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The 410-kilometer Saar-Hunsrück Climb is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Germany. Great views, rocky paths and ancient Celtic fortifications await you along the way. In addition, you have 111 opportunities to extend it.

Through the treetops moss-covered beech, oak and Douglas fir trees, the path leads along idyllic grassy paths and narrow forest trails, and the blue-green signposts installed every few hundred meters make it almost impossible to get lost - welcome to the Saar-Hunsrück Climb long-distance hiking trail. It's not for nothing that this premium hiking trail has already been named "Germany's most beautiful long-distance hiking trail" twice. It is especially beautiful here in autumn, when the leaves of the trees turn yellow and orange.

The way leads on the one hand over the heights of the Hunsrück, on the other hand not only, as the name suggests, along the Saar, but on its 27 stages along numerous rivers of the Saarland. It begins in Perl on the Moselle, crosses the Saar twice, meets the Prims at Nonnweiler, comes very close to the Nahe at Idar-Oberstein, beckons the Simmerbach from afar, runs once across the Hunsrück toward the Moselle, makes another detour to the Simmerbach, and then lurches in wild curves to the finish in Boppard on the Rhine. One of the highlights of the trail is the "Cloef" lookout point, 180 meters above the Saar. The view of the river, which loops around forested ridges deep down in the valley, is one of the most popular sights in Saarland.

By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Perl: Plan arrival.

Dream loops - worthwhile side trips on the Saar-Hunsrück Climb

A total of 111 dream loops are located around the Saar-Hunsrück Climb, 45 of them in Saarland. The circular trails, all of which have been designated as premium hiking trails, are between 5 and 20 kilometers long. One of the most beautiful is the Felsenweg, a large part of which runs along the Saar-Hunsrück Climb.

Start is near of sheaths. Already on the first few meters, walls of young deciduous and coniferous trees line the soft forest path. After a short climb, the forest thins out to reveal the Lannenbach, which meanders between the trees here. Small wooden bridges lead over the slowly flowing water. As the tour progresses, it becomes clear where the trail got its name: An impressive light gray rock lies in the middle of the forest, the Bärenfels. The hiking trail leads up this rock over mossy, natural steps. It is one of three mighty rocks that have to be overcome on the rock path.

By train and bus comfortably to Scheiden: Plan arrival.

Spend the night with the Celts

A very special place to stay is what you'll find on the Dollberg in the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park. The higher you climb up the steep forest path, the more stones you will find along the way. At first small like bricks, soon bigger than a human being. At first they only decorate the edge of the path, then they lie in the middle of it, as helpful steps - the spurs of a Celtic ring wall. Here once stood the mightiest Celtic fortress walls in Europe. Today, however, only the remains of the walls are left of the Hun Wall, as it is popularly called. But they are worth seeing: The mighty scree mountain cuts a two-and-a-half-kilometer-long swath through the forested mountain ridge.

Here you can also find the trekking camp Celtic Camp. The campsite, built on a slope, is located on a large wooden platform. Two tents have space here. The trekking camp Keltenlager is by far not the only trekking site along the Saar-Hunsrück Climb. The camps are located in the middle of the forest, quite hidden, and are the ideal places to stay for hikers who want to experience even more wild nature. They can be booked online for ten euros per night. The GPS data and a map of the "last mile" will be sent with the booking confirmation, which will guide you to the campgrounds.

Cover photo: Dreamlike view over the Saarschleife on the Saar-Hunsrück Climb © Gregor Lengler

In collaboration with Saarland Tourist Board

A third of our smallest federal state is covered in fragrant forests, so it's clear that hikers and other nature lovers rejoice here. Certainly also at the sight of the Saar Loop, with which the river makes an elegant U-turn at Mettlach and is a bestseller on Instagram. The fact that savoir vivre plays a leading role alongside lots of sun and culture has also been noticed by Michelin testers - their starry skies sparkle over seven restaurants here. Our tips for your Vacation in Saarland.

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