Discover Gehlert

Gehlert combines hiking with a focus on water: the water adventure trail runs mainly through the village and explores drinking water, historic wells, and nature around the springs. Three registered circular hiking trails and connections to other trails add to the local options. There is also the long-standing connection between a spring in the Gehlert area and the brewing water used by Hachenburger Brewery.

Water and trails in Gehlert

The water adventure trail, around 12 kilometres long, runs mainly through Gehlert. It explores the extraction and storage of drinking water, historic wells, and former agricultural irrigation. Flora and fauna around the springs are also among its topics. Along the trail, traces of water use meet features of the natural environment.

Gehlert also has three registered circular hiking trails and further connections to other hiking routes; hikes can also start in the village. This means you can choose between a themed hike of approximately 12 kilometres on the water adventure trail and the additional local option of the circular trails. Trail conditions and signage may change, so check the local signs before setting out.

A spring and the brewery’s water supply

A spring in the Gehlert area has long supplied Hachenburger Brewery with brewing water, which contributes to the brewery’s beer. This connection also links the local water theme to beer production. In the Westerwald, the Hachenburg Erlebnis-Brauerei in Hachenburg offers beer experience tours and brewing courses; individual appointments can be arranged by phone. Check the current schedule directly with the brewery.

When researching accommodation, your trip’s focus can help guide your search: would you mainly like to explore Gehlert’s water and hiking trails, or also include other cultural and natural attractions in the Westerwald? Search for a location that suits the places you plan to visit.

In the Westerwald: long-distance trails, nature, and culture

The Westerwald offers long-distance hiking routes in different formats. The WesterwaldSteig runs for 235 kilometres through the Westerwald and is divided into 16 stages. The Druidensteig covers 94 kilometres over seven day stages through seven river valleys, with more than 30 geo-information points along the route. Their lengths, number of stages, and themes offer different starting points for planning your hikes. Check the WesterwaldSteig route details in the current route planner before planning; route information may change.

The landscape features also vary considerably. At 657 metres, Fuchskaute is the highest elevation in the Westerwald. The Holzbach Gorge is a breakthrough valley around one kilometre long, with basalt walls up to 30 metres high, while the Westerwald Lake District is a natural area comprising seven ponds. The Weltende Nature Trail in the Kroppacher Schweiz follows narrow paths, sections secured with wire ropes, and natural trails; along the way, there are views over the Nister Valley. Access and trail conditions may vary by season.

In the Westerwald, the Stöffel Park covers around 140 hectares on the site of a former basalt quarry and brings together industrial heritage, geological history, and nature. The TERTIÄRUM at Stöffel Park displays fossils, including the famous Stöffel mouse, documenting around 25 million years of Earth’s history. The historic centre of Hachenburg is another cultural attraction: restored half-timbered houses shape the area around the Alter Markt, whose historic ambience includes the Löwenbrunnen fountain.

The Westerwald Ceramic Museum presents the history of working with clay. For most of the objects on display, the story begins in a Westerwald clay pit. Visitors can get creative themselves in the well-equipped museum workshop under expert guidance; check workshop dates and booking information in advance. So alongside hiking trails, the Westerwald offers geological history, historic townscapes, and crafts to explore.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Meudt, Stahlhofen Am Wiesensee, Seck, Neuhochstein, Hellenhahn-Schellenberg, Rehe, Lautzenbrücken, Bad Marienberg.

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