Hi All,
Has anyone done the hike from the Moselkern train station to the Burg Eltz Castle? Rick Steves suggests to allow 1.5 hours but admits that it can be done at a steady clip in 75 minutes. I tried to measure the route on Google earth and estimated that it is a 3 mile hike with only a 175 foot elevation gain (that is an averge grade of <2%). Further, 75 minutes would equate to only 2.6 mph average. I'm not a 'marathon man' but, given my estimates, 75 minutes seems to be a high estimate for even a modest walker. Has anyone had personal experience? Thanks for your help. Tom
Posted by
Minneapolis
1261 posts
Hi Tom. the first mile or two is along a flat road to the trail head (we drove that part). I think the trail itself took us maybe 30-45 minutes at a relaxed pace. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Nederland, CO
1530 posts
Tom, we walked the whole way (from the train station at Moselkern) at a leisurely pace with an 11 y/o. I think it took us right around 1 1/2 hours. It was a really enjoyable walk. The only advice I have is when we did it we were plagued with some kind of biting flies. The whole time I was wishing I had brought insect repellent. This was in early June.
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
It's about an hour, maybe a little more or less. I really didn't time it so exactly. Bavaria Ben describes the walk: http://www.bensbauernhof.com/burgeltzfrommoselkern.html
Posted by
OP
Southwest, Florida
325 posts
Thanks for the feedback. Russ, thanks for the neat website.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
It didn't seem like more than a half hour from the trail head to the climb to the castle. It was easy and enjoyable walking; except for the last little climb to the entrance, it was nearly flat. From the train station to the trailhead was the most confusing part, you're walking through a neighborhood. I asked some local kids who showed me where it was. Finding the train station on the way back wasn't a problem.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
1525 posts
We did it with children (youngest was 7 at the time) and it was easy, but we drove the first part to the hotel at the edge of town - not from the train station. I don't recall exactly how long that took - maybe 30-40 minutes - but it was an easy and very enjoyable walk. We were there in late June and no bugs that I remember. The best part of the walk, though is approaching the castle from the woods. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing it appear in much the same fashion that a knight on a horse might have seen it appear several hundred years ago. It's definitely worth it - don't sweat the details.