Start: From Moselkern to Eltz Castle and Back Circular route 2 hrs 40 min 9.1 km

From Moselkern to Eltz Castle and Back

The hike begins at the parking lot by the small café in Moselkern. The trail leads along a section that is paved at first, always following the Elz stream to the Ringelsteiner Mill. There, you hike deeper into the forest and follow the Elz stream steadily uphill until Eltz Castle towers directly in front of you. A flight of stairs leads to the bridge right in front of the castle’s main gate.

Highlights:

Romantic Elz Valley
Ringelstein Mill
Eltz Castle

The trail follows the same route back to Moselkern. Alternatively, the return trip can be made easier by using public transportation.

Brief description

Starting in Moselkern, the hiking trail leads through the forest, always following the Elzbach stream, to Eltz Castle and then back along the same route.

Approach

Take the B 416 along the Moselle to Moselkern

56254 Moselkern; Moselstraße 29 (parking lot next to the small café)

Public transport

Destination: Moselkern, Train Station

RB 81 “Moseltal-Bahn” between Koblenz and Trier

https://www.bahn.de/

If you’d like to shorten the route, you can take a bus from the Burg Eltz parking lot to Hatzenport and from there take the Moseltal-Bahn to the starting point in Moselkern.

Line 365 RegioBus: (Eltz Castle -) Münstermaifeld-Hatzenport (April 1 through November 1)

https://www.vrminfo.de/

Parking

Parking lot at the "Kleines Caféhaus"
Moselstraße 29
56254 Moselkern

Directions

The hike begins at the large parking lot by the Kleines Caféhaus in Moselkern. From there, the trail follows the paved road into the Elz Valley. After a short walk, you’ll reach the Ringelsteiner Mill. From here, the trail winds gently uphill along shaded forest paths, always following the course of the Elzbach stream. After about five kilometers, the forest opens up, offering the first view of the impressive Eltz Castle. After a possible tour of the castle, the return trip follows the exact same route along the stream back to the starting point in Moselkern.

If the return trip on foot becomes too strenuous or you’re running low on energy, there’s an alternative using public transportation: At the parking lot above the castle (accessible on foot or by shuttle bus), you can board bus line 365, which goes to the train station in Hatzenport. From Hatzenport, the regional train runs, taking hikers back to the starting point in Moselkern in just a few minutes.

Safety instructions

Adjust the hike to suit your fitness level and experience
Check the weather forecast. If there’s a risk of thunderstorms, heavy fog, or strong winds, don’t set out on a hike through forests or open terrain.
Stay on the marked hiking trails. This helps protect wildlife and plants and keeps you safe from falls and getting lost.
Watch out for slippery surfaces, especially during or after rain
Know the emergency number: 112