Nature Reserve Guide
Elzwiesen is a nature reserve spanning 410 hectares along the Elz River, situated between Rust, Rheinhausen, and Herbolzheim. This area is characterized by its expansive moist meadows, which provide a vital habitat for diverse wildlife and are set against the backdrop of the Black Forest. The reserve's unique landscape and ecological significance make it suitable for several sports like touring cycling, hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, and more. Designated a nature reserve since 1990, Elzwiesen also preserves 19th-century irrigation systems,…
157
Routes
4.5
(626)
Average rating
4188
People visited

4.5
(83)
271
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(14)
71
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.2
(14)
62
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(9)
42
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(64)
236
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(69)
247
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

57
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(9)
33
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(13)
226
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.6
(39)
211
riders
57.4km
03:05
950m
950m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.5
(2)
94
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
85
riders
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.8
(8)
46
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.3
(6)
46
riders
28.1km
02:08
450m
450m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(11)
37
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.7
(10)
38
riders
41.7km
02:17
70m
70m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.4
(8)
60
runners
14.3km
01:29
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
36
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(8)
43
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
37
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(4)
38
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5
riders
99.6km
05:31
190m
190m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(4)
17
riders
38.2km
01:58
60m
60m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
5
riders
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Elzwiesen is a nature reserve covering 410 hectares along the Elz River, located between Rust, Rheinhausen, and Herbolzheim. It is characterized by moist meadows that provide a vital habitat for diverse wildlife, set against the backdrop of the Black Forest. The reserve also preserves 19th-century irrigation systems, reflecting its cultural-historical significance.
Elzwiesen offers a variety of outdoor activities, including touring cycling, hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, jogging, and gravel biking. There are more than 100 routes available, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 3,700 visitors.
Popular touring cycling routes include the 'Rhinau–Kappel Ferry – Canal du Rhône au Rhin loop' which is about 29.5 miles (47.4 km) long, and the 'View of Europa-Park – Rhine View Kiosk loop' at approximately 27.5 miles (44.3 km). Both are rated as moderate difficulty. More options are available in the Cycling in Elzwiesen guide.
Notable hiking routes include the 'Taubergießen Nature Reserve – Dornskopf in the Taubergießen loop' from Panoramabahn Bahnhof "Deutschland," which is about 10.7 miles (17.3 km) long. Another popular option is the 'Dornskopf in the Taubergießen – Taubergießen Wetlands loop' from Rheinhausen, approximately 5.7 miles (9.2 km). Find more details in the Hiking in Elzwiesen guide.
Yes, Elzwiesen offers routes suitable for beginners. For touring cycling, the 'Apostel Lake – View of Ettenheim loop' is an easy route, approximately 12.4 miles (19.9 km) long. For hiking, the 'Taubergießen Nature Reserve – Dornskopf in the Taubergießen loop' from Europa-Park is an easy option, about 2.4 miles (3.9 km).
Road cyclists can explore routes like the 'View of Lichteneck Castle – Mühlbach Slalom Path loop,' which is about 44.5 miles (71.6 km) and rated moderate. The 'Ascent in Leiselheim – View of Kaiserstuhl Vineyards loop' is an easy route, approximately 28 miles (45.1 km) long. More routes are detailed in the Road Cycling Routes in Elzwiesen guide.
Mountain biking options include the 'Herbolzheimer Höfle – Höfle Trail (MTB, S1–S2) loop,' a moderate route of about 28.1 miles (45.2 km). Another moderate route is the 'Höfle Trail Junction – Herbolzheimer Höfle loop,' approximately 17.3 miles (27.8 km) long. Consult the MTB Trails in Elzwiesen guide for more information.
Yes, Elzwiesen features gravel biking routes. A challenging option is the 'Taubergießen River Landscape – Rheinauen Wilderness Trail loop,' spanning about 95.6 miles (153.9 km). An easier route is the 'View of the Rhine – Rhinau–Kappel Ferry loop,' approximately 23.7 miles (38.2 km). Further details are in the Gravel biking in Elzwiesen guide.
Elzwiesen is known for its expansive moist meadows and its location along the Elz River, with the Black Forest as a backdrop. It is a significant habitat for various bird species and insects. The reserve also features 19th-century irrigation systems, which are still in use today.
Elzwiesen is a popular destination on komoot, with over 3,700 visitors having explored its routes. The 115 available routes have an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, indicating high user satisfaction.
Komoot offers several guides for Elzwiesen, including Cycling in Elzwiesen, Hiking in Elzwiesen, Road Cycling Routes in Elzwiesen, and MTB Trails in Elzwiesen. There are also guides for jogging, easy hikes, gravel biking, and general attractions.
While a direct official website for the nature reserve was not found, detailed information is available through the municipality of Rust. The official website for the municipality is rust.de. For general inquiries, contacting the local municipal administration of Rust is a relevant option.

