Hiking the Rhine Castle Trail

Here is one thread that discusses it a bit. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/germany/rhine-castle-trail-by-land

When I was there a couple of years ago, I stayed in Boppard, which was ideal as a base. It sits right on the Rhine and is big enough to have a decent amount of accommodations and restaurants. I recommend the Bellevue Rheinhotel, which was very conveniently located and very nice. You walked outside the lovely hotel and there sits the Rhine. The area between Boppard and Bingen is where you will find the most castle ruins along the river. It's really beautiful.

I would also recommend visiting Burg Eltz, which is a beautiful very old castle still owned by the same family, and that sits up in the mountains with gorgeous views. https://burg-eltz.de/en/homepage

Marksburg Castle is another must-see with beautiful views as well. https://www.marksburg.de/en/

You can visit Burg Eltz by taking bus up and hiking back down through the forest.

I have not attempted the entire "Rheinburgenweg" trail, only a segment near Bingen and another from St Goar to Oberwesel. Both were nice, this latter one wonderful. (The Rheinsteig trail on the opposite side of the river is also very popular.)

Segment 4 between St Goar and Oberwesel

It is possible to use just one town on the "Left-side", as Germans refer to it ("Linke Rheinseite") as a base and to use the train to shuttle yourselves from there to your starting point for the day (and/or from the town at the end of your hike back to your base.) Boppard indeed is a solid town for a multi-day stay.

Places to visit on the "Left" side of the river: Bacharach and Oberwesel are standouts for old-world vibe. St Goar's Rheinfels castle is worth visiting. The chairlift ride in Boppard is great fun. A northbound hike on the Rheinburgenweg steers you right into the town of Boppard, where you can board the lift at the "Talstation" (lower station) and take a break from your hike while the lift does all the work needed to get you to the "Bergstation" (upper station.) Rejoin the Rheinburgenweg by following the signage near the terrace-restaurant at Gedeonseck... or have some refreshments there before moving on. Wonderful views up there.

On the Rhine's right side, Marksburg Castle in Braubach is tops. Be sure to walk through the old sector of Braubach as well!

https://www.marksburg.de/en/circuit/#/
https://fotos.schloemp.eu/wp-content/gallery/braubach/002Braubach-Bauernschaenke-Eck-Fritz.JPG

Touristy Rüdesheim makes for a fun town to visit on the right side too.

A nice stop for overnight is the Youth Hostel in Bacharach
Its in Burg Stahleck Castle above the town and the river

Just in case you want to stay a night in a castle at a reasonable price

Good info about the trail at outdooractive website

Look at stage 7 to 13 Koblenz to Bingen

Btw Burg Eltz Castle is not on the RheinBurgen Weg/Rhine Castle Trail but on the Mosel River

Super helpful feedback! As I refine our journey and try to reduce travel time I am thinking of the following:

Day one: Arrive in Frankfurt early morning and travel to Cochem (2.5 hours)
--Stay the night in Cochem
Day Two:
--Day trip to Trier
--End of the day take train/bus to Boppard
--Stay the night in Boppard
Day three: Start hiking the Rhine Castle Trail...we will be on it hiking for multiple days after that and will probably stay in a couple towns along the way that will allow us to walk or bus to trailheads.

I thought visiting Cochem/Trier prior to the start of our hike would reduce train travel. I would appreciate any advice! Thank you!

Perhaps an "assisted" trip would interest you: https://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/routes/castles-of-the-rhine/

Disclaimer: I haven't used them myself - yet

"...visiting Cochem/Trier prior to the start of our hike would reduce train travel. I would appreciate any advice!"

Your new proposal (1 night Cochem, 1 night Trier) should work, but it will not reduce train travel overall. The two itineraries use the same exact train route and cover the same distance:

• Day 1) FRA > Boppard + Day 2) Boppard > Trier > Boppard (or other Rhine town)

• Day 1) FRA > Cochem + Day 2) Cochem > Trier > Boppard (or other Rhine town)

Either way, Trier is a long way off.

Staying in Cochem means a longer ride right after a long overnight flight (very possibly longer than expected as flights can often be delayed and getting through security as well is unpredictable.) Plus, going to Cochem first would mean a change of train with luggage. It would be my choice to keep it short and simple... travel only as far as Boppard that day, a trip of just 80 minutes for which DIRECT trains are available at certain ltimes of the day. Then if your room is ready, you can get freshened up and settled in ASAP. If not, drop off your bags, see the town, get some food. And of course, staying the 2 nights in Boppard means your bags don't travel with you the next day. The Cochem stay would require that on Day 2 you pack up, port your bags with you to Trier, and store them in a locker there... and then port them back onto the train when you head back downstream along the Mosel to Cochem for night #2.

2 nights in Boppard will make Day 2's train ride longer, but the Rhine and Mosel railways are commonly thought of as Germany's most scenic train trips. And in summer, the days are long.

An additional advantage for Boppard is that ALL guests in Boppard receive a free train/bus pass for travel in the VRM zone which covers every day of your visit for as long as you choose to stay there:

https://www.vrminfo.de/en/tickets/tickets/leisure-tickets/vrm-guest-ticket/

Super helpful! Now time to educate myself on the train schedules and dig in on this and see what is realistic. You have talked me into staying in one town rather than tackling it like El Camino. We actually will be traveling from Dublin, so we won't wiped out by an international flight on arrival.

I'm surprised I didn't confuse you. I re-read this thread and noticed that I got confused myself when describing that theoretical and confusing bag-lugging routine. So I've corrected that now. Sorry for any confusion...

Cead Mile Failte

Include Burg Stahlberg - a rarely visited ruin above the Bacharach suburb of Steeg.

These recommendations are great! Thank you!