Via Ferrata Rhine-Hunsrück

1700 meters of altitude have to be overcome on very quiet roads. Only in Emmelshausen is it crowded, and the (beautiful) cities on the Rhine can also be busy (Bacharach, Oberwesel and St. Goar). But as soon as the Rhine Valley is abandoned, the streets become quiet again.

The roads are of good quality (only the road between Breitscheid and Steeg (Bacharach) is quite bad over a length of 1 km).

The Rhine Valley is located at an altitude of 70-80 m, and the Hunsrück at an altitude of 450-520 meters, which means that you can reach this area.
Climbs with 400 - 450 meters of altitude. The climbs that remain near the Rhine Valley have less difference in altitude (100 - 300 meters) but are often
much steeper (sometimes up to 17%).

The route starts (counterclockwise) in Emmelshausen and leads over the Schinderhannes cycle path, a well-paved
Cycle path over a former railway line. The cycle path goes up and down, but as it is a railway line, the gradients are limited to 3%. The cycle path is abandoned in Lingerhahn, followed by a short climb to Maisborn. Over the Hunsrück heights it goes to Wiebelsheim. After a short ascent, the long descent follows via Breitscheid to Steeg (Bacharach). In the section of hairpin bends, the road is quite bad (over a length of 1 km). The following climbs follow:

* Rheinböllen forest car park, a very gradual climb (max. 7%) via the fairly quiet Landesstraße 224 (L224) with very good road surface, which runs through the forest almost all the time.
* Winzberg, a climb through the vineyards via a very narrow road with good road surface and gradients of up to 14%.
* Langscheid, a difficult climb with percentages up to 12%, in Henschhausen even 16% over a length of 100m. The ascent from Bacharach is 1.5 km over cobblestones. In the climb you will have a view of a series of 4 consecutive hairpin bends.
* Spitzer Stein, a climb through the vineyards via the K94 with a beautiful view of the Rhine, then via the K95 to Urbar (max. 11%) and finally via the K97 to the top. Please note: The descent to St. Goar is steep and winding (up to 17%).
* Hungenroth, a very gradual (up to 7%) and long climb (10.5 km) on a quiet road with very good road surface. A large part of the ascent leads through the forest, the last kilometer you have a view over the Hunsrück. You can also take a steeper variant via Werlau and Karbach, but then the climb immediately starts with 16% and in many places gradients up to 10%!

You can cycle to Emmelshausen via farm roads to avoid the busy connecting road Emmelshausen - A61.

The route is easy to extend: for example from Oberwesel to Damscheid (steep climb) and descending again via Niederburg to a little further in Oberwesel: This adds up to 350 metres in altitude and 10.5 km.