5 Fun Kids Activities on Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau

Exploring the Best Day Hikes in Europe: The Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmühlbach-Miesau

tl;dr

Kids, quiet, great for homeschoolers, stroller friendly hiking.

For details to Skip directly there.

The Käfer Safari hike is a true hidden gem that’s off the beaten path near Bruchmühlbach-Miesau.

This is part 2 of our ongoing German Camino de Santiago Blog series, an exploration of outdoor culture and accessible Nature experiences empowered by the enchanting Camino de Santiago pilgrimage path that spans most of Europe.

If kid’s activities isn’t your jam, check out this Camino de Santiago blog post with one of the toughest hills in the entire region for some hard hiking.

Locals love visiting this hiking spot thanks to the interactive children’s activities, detailed history including Camino de Santiago and easy parking.

Käfer means “bug” or “beetle” in English and it provides a lot of fun for children to enjoy hiking with their families.

Sometimes it takes a little more than just the forest to excite every child and this hike may peak the hiking interest of your little ones!

The ever charming Fritz-Klaus Hütte is located at the trailhead with indoor and outdoor seating for delicious food and drinks.

The trails are easy and mostly flat and very accessible for almost any kind of stroller.

It’s a beautiful, shaded hike with soft paths to walk and relaxing for both kids and adults. You’ll likely experience the natural playgrounds, springs, and musical stations with only yourself or your family.

The park includes puzzles along the way and if your child answers all the questions they can earn a reward from the Fritz-Klaus Hütte.

If you are looking for a unique hike near the Kaiserslautern or Ramstein area, that has plenty of fun options for kids too, check out the Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau.

Getting to the Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau

Once in Bruchmülbach-Miesau you will go south on L466 towards Martinshöhe. You’ll be on a narrow winding road and see a green sign with hikers.

The next small road to the left is where you turn and you’ll go past the entrance to the Fritz-Klaus Hütte. Parking is free and about 100 meters off the road.

Continue straight and park on the left side of the road that is marked well with signs. https://goo.gl/maps/uVe2ztbtnWJvwzVWA

It’s a 17 min drive from Ramstein Air Base, 24 minutes from K-town and 35 minutes from Baumholder by car to this parking lot.

For train:

The closest station is Bruchmühlbach-Miesau and it’s a 44 minute walk from the station to the trailhead. A car is recommended but not necessary.

Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau Map and Trail Guide

Here is the Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau Map on the Camino de Santiago Map Route

Parking is the red mark.

Click here to download a printable PDF map of the hike

For People who Prefer google Maps.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1uKamrDn7kSQmISHWrrlenOO9L3-ooS-K&usp=sharing

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Bruchmülbach-Miesau Trail Hiking Guide

Location: Bruchmülbach-Miesau, Germany

Type of Hike: Loop

Distance: 3.6 miles

Elevation: 225 ft gain 175 down

Duration: Approx. 1.25 – 1.75 hours

Difficulty: Easy Hike, Flat

Start/end point: Parking lot https://goo.gl/maps/uVe2ztbtnWJvwzVWA

Kid-friendly: 0+

Stroller-friendly: Yes

Dog-friendly: Yes

Fees: none

Camino de Santiago: Yes, hops on and off.

Komoot App with GPS Tracking: Komoot allows one free region so you don’t have to subscribe to use this. It’s an easy to use app for hiking.

Use my “tour” that I personally created to have this particular hike on your phone. Even without a good mobile signal, you can use your phone’s GPS and follow the red dot.

Don’t get lost! Or maybe get lost a little 😉

https://www.komoot.com/tour/504583484?ref=wtd

Activities and Tips for Hiking the Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau on the Camino de Santiago

5 Fun Kids Activities on Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau

1. Natural Playground

Tranquility or what?!?

German playgrounds delight Nature lovers with their carefully selected eco materials and lack of fake colored and harsh metal. The various play equipment is designed to fit in and blend with nature. Many playgrounds in Germany include water tables, tunnels made of living things like willow trees and balance training with simple wooded logs.

Of interest are the incredible “twisty” wooden logs used in the contruction of many non-elite play areas. The type you’d normally only see in a resort or high end luxury area in the US is what is used in most modest villages in their abundant parks.

However, be aware that playgrounds are “at your own risk”. As an American mom expat in Germany, it was liberating but a little scary at first when exploring German playgrounds. It really reminds me of the 1980s: high slides, sand, dirt, fast merry go rounds. And kids interacting with each other, often unregulated by parents.

There’s a line of reason that children need to explore and make small mistakes on the playground in order to not make the bigger and more important mistakes later due to helicopter parenting.

Do not be surprised to see kids in 1st grade navigating towns, villages and playgrounds alone or with friends. It’s just a cultural difference and not bad parenting.This playground is too remote for solo kids however and you’ll likely see family groups here due to it’s location.

2. Wald Xylophone

A forest musical instrument for you or your kids to play. This installation is beautiful to look upon but also really fun to play as each log has a different tone. A dowel is chained to the installation so that you can always play.

3. Educational sports trail

What in the world is so exciting about an elliptical machine for kids? Seriously I’ve personally seen kids go bananas for elliptical machines, whether gym style or the outdoor park style in: Korea, Portugal, USA, Canada and Germany.

And there’s probably more places but due to my general distaste for anything where I’m moving my body but not actually going anywhere I try to block it out.

While this Nature park does not include actual elliptical machines (like many other parks in the region) it does have a Sportlehrpfad or education sports trail. It includes multiple “exercise” stations with some balance, speed, and agility courses your kids will love.

4. Family photo board

These seen so simple, but they are so much fun. My best liked photo this entire year on my personal facebook was of my husband as a mermaid. It never gets old apparently.

5. Interactive Puzzle

Pick up a paper flyer from the Fritz-Klaus Hütte and follow the prompts to hike for clues to the puzzle. Prizes are awarded to children who solve it when they turn it back into the hütte upon completion.

Great motivation for kids to go hiking and what a cool homeschool or family activity?

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Tips for hiking the Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau

Restrooms and picnic areas

Toliets are located within the Fritz-Klaus Hütte.

There are multiple picnic areas and year round lounger chairs along the trails. Our favorite one is near the Adelheller Camp hut. There is also a playground and a natural springs at this location.

Dogs and wildlife

Please always pick up after your pups and put on leash when others are nearby. On occasion a horse may wander on this trail. I unfortunately had to do a bit of yelling at my goldendoodle who was intrigued and took off after the horse.

Other hikers on the trail informed me that they have been hiking 2-3 days a week on nearby trails and this was the first day they had ever seen a horse.

Signs are placed during deer baby season asking for dogs to be leashed. Deer in Germany are quite small and far too abundant. There is a culture of humans hunting deer in the area but there are not many natural predators.

The deers live in the patches of forest between villages and the numbers can be quite high and somewhat of a nuisance for safe driving and for teasing active dogs.

This path is not near a hunting area, but if you are in another area with active hunting beware that off lead dogs may legally be shot by hunters. I’ve had nightmares about this situation.

The History of the Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau

The “Käfer Safari” nature trail is located in the community of Bruchmühlbach-Miesau and it was the first hiking trail in Rhineland-Palatinate to achieve an award from the German Hiking Association for “family fun”.

This family friendly hiking area was built in 2019 and includes 8 different stations to engage children with nature and fun and is stroller friendly also.

Naturerlebnisweg means nature trail or nature experience path and this hiking area delivers. Located a few kilometers from the closest villages and surrounded by trees, you’ll rarely hear any vehicle or plane noise making it quite pleasant.

The landscapes range from forest, to a high view over a farming village and right next to a farm field so the terrain is varied and interesting.

Luca is the mascot of the hiking area and he is a stag beetle. The park includes puzzles along the way marked by Luca. Some puzzles even require a magnifying glass which can be picked up at the Fritz-Klaus Hütte.

There are multiple marked trails and the elevation is 1000-1250 ft. Paths intended for strollers zigzag and loop around the entire area but the Camino de Santiago forms the spine. It’s possible to hop on and off the Camino de Santiago while exploring this engaging nature park with your kids or on your own.

It is open year round.

Exploring the Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau

Like so many of the sections of the Camino de Santiago you’ll get not only some exercise but some insights into the local life and culture.

And with such great proximity to Ramstein, Kaiserslautern and Landstuhl the Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau is the perfect day hike destination.

This is a hike we recommend you add to your bucket list, especially if you have kids and want them to enjoy Nature like you do. It’s accessible and child and dog friendly.

You may even run into a group of German families on a wine hike! Don’t be surprised if they have wine glasses on a necklace walking with kids and grandparents.

Have you visited the Käfer Safari Hike in Bruchmülbach-Miesau or other sections of the Camino de Santiago? We would love to hear about your experiences.

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More Fun Stories and Europe Walking Tours for People that Love Equal Parts Adventure and Culture

• Watch: Cornhole invades France — 10 sec highlights from the city of Cluny, France.
• Explore: Want to hike Bavarian Alps? Learn how to plan a 3 day trip with your dog in the Bavarian mountains.
• Connect to Your Way: Listen to this podcast on creating a lifestyle you love while living as an expat in Europe.

I hope you enjoyed this Camino de Santiago Blogs entry #2 and you make plans to enjoy some of the best day hikes in Europe with your friends, family or solo!

Until next time,

Adventures Await!

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Author profile: Morgan Fielder is a family adventurer, physical therapist and travel writer living near Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. She is actively involved in the community and advocating for connection and sustainability with her community projects at Cornhole Europa and Sustainable Investors Group.

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