Geierlay Loop

Driven a little further away at Christine's request. 🅿️ Approached at the information center - subject to a fee! - started from there, we used GPS data from the website, on the GARMIN watch and the markers to give directions. The fact that we didn't go in the given direction was due to inattentiveness, it wasn't the plan. Since this means that the highlight slips into the last third, I like it so much 👍, if a hiker goes on strike at the bridge, the way back is considerably longer. All three of us were able to round off the tour regularly. This is the Komoot recording via the "Record" function

We park at P1 at the visitor center (note: parking costs are at least €10). We have to laugh at the warning that the walk is for experienced walkers and that you must wear good footwear. This applies to many of our walks, and there are no warning signs. It is busy, more people are walking towards the suspension bridge. First through the village, then through the forest. When we arrive at the bridge it is even busier, there are many people standing and sitting. After taking some pictures we go onto the bridge. It does wobble a bit, but not nearly as much as we expected. It is busy on the bridge and also on the other side. We continue walking and first walk under the suspension bridge. That's nice to see. Furthermore, the route does not have much to offer. It is a walk through the forest with some rocks here and there. Towards the end we walk under the suspension bridge again, now we are completely in the valley. From here we climb up again. We come to the 5-way point. Then it is not that far back to the village.

Great tour despite some obstacles caused by the storm damage. Good shoes are appropriate, very muddy and partly still frozen today.

Start from P3 In some places, the Geierlay Loop is a bit challenging and not entirely easy.

Who is in the mood for a 360m long and 100m high adrenaline rush in the Hunsrück? The Geierlay Bridge would be just the right place for it. It wobbles quite a bit in the middle, and it makes your stomach tingle. However, in addition to the small, large test of courage, the program also includes the 6km long hiking trail around Mörsdorf. Today's motto? View, adrenaline and lots of nature - at lofty heights, as well as down by the stream. Full of anticipation, we start the "over stick and stone path" in the middle of the village. Today's tactic? Start walking later, because most visitors will probably visit the suspension bridge during the day. So we start shortly after 4 p.m. and the plan seems to be working. We stroll down alone on the Geierlay loop. We run the Geierlay loop in reverse. So first under the suspension bridge and then over the bridge for the grand finale. The wide path gets narrower and narrower, the forest grows ever closer to the path. The adventure slowly picks up speed from here. Birds chirping, a canopy of leaves overhead and the narrow path down the valley. Splendid! The Mörsdorfer Bach marks the valley. We climb into the valley over an enchanted wooden bridge. But not before a short break on and in the water. Along the stream, on a very small aisle, we make our way towards the bridge. One last bend and finally we see the Geierlay Bridge Along the stream, on a very small aisle, we make our way towards the bridge. One last bend and finally we see the Geierlay Bridge. The suspension rope bridge looks really impressive from below. The children can hardly wait any longer. If only it weren't for the climb. Over the Scheife on the Geierlayschleife, it's a leisurely climb for the next few kilometers. Even during the day it is getting darker and darker, the forest is getting denser. And suddenly it clears again and in front of us the Geierlay rope suspension bridge in all its glory. If the children have just asked "Mom, how long is it going uphill?" they run the last few meters up to the suspension rope bridge as if bitten by a tarantula. The first look? Looks like an open-air cinema, because I only see a few sloping benches. Clearly what they are pointing to and then we see them: Germany's longest rope suspension bridge. Wow, incredibly impressive, we all stop for now. The bridge over the Mörsdorf valley has a fairly recognizable arch across to Mörsdorf on the other side. The insight is so extraordinary that we first sit down on the bench and just look. Then it starts, the children start running, for us every step is a pleasure. First it goes down a bit. The other side is all the more impressive, because the bridge thus runs upwards. Exactly 100m below us, we see the now very small trail that we walked an hour ago. We looked up from below with our mouths open. Now the mouth is even wider open than we are now at the top. It wobbles a bit, but less than I thought. Every few meters we stop, stick our noses into the easy wall - look right and left into the valley. The almost 400m go by in slow motion, we stop again and again and walk back a bit. Especially in summer it looks like you are somewhere on a suspension bridge in the deepest jungle. The trees are really deep green, you can see a few rocks and you on the bridge. One last wistful look back at the bridge before we start the 2km walk back to Mörsdorf. You have two options to walk back to the village. Straight ahead, over hill, dale and small bridges through the middle of the forest. Or the variant suitable for prams via a paved path back to the visitor center. On the paved path there are small adventure stations every few meters. Shortly before Mörsdorf there is a beer garden to stop off at. The paved path is also just the right way out and back for a stroller. In total you walk almost 5km there and back to the Geierlay Bridge.

A worthy 600th anniversary tour. 🎉 The Geierlay suspension bridge was the longest suspension rope bridge in Germany until 2018 and is always worth a trip. Due to the late start time (the young people just need more sleep 😉) we missed the rain and shortened the originally planned tour by a few km. The valleys around the suspension bridge are beautifully enchanted and the crowds of visitors to the bridge can no longer be seen or heard in the dense forest 🌳. Parking lot number 4 cost us an impressive €8 (payable only with card 💳)

I originally wanted to hike a dream loop during my camping-hiking weekend in the Hunsrück. But with the 30°C forecast, I didn't want to start a 16km tour. So I looked for a small alternative, and I have to admit that was the best decision I could have made. So I drove to Germany's most beautiful suspension bridge - the Geierlay Bridge in the Hunsrück. Here you can decide whether you want to take a short and flat path to the bridge (ideal for strollers and those who don't like hiking), or take on the "Geierlay Loop" hiking trail, which also takes you through the gorge of the two mountains. And now guess what I decided on?! 😅 Of course, the short hiking trail of just under 7 kilometers. This first took me on a short path through a beautiful forest to the suspension bridge. As I crossed it, I enjoyed the view and could already see the route that I would be hiking next. And if you think that I just walked over it so lightly, you are wrong. My knees were shaking quite a bit. Because of the many people and the light wind that day, the bridge was rocking quite a bit. When I got to the other side, I had to take a short break and watched the hustle and bustle on the bridge for a while. Then I went down into the valley, past many great little rock formations (did I mention on my tours that I just love rocks like that in the landscape?), down to the small stream, which I followed for quite a bit. The last 2 kilometers were a steady and steep uphill climb. I have to say that at 30°C, the shade of the trees doesn't help either, so not only I, but also many other hikers kept stopping to catch their breath. But this hiking trail is definitely worth it. If you ever plan to visit this suspension bridge, take your time and explore the nature around you. A real hiking recommendation. I also think it looks really great here, especially in autumn when everything is colorful.

360 m long, quite high and a bit wobbly - but really only a bit - that's the Geierlay suspension bridge. And that is certainly the highlight on the Geierleyschleife near Mörsdorf in the Hunsrück. While it can get pretty crowded on the bridge, especially on weekends, the rest of the way is wonderfully quiet. You only hear the splashing of the Mörsdorfer Bach on the way. The paths are partly rooty, narrow and currently also muddy. I love it 💚 My conclusion: you should definitely have done this round 👍