Needle Gin Path

Today we went to Oppenau for the inaugural hike of the Needle Gin Trail. Everything was superbly organized, and the food was absolutely fantastic! There were a few road trips, but with three refreshment stations along the way, it was simply fantastic! I could definitely do it again, and getting there by public transport was also easy, well done 👍🏻 There's also a free parking lot at the trailhead, including electric charging stations. Once again, my full praise goes to the organizing team!

The Needle Gin Trail starts at Oppenau train station. The Gin Trail initially leads along the Renchtalsteig to the Hugenhöfe farms. The tour now continues steadily uphill, following the Renchtalsteig signs to the Vorderbühlhof farm and its farm shop. After a few meters, the trail reaches Bühlmatt, where it continues uphill to the right, following the yellow diamond sign. After about one kilometer, the Needle Gin Trail passes the Unterm Bühl site and returns to the Oppenauer farm sign. At the Hölle (Hell), it follows the yellow diamond sign over the Höllwegle to the Holiswald forest. There, you'll enjoy a wonderful view of Oppenau and the Renchtal valley. A beautiful trail leads over the Kranzbühl to the Kalikutt. Here, you can visit the St. Josef Chapel and stop for a bite to eat at the Kalikutt mountain hotel and restaurant. From there, you also have a fantastic view of the Hornisgrinde. The Renchtalsteig leads to the Börsgritt. From there, follow the yellow diamond to Treyers Needle Gin Point. A beautiful path leads to the Holiswald forest and game reserve. Over the Hugeneck, the trail passes the Black Forest Association's rest area at Guckinsdorf. The Needle Gin Trail then passes the Hugenhöfe farms again and returns to the starting point. Parking is available at the train station. Since the starting point is also located at the train station, public transport is also possible. The trail is not suitable for strollers. https://www.renchtal-tourismus.de/en/discover/events/event/9707-eroeffnung-needle-gin-pfad-in-oppenau/ https://bimmerle.de/marken/needlegin/

A very beautiful and varied circular hike with fantastic views, natural paths through moss-covered forest, and lovingly designed rest areas. We skipped the short detour to the Kalikutt Inn today due to the large number of visitors.

I had hoped for a bit more from this tour. There's a bit of writing here and there about the production of gin, but you can only try it at the Kalikutt Mountain Hotel (they also serve delicious cakes and a tasty sausage salad 😂). This hike doesn't really score highly for its great trails either. There's a short stretch of trail, but that's it. For a gourmet trail that only opened in July 2025, a new hut with a drinks fridge is simply not enough. 👎🏻

enchanted paths, many single trails, beautiful views and over a brook sometimes 50m off-road. With a great stop in the Kalikutt