Hiking trail Holzbachschlucht

The "Hoher Westerwald" (high Westerwald) welcomes its visitors. Leave the everyday life behind you, pack your hiking boots, your Nordic walking poles, their trunks or your bike and just make holiday.

Quiet but not too far from the Metropolitan centers Rhine-Ruhr and Rhine-Main, the Hoher Westerwald offers a tart beautiful landscape that invites you to discover the Westerwald actively in all seasons and experience! Lush green meadows, the treetops, pierced by light and the variety of colorful flowers produce a breathtaking experience for all senses. With a kaleidoscope of colors, smells, and sounds, the area around Rennerod is a very unique piece of Westerwald which is better known as the "Hoher Westerwald".

Deep forests, wide vistas, lakes, historical and cultural monuments and natural formations are waiting to get explored. Enjoy the crystal clear water of streams, rivers and lakes. Breathe the clear, fresh air, lush green valleys and lofty heights. Hear the noise of the Woods and wander or cycle through the varied nature. The "Hoher Westerwald"opens its visitors a "green oasis" right between the cities of Cologne and Frankfurt. The high Westerwald is perfect for connoisseurs, nature lovers, animal lovers, hikers, cyclists, and many more.

The Hiking trail in the "Holzbachschlucht" (gorge) is probably the most exciting way to explore the "Hoher Westerwald" and it´s beautiful nature. A picture as painted: Maple, ash, and Elm turn at an acute angle of crystal clear water, gurgling falling over powerful gems. 30 metre Tower rock faces in the sky. Tens of thousands of years has the Holzbach river worked on this Idyll, which drilled mm for millimeters through the basalt and created one of the most impressive river breakthroughs of the Westerwald.

The wood in the "Holzbachschlucht" (gorge) is one of the oldest Westerwald nature protection areas. Already in 1929, Prussian authorities placed the Gorge under protection. The Holzbach river is a minor stream of the Elbe river and gave the Valley its Gorge character. Since also the vegetation such as from past days is: there are beech Hall forests, bizarre formations of Deadwood and many wild herbs. On both sides of the stream, a trail leads hikers right through nature. Panels with explanations are everywhere and make it easier for visitors to the determination of plants and animals.

The town centre of Rennerod (tourist information Office) is the ideal starting point to explore this beautiful area by foot, cross the Hauptstraße (B54) and turn right onto the Friedhofsweg and follow the road uphill. At the cemetery follow over straight up to the edge of the forest, then left the signs of the Westerwald-Steig. The trail leads past the fabled "Seitenstein" - a basalt formation jutting out of the Earth. The trail continues up to the K51 (Hellenhahn-Schellenberg – Seck) and leads past the great and small Secker pond. There is also a campsite with restaurant located right on the large Secker pond. Please continue following the signs of the Westerwald-Steig and you will reach the farmyard Dapprich and the road to "Holzbachschlucht" nature reserve.

In the village of Rennerod and take the the tourist information Officeas a starting point. Cross the Hauptstraße (B54) and turn right onto the Friedhofweg (trail next to the cemetry) and follow the road uphill. The trail leads past the fabled "Seitenstein" - a basalt formation jutting out of the Earth. The trail continues up to the K51 (Hellenhahn-Schellenberg – Seck). The trail leads past the great undholzbachschluchtherbst of small Secker pond. These can be circled in both directions on the trail R29 following natural paths. A bridge connects both sides of banks at the end of the Gorge. Back at the Court Dapprich (refreshments in the farmyard Café) continue on the R24 in the direction of Seck. Only on a small path, later on a gravel road the trail leads to the entrance of Seck, where we hike after crossing the main road on the R21 “Ferdinand-Werner-Straße” and “Schinnhohl” left to the Church. Left the cemetery and at the fire station turn left onto the Hellenhahner road, then turn right on the Fackenhahner way to leave the place and follow the R21 back to Rennerod.