FrankenwaldSteigla Dörnach-Steig

Breathe in the vastness - Deep forests, bright clearings, plateaus with surprising views: Hiking in the Franconian Forest opens up unexpected horizons for the eyes and soul! In front of the grandeur of nature, our everyday fears and worries become small and insignificant. We breathe in the vastness and find ourselves.

Follow our "Dörnach-Steig" trail through forests and meadows on natural paths up to the "Hergottswinkel" hiking hut. Enjoy the wonderful views of the surrounding mountains on the ridges. From here, you can look down into the western valley of the Wild Rodach and across into the Leutnitz Valley. On these heights, you can enjoy the unspoiled nature and let your thoughts run free in peace.

The valley of the Wild Rodach also opens up to your gaze in the tranquil district of Dörnach. Enjoy the view across to the Thuringian Forest during a leisurely break. Perhaps you will think of the old raftsmen who earned their living by traveling far and wide. Through their profession, the raftsmen got to know the big wide world, but were always happy to return to the Franconian Forest. Deeply rooted in their faith, the families at home prayed for those who had left, that they would return home safe and sound. The raftsmen did the same on their journey, as they longed for their loved ones back home.

Trail description

Our starting point is the Leutnitztal hiking parking lot at the western entrance to Wallenfels. After crossing the access road to Wallenfels, we come to a path that leads to the district of Hammer. Here we come across the historic Hammerschneidmühle mill, which was first mentioned in a document in 1605.

The hike now leads slightly uphill on a road to the small hamlet of Forstloh. The origins of this hamlet can be traced back to the mining history of the Franconian Forest in the 15th century. The trail winds its way along meadows and woodland meadows towards Dörnach. Along the way, there are wonderful views of the Silberberg (508 m above sea level) and the long Leutnitz valley. The now predominantly agricultural section of the trail changes its character with new colors every season. Once in Dörnach, the tranquil village green with its village chapel is well worth a visit. With a bit of luck, we can also watch fresh farmhouse bread being baked in the wood-fired oven in the center of the village.

A well-maintained forest path leads from here in an easterly direction to the Allerswald forest area, but before that offers enjoyable views over the mountain ranges of the Franconian Forest. We have reached the highest point of the hike at just under 550 meters. The forest area, mostly dominated by spruce trees, provides shade for hikers and leads them along forest paths to the Herrgottswinkel hikers' hut. Its location on a foothill of the Allersberg (417 m above sea level) offers views of the Wild Rodach valley. Children will enjoy the playground at the hut. Through the Hammergrund, the trail leads leisurely past a pond back to Hammer and thus towards the starting point.

The idyllic grounds of NaturErlebnis Leutnitztal invite you to take a final rest here. A short detour to the nearby rock trail along the cycle path provides interesting insights into the geology of the Franconian Forest.

A typical low mountain range hike with unique views of the heights of the northern Franconian Forest. There is also an access route from the center of Wallenfels (follow the signs to "Herrgottswinkel", approx. 1 km).