The best traffic-free bike rides in Michelbachtal (Lsg)

Below this spot, an aircraft crashed on November 1, 1945, shortly after the end of the war. In the most severe air disaster ever to occur in our region, 26 American military personnel lost their lives. The aircraft was a Douglas C-47 (DC3) transport aircraft in its military version. It was put into service a year earlier and participated in "D-Day", the Normandy invasion, as a paratrooper transport. It had space for up to 32 people and was also known as a "raisin bomber" during the Berlin Airlift. On the day of the accident, 4 crew members and 26 U.S. Air Force soldiers were on board. They had been on vacation in London and were supposed to return to their units at the Oberschleißheim Air Force Base near Munich. Despite bad weather over the mainland, the 23-year-old pilot and his 22-year-old navigator decided to fly. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot had to climb above the cloud cover due to dense cloudiness and continue the flight using instruments. According to the navigator's calculations, a point near Augsburg should have been reached after 3 hours of flight, where the pilot could descend below the cloud cover and begin the approach using visual orientation. Due to strong headwinds, the calculated position was missed by more than 200 km. Consequently, the cloud cover was descended through north of Karlsruhe, and the navigator lost orientation. They followed the Rhine in a southwesterly direction until near Wintersdorf, a 90-degree correction was made to the original course towards Munich. The DC3 thus steered directly towards the 693-meter-high Bernstein. The pilot and navigator continued to try to determine the correct position from low altitude, which became increasingly difficult due to the approaching fog. Despite the dense fog, the silhouette of the aircraft was recognizable when flying over Michelbach. Around 4:30 PM, the aircraft crashed at an altitude of 620 meters, where it broke into several pieces and went up in flames after explosions. Many victims died because help arrived too late. That help arrived at all four hours after the accident is thanks to three survivors who, despite severe injuries, made their way to Sulzbach and Bernbach. Until now, only rumors had surrounded this event, and it eventually fell into oblivion.

Right well-walkable hiking trail over some stones and roots as a direct connection to the Bernstein Felsen.

Shelter with a veranda offering space for a short break or protection from precipitation.

Small rustic wooden hut, which offers protection from precipitation under a veranda and the possibility for a rest.

🚶 The Graf-Rhena-Weg (Count Rhena Trail) This classic hiking trail stretches for approximately 19 km between Ettlingen and Bad Herrenalb. It is named after Friedrich Maximilian Alexander Count von Rhena, a Baden diplomat and patron of the Black Forest Association.

🌲 The Graf-Rhena-Weg (also known as the Albtalweg) and the associated border house are two of the most charming highlights for hikers and cyclists in the Alb Valley. They combine the enjoyment of nature with the fascinating border history between Baden and Württemberg.

Nice, but it's not really a cycling highlight. At best, it's something for experienced mountain bikers or hikers.

Relatively blocky trail with large rocks, small drops, and sandy ground - technically already a bit demanding, i.e. for the more advanced and not necessarily for the absolute beginner. Therefore, absolutely not a "cycling highlight", but for MTB. Then it's also fun. The average person with a standard trekking bike or even a normal gravel bike will probably have to get off and carry it in places. But it's worth it