The Volcano Cycle Path
Relaxed cycling on a former railway line
The Volcano Cycle Path largely follows the route of the former Oberwaldbahn. This former railway line once led from Lauterbach over the Vogelsberg mountain range and through the Wetterau region to Frankfurt. After the railway line to Glauburg-Stockheim was decommissioned, the Volcano Cycle Path was created. Paved with fine asphalt and completely free of car traffic, the tour leads through an open forest and meadow landscape with a barely noticeable incline from Altenstadt-Höchst in the south to Schlitz in the north of the Vogelsberg Volcanic Region.
Views of Central Europe’s largest volcanic massif
Across the plateaus of the Hoher Vogelsberg Nature Park, Central Europe’s largest volcanic massif, this cycle tour offers magnificent views of fields, forests, and meadows, as well as insights into idyllic villages and rural cultural heritage.
ROUTE:
Bad Vilbel – Schlitz Castle Town (end of Volcano Cycle Path) 118 km
Bad Vilbel – Lauterbach (train connection) 99 km
ELEVATION DIFFERENCE: approx. 400 meters, maximum incline 3%
CATEGORY: Difficult. Continuously well-paved paths
Access is possible anywhere in the city area along the Nidda.
Train connection for outward or return journey to the starting or ending point Lauterbach with the regional train from Lauterbach Nord via Frankfurt Central Station.
Alternatively, “The Best of Volcano Cycle Path” as a moderately difficult tour: Take the regional train from Bad Vilbel to Glauburg-Stockheim. Cycle 66 km to Lauterbach, always on the former railway line, and from Lauterbach, take the regional train via Frankfurt Central Station back to Bad Vilbel.
The Tour in Detail
The Volcano Cycle Path largely follows the route of the former Oberwaldbahn, an old railway line that led from Lauterbach over the Vogelsberg mountain range and through the Wetterau region to Frankfurt.
The Regionalpark Route is a unique river experience full of contrasts. It leads through the fields of the Wetterau, one of Germany’s oldest cultural landscapes, to the source in the idyllic Vulkanland Hoher Vogelsberg Nature Park.
The Hohe Straße Regional Park Route follows the historical course of an old trade route and leads through vast landscapes as a ridge-top trail. You quickly feel “far away” and closer to the sky. Spectacular panoramic views open up in all directions, from the settlements in the valley to the Frankfurt skyline and the Ronneburg hills.
The cycling route “Around Bad Vilbel” is a 23-kilometer, easy-to-ride, highly varied circular cycling route with gentle inclines. It touches not only the core city of Bad Vilbel but also all its districts: Dortelweil, Gronau, Heilsberg, and Massenheim. Everywhere there are special features to discover, including nature, water, art, culture, and regional cuisine.
Marked throughout with the green “R4” sign, most of the route runs along low-traffic, quiet, and secluded paved cycle paths and farm tracks.
Marked throughout with the green “R4” sign, most of the route runs along low-traffic, quiet, and secluded paved cycle paths and farm tracks.
Marked throughout with the green “R4” sign, most of the route runs along low-traffic, quiet, and secluded paved cycle paths and farm tracks.
Marked throughout with the green “R4” sign, most of the route runs along low-traffic, quiet, and secluded paved cycle paths and farm tracks.
Welcome to Bad Vilbel, the City of Springs and Festivals – and the perfect starting point for all cycling enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking for a sporty challenge, prefer a leisurely ride along the Nidda, or fancy a longer bike tour into nature: diverse cycling routes, services, and delightful moments await you here.
