kellerwaldsteig trail leaves the paved path and runs along the edge of the forest until it turns into the village of Kleinern.
From Kleinern to Albertshausen: The Kellerwaldtseig trail no longer leads via Gellershausen but along the Kesselbach stream via Albertshausen and through the Halloh pasture forest.
Schönau to Battenhausen: After the Schönstein ruins, the Kellerwaldsteig trail continues straight ahead across the L3425 road and over the summit of the Jeust. From the Schönstein ruins near Schönau, please follow the clearly marked alternative route (green K) along the forest road. The Kellerwaldsteig trail into the Gilsa valley is closed and is therefore not currently being cleared.
Haina: Due to the construction of a new Vitos Clinic, the Kellerwaldsteig trail now leads around the new building via an orchard and the old cemetery.
From Hessenstein Castle to Schmittlotheim: Here the Kellerwaldsteig trail no longer leads into the town via the paved road, it branches off beforehand and follows the Lorfe river for a while.
Books
Kellerwaldsteig with Urwaldsteig Edersee (The path is the destination) - ISBN 978-3-86686-623-2 - Conrad Stein Verlag (3rd revised edition 2019)
https://www.edersee.com/fileadmin/samples/PDFs/Flyer/Flyer_Kellerwaldsteig_2022-web.pdf
safety instructions
- The Kellerwaldsteig leads through rustic forests, most of which are no longer used for forestry purposes. Old trees may have toppled over and branches may have fallen onto the path. Use of the Kellerwaldsteig is at your own risk. You should not walk the Kellerwaldsteig in strong winds, heavy rain or snowfall.
The official rescue points (e.g. KB-240) are entered/marked on the maps and signs on site. If you are injured, you can inform the emergency services (telephone: 112) of the relevant point. The cell phone network is not comprehensive, especially in the national park.
Due to tree felling operations caused by drought damage, there are currently occasional short-term closures. Up-to-date information on the situation for the entire region can be found on the Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park website.
Map
Hiking and cycling map Kellerwald-Edersee - ISBN 978-3-86973-189-6 - Kartografie Kommunale Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (1:33.000)
author
Karuna Eckel
