Germany is a very bike-friendly country and the KMC shares the passion for two-wheeled, human-powered vehicles. Asphalt pathways, bike lanes and trails offer a unique way to see local nature as well as a great way to commute.
O' Bike Paths, where art thou?
“Trails and paths galore be here for the ridin’!” said a famous explorer once. The KMC is chalk full of them, some official some not, some paved, some not; but all awesome.
We have compiled a short list of rides to get you started exploring the KMC (and beyond) via velo.
Lautertal Bike Path
This well-developed bike path is 34 km long and runs between Kaiserslautern and Lauterecken along the Lauter River (it’s more like a creek) and offers paved parts that are separated from the roadway, parts that are compacted gravel/dirt and all you have to do is follow the signs.
If you’re a hard-core biker with a computer like a Wahoo Elemnt (which is what we use), you can go to the website below and download the GPX file and upload it to your nav device.
Use your mouse or finger to manipulate the map above.
Here there be bunkers!
Did you know that Kaiserslautern has interesting historical artifacts hidden all around it? If one is up for an adventure of discovery, check out the Cold War relic we found in the woods east of town. The Hochspeyer Munitions Depot operated from the 1950s until it’s closure in 2007 when the 435th MUNS consolidated it’s geographically separated facilities. We can only imagine how many things that went “boom” were stored here. See the Komoot map below if you want to see it for yourself.
The Deutsche Weinstrasse
If you take the A-6 Autobahn east towards Mannheim, you will drive through this wonderful area. If you have been to Bad Dürkheim, you have been to the northern end of it. This region offers more than just great wine, stunning views and tons of fun, it also has scenic bike paths that will leave you breathless (and not just from going up hills either!).
Despite the overwhelming amount of paths one could take, we recommend starting in Bad Dürkheim and heading south for as far as you can stomach it. The big parking lot in Bad D is perfect for unloading your two-wheelers (or you can take the train) and heading into the great wide-open Tom Petty style.
If you chose to head west into the hills, be sure you ride a bike that can take the steep inclines and rough pathways, some of which can be pretty narrow. You may even encounter fallen trees for which you may have to get creative to get through (see below).
As awesome as e-bikes are, they are not easily maneuvered around obstacles due to their weight. We made it work though.
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Bingen am Rhein to St. Goar
This ride is not in the KMC, but it’s a doozy! Just an hour north from Kaiserslautern, this journey is one for the books. Pristine asphalt along the river’s edge, separated from the road, is a pathway that meanders through the Rhein River Gorge which is not only stunningly beautiful, but a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well. There are tons of places to stop and gaze at the wonderous beauty of this place, and to take some memorable selfies as well!
TIP: Park your car in the big parking lot in Bingen am Rhein, just follow the signs to the ferry boat crossing and keep going west. The bike route starts right there at the Nahe river which empties into the Rhein. There is so much to do in this area like take the ferry across the river to Rüdesheim or even book a river cruise on one of the many boats that dock right there by the parking lot.
The drive is a little far, but it is well worth it!
We hope this short list will help you get started pedaling your way to adventure!
With love and affection, KMCx.
Resources
This free website shows you all the official and established trails in Europe and beyond. It will even show you the trail symbol that you will find painted on trees and fence posts and it is the only online resource that does that. Sadly, there is no companion app or offline capability. You can download GPX and KML files to upload to your bike computer or phone.
This website and companion app is great for finding routes and sharing them with friends. They have extensive collections of routes in Germany with the ability to plan and share your journeys. The free version is somewhat limited but a subscription will unlock a lot of features.
The official website for European bike routes has everything you need to know if you want to go hard-to-the-core. It’s in English and includes a trip planning feature. Did we mention that it’s free?
Eine Antwort
Thanks for this! We’ve been wanting to hit the road with our bikes but had no idea where to start. Now we do!