Hoxel: Idar Forest, long-distance trail and cross-country ski trails

Hoxel lies on the edge of the Idar Forest. The village combines a woodland setting with a premium long-distance hiking trail, two cross-country ski trails and clearly identified cultural landmarks. This gives you several ways to plan your trip: you can choose based on your preferred activity, cultural interests or type of accommodation. If you would like to combine nature and culture, it helps to distinguish between places in the village and those nearby.

Hiking and cross-country skiing around Hoxel

The Saar-Hunsrück-Steig is a premium long-distance hiking trail that passes directly by Hoxel. It provides a long-distance hiking route through the area and is a specific point of reference if you are considering longer hikes when choosing where to stay. The Idar Forest is considered an ideal setting for extended hikes and cross-country skiing. Hoxel can therefore be viewed from two perspectives: the trail identifies a specific route, while the Idar Forest provides the broader landscape context.

There are two circular cross-country ski trails: the Kahleid Trail is 9 kilometres long and the Schinderhannes Trail is 13 kilometres long. Both start just above Hoxel. The Schinderhannes Trail is therefore four kilometres longer than the Kahleid Trail, so you can compare the two routes by their stated lengths. This makes it easy to compare options within the same activity: you choose between two trail lengths, not between different sports. While the Steig is a long-distance hiking route, the Kahleid and Schinderhannes trails are circular routes, so their route formats are clearly distinct. Since routes and distances can change, check the details before setting out.

Chapel and railway history

In the village itself is a Catholic chapel of ease dedicated to Saint Walburga and belonging to the parish of Vierzehnheilige Morbach. The dedication identifies its religious connection, while its parish affiliation describes its place within the church. A different historical landmark is nearby: the Hoxeler Viaduct is in the Morscheid-Riedenburg area, not within Hoxel. The historic railway bridge is associated with the former Hunsrückquerbahn and is 42 metres high. The chapel and the viaduct offer different points of interest: the former reflects the church’s organisational structure, while the latter recalls the history of the former railway line. At 42 metres high, the bridge also gives you a tangible sense of scale.

Accommodation and village profile

Local accommodation options include a leisure and camping complex covering about 9 hectares, with around 170 camping and holiday home units. There is also an area for motorhomes, which, as of August 2026, had space for 9 motorhomes. This means camping, holiday homes and the motorhome area are all options to consider when planning where to stay. When researching accommodation, you can first decide which of these options suits your trip, then weigh up the trail connections. Details about the complex may change, so check the latest information before making specific plans.

Discover more destinations: Gonzerath, Wederath and Hinzerath.

Go to the main travel overview: Morbach.