Kurpfalz Park to Eckkopfturm hike in Rhineland Pfalz biosphere reserve

A lovely long loop through the twisty pine forests of the Haardt mountains near Deidesheim on the Deutsche Weinstrasse — easy to pair with a visit to the Kurpfalz Park wildlife refuge and alpine coaster fun park.

Located about 30 min from Neustadt Germany, this Kurpfalz park to Eckkopfturm hike allows you to bring your leashed dog into a park to get close to real wolves. After that, the loop hits 3 forest hütten and 2 tower views overlooking the Rhine plain.

It’s mostly soft red sandstone paths, but parts of this trail wind down steep rocky trails and the follows a babbling brook and grist mill remnants from the 1600s.

Author’s tl;dr: This longish loop starts at the Kurpfalz Park in Wachenheim and heads up some serious elevation to the Eckkopfturm (tower), goes through the Pfälzerwald Biosphere Reserve and finishes with a lovely deep valley with multiple hutten serving Pfälzisch specialties and drinks.

Dog friendly (but if you add on Kurpfalz Park make sure your dog isn’t reactive).

10.9 miles and if that’s too long, I’d walk from the Park to the Eckkopfturm and back for some expansive views (4 miles total, 550 ft elevation).

If you want to make a weekend out of it, the best place to stay is the Talmuhle Hotel located directly on trail near Gimmeldingen.

The Kurpfalz Park in Rhineland Pfalz has wolves, an alpine coaster and birds of prey show. We didn’t visit because my dog is reactive, but it would be nice to add this walk through the animal park to the beginning or end of your hike.

• What I really loved were the views over the Rhine Plain that were peekaboo from many parts of trail and the twisty pine forest.
• What I thought was rough was the total lack of anything open on a Monday and a long winter pause (most things open in April).

Kurpfalz Park Hiking Map

How to Use This Map:
Click on the icon on the top left-hand corner. You will now see an interactive list.

For more info on each, click on the map icons.

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To view the saved map on your phone, open Google Maps, click “saved” on the bottom, and then “maps” on the lower right.

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Wachenheim Rhineland Pfalz Hike – My Experience

My dog Ruby and I hiked it on a grey day in February and the mud wasn’t too bad.

This area is along the Weinstrasse front range – and has a similiar feel as the Kalmit Summit hike, but a little less views and more low lying stream walking.

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Kurpfalz Park Parking Lot – Eckkopfturm (1:30)

The trail is soft and leaf carpeted directly from the many parking lots near the Kurpfalz park. Parking is free, but I imagine it gets busy in summer. You’ll follow a red triangle over the top of red/white equals sign.

The signs are striking against the white birch trees and pines it’s painted on.

The signs have the name “Eckkopf” written with arrows.

It’s pretty much uphill.

Eckkopfturm – Stabenbergwarte (2:30)

It was locked when I went, but in season (weekends only in winter) you can grab a drink and climb the tower for what are likely great views of the Rhine plain overlooking Dedesheim. We are north of the Kalmit high point, but it’s still quite high here.

Look at deidesheim.de for opening times.

After that backtrack and bit and now get on the trail toward the “weissenstich” and it’s a white dot painted on the trees. It’s forested soft jeep tracks and peekaboo views of the plain.

You’ll walk into the Biosphere Pfalzerwald Kernzone Stabenberg and arrive at a stone tower.

Stabenbergwarte – Looganlange – Silbertalhütte – Parking (4:30)

Continuing, when you reach the Sangerklause hutte stay straight on path no. 5.

A fab view is atop the Stabenbergwarte stone tower, take your time here it’s the best view of entire hike.

It’s a LONG downhill through a crazy squiggly pine tree forest with now rocky paths, instead of the usual soft sandstone.

You’ll descend into a very long valley toward Gimmeldingen. Here you’ll jump on the Pfalzerweinsteig, the famous long distance thru hike in this area. There’s a lovely hotel here at the base of the mountain called Talmuhle.

From here, you’ll make a very sharp right to return toward the Kurpfalz park via the Looganlage Hutte (closed on Monday and Tuesday) and the Forsthaus Benjental (closed).

From here it’s all flat or slightly uphill on soft, sometimes muddy trails next to a babbling brook, ancient grist mill ruins and fun bridges criss crossing the stream all the way to the Silbertal Hutte (closed x and y).

You’ll recognize the road you drove in on and follow a side trail back to the car.

How to get there

By Car

Driving is the easiest way to get to this hike.

Reaching Kurpfalz Park by car is a straightforward journey, with the park conveniently situated between Wachenheim and Lambrecht in Germany.

Drivers should navigate towards the Deutsche Weinstrasse (German Wine Route), taking the exit for Wachenheim if approaching from the north, or the exit for Lambrecht if coming from the south.

From these points, clear signage will guide you through the scenic wine country directly to one of the three large car parks designated for Kurpfalz Park visitors.

By Train

If you want to take a train the closest train station is Mussbach.

You’ll simply join this loop trail at Gimmeldingen on the southern tip.

Where to Stay

Bed and Breakfast on the Trail

Nestled in the charming wine town of Neustadt an der Weinstraße in the Gimmeldingen neighborhood, Die Talmühle presents a delightful respite for hikers exploring the verdant trails of the region.

This bed and breakfast, set amidst the picturesque landscapes of the Rhineland-Palatinate, is a stone’s throw away from the lush vineyards and the Palatinate Forest, offering ample opportunities for adventure and discovery.

After a day of trekking through the scenic countryside, guests can relax in the comfort of Die Talmühle’s inviting rooms, rejuvenate with a stroll through its garden, and enjoy a restful night’s sleep to the calming sounds of nature, all while looking forward to another day of exploration in this hiker’s paradise.

Things to Know About Kurpfalz Park

Wolves, Falcons and an Alpine Slide

Adventure awaits at Kurpfalzpark, sprawling over 700,000 square meters nestled between Wachenheim and Lambrecht, open from early April until November.

It’s a place where families can marvel at the diverse local wildlife, from the stealthy wild boar to the elusive lynx, and from the majestic moufflon to the graceful fallow deer.

The highlight of the park is the wolf enclosure, offering a thrilling glimpse into the lives of these noble creatures, especially during the exhilarating feeding demonstrations.

Sky predators take center stage in the summer with a spectacular falconry display, where visitors can witness the awe-inspiring free flight of birds of prey and even participate in the show.

Beyond the wildlife, Kurpfalzpark boasts a bounty of fun with a variety of rides, playgrounds for boundless play, and plenty of dining options including snack bars, picnic spots, and the cozy Forsthaus Rotsteig restaurant for a relaxing feast. Ample parking ensures a hassle-free visit for those driving in.

You will also like my related hiking guide: The Bad Urach Waterfall hike near Stuttgart offers wine tastings and excellent food at the huts along trail. It’s also got it’s own train stop.

Food and Hutten on the Kurpfalz Park to Eckkopfturm hike

You’ve got your choices on this trail of multiple huts or you can dip in the Gimmeldingen….there’s places for wine tastings, hotels and restaurants here not far from the southern tip of the trail.

Alten Jadhaus Looganlage

• Guests can now reach the location by car or hiking.
• Access is only possible from Gimmeldingen.
• Reservation is encouraged.
• Contact number: 06321 / 66 0 47.
• Hütten-WhatsApp available.
• Opening hours:
• Monday and Tuesday: Closed.
• Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
• Kitchen hours:
• Open until 4:00 PM.

I stopped here for my own Aldi lunch and it was peaceful.

Forsthaus Silbertal

This is a very nice forest hutte located not far from the parking.

Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., days off are Monday and Friday. Open on public holidays.

They will accept your table reservation by telephone on 06325/8492 .

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Craving Mountain Adventure?

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy rambling around the Haardt mountains and catching some outdoor history and culture. How cool is that?

Have you experienced a cool trail nearby? We would love to hear how it was over on our facebook group Plan Hiking Adventures in Europe.

We hope this guide about the Kurpfalz Park to Eckkopfturm hike has given you some helpful information to plan your next adventure.