Rodenbach Sculpture Path hike to Gilbert’s Waldgastätte

Celtic burial grounds, stone scultptures and a seriously cozy hutte make this easy hike worth your time when visiting the Kaiserslautern area.

What a great family hike right on the ROB fence line in Rodenbach. It’s also pretty close to a zoo so it’s great for a kids’ day out. We hiked it in early March and the mud was not bad at all.

Author’s tl;dr: The hike is a fairly flat lollipop loop with fun stone sculptures along the path and a very cozy and fun hütte in the forest. With a tiny panoramaweg, there’s some (limited) nice village views.

Dog friendly, sport stroller friendly, kid-friendly all ages.

5.54 miles and mainly leaf carpeted soft trails. You can shorten it if needed.

❌ Do not do this hike if you hate dogs, this is a local’s favorite place to walk.

Located about 10 min from Kaiserslautern, Germany this Pfalzerwald forest hike offers an easier elevation gain than the nearby Adlerbogen hike or Gelterswoog hike.

Family Hiker Tip

If I were going with kids – I’d pre stage an extra car at the zoo and walk one-way from the Celtic burial grounds and finish at the Kaiserslautern zoo.

• What I really loved was the friendly locals vibe at the hutte.
• What I thought was rough was that the burial ground was closed when we went.

Related: If you love dramatic red rocks on your hikes check out my Drachenfels hiking guide, the Altschlosspfad hike or the Kirkel Tafeltour. These are two of the best hikes near Kaiserslautern with super cool red sandstone rock formations.

Rodenbach 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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You can also save the map for your own use by clicking the next to the map name. This will save the map to your Google Maps, where you can make a copy and use it for your own trip planning.

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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Hike – My Experience

Bonus: It’s on a section of the Camino de Santiago

My friend and I hiked it on a cloudy day in March and we were surprised how many dog owners were chill with us petting their dogs.

This was one of my favorite huts, it feels a little like German Cheers.

You will also like my related hiking guide: If you want more expansive views, the Kalmit or Kurpfalz hikes located on the eastern side of the Pfalz forest may be for you.

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Parking Lot – Celtic Burial Grounds – Panoramaweg – Gilberts (1:00)

Okay this hike starts off with a bang right at two cone Celtic burial mounds. There’s a sign on the door that it will open later in March.

The trail is soft and flat for most of this part. We followed what seemed like a orange rectangle sign for quite a bit, then followed along the military base fence.

We walked up a smaller hill and then eventually onto the Panoramaweg with some views over Rodenbach.

At the “turnaround” point we accidentally ran into Gilberts Rodenbach restaurant and dog training park. This place is awesome, def stop in and grab a drink or food.

If you wanted to continue straight the Kaiserslautern zoo in not far.

Gilberts – Sculpture Path – Celtic Burial Grounds – Parking (1:20)

The rest of the loop is just along the valley. You’ll pass by multiple carved stone statues. These are interesting carvings in the middle of the forest.

The trail rejoins where you came out returning to the Celtic burial ground and parking area.

How to get there

By Car

Driving is the easiest way to get to this hike.

Reaching the parking lot by car is a straightforward journey, with the park conveniently situated next to the beginning of the trail.

By Bus

If you want to take the bus, you’ll need to get to Kaiserslautern. There is a bus that runs here and the stop is Rodenbach Schwimmbad.

Food and Hutten on the Rodenbach Hike

You’ve got one choice on this trail for huts.

Gilberts Rodenbach

This place is right at the turnaround of this hike and in the middle of the forest. The dog park is extensive and the service was warm and friendly.

Hours of Operation

Day	Hours
Monday	CLOSED
Tuesday	3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday	3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Thursday	CLOSED
Friday	3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Saturday	2:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Sunday	10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Check Facebook for details

More Images of this hike

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Craving Mountain Adventure?

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy rambling around the Rhineland Palatinate forest 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 Rodenbach Sculpture Hike has given you some helpful information to plan your next adventure.