Goldsteig
Key figures
Length
660 km: the stated length (Tourismusverband Ostbayern e.V.).
Measured on our map line: 416.7 km, the route as OpenStreetMap maps it along the official track. The charts on this page run along the same line, and the search sorts trails by it, so lengths compare the same way.
- 660km
Ascent · descent
Estimated from the terrain model, as the sum of every main stage's climbs and drops between samples 100 m apart. No source states them. The model measures the treetops in forests, so it reads high there.
- estimated: 15,390m ↑15,480m ↓
Difficulty
How hard a trail is, in three ways: the terrain, the climate in season and the length of the days. Each is rated from Easy to Hard with the same thresholds for every trail, and takes its hardest measure. It describes the trail, not how it will feel to you: that depends on your fitness, experience, pack and the weather you get.
- Terrain: DemandingClimbing: ≈ 37 m per km
- Climate: Demanding in Aug–OctCold: 1 °C at night (October)
- Effort: HardLongest day: 9 h 45 (stage N16)
- Terrain: Demanding; Climate: Demanding in Aug–Oct; Effort: Hard
Days
No source suggests a number of days, so the page counts one day per main stage (23).
- 23days
Per stage
The 23 main stages' totals over their number (Tourismusverband Ostbayern e.V.), so the averages come from one source. The ascent is the terrain model's estimate per stage (≈), since the stages state no climbs.
- 18.2km· about 670 m ↑
- Season
- Spring to autumn, not a winter trail; snow can lie on the heights into June
Landscape
Land cover along the main route, from ESA WorldCover satellite data:
- Forest: 72%
- Grassland and shrubs: 16%
- Farmland and villages: 11%
- Water, snow and ice: 0%
- Mostly Forest
Location
- Country
- Germany
- Regions
- Bayern
- Start
- Marktredwitz
- Finish
- Passau
- Route type
- Point to point
- Travel hubs
- Marktredwitz station0.2 km by road · 1 min
- Nuremberg Airport (NUE)119.6 km by road · 95 min
- Munich Airport (MUC)228.8 km by road · 139 min
- Protected areas
- Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald; Naturpark Steinwald; Naturpark Nördlicher Oberpfälzer Wald; Naturpark Oberpfälzer Wald; Naturpark Oberer Bayerischer Wald; Naturpark Bayerischer Wald
- Managed by
- Tourismusverband Ostbayern e.V.Official website
- Waymarking
- A yellow S (main route); a blue S on loops, access paths and alternatives
- Trail
- Variant
- Start
- Stage start
- Finish
- Contour lines
Difficulty
Terrain
How hard is the ground to walk: the path, the climbing, the steep bits, the ground underfoot? Rated over the whole main route. The rating takes its hardest measure.
Path grade: the trail's SAC grade, stated, converted or estimated.
- EasyT1
- ModerateT2
- DemandingT3
- HardT4 to T6
Climbing: ascent of the main stages over their length.
- Easyunder 15 m per km
- Moderate15–30 m
- Demanding30–50 m
- Hard50 m or more
Steep stretches: share of the route steeper than 15 %, up or down (terrain model).
- Easyunder 5 %
- Moderate5–15 %
- Demanding15–30 %
- Hard30 % or more
Natural ground: share on footpaths and trails (OpenStreetMap); never Hard on its own.
- Easyunder a third
- Moderatea third to two thirds
- Demandingtwo thirds or more
Demanding
- estimated T2
SAC hiking scale
Trails rate their difficulty in many local scales, or only describe it in words. We translate each rating into the Swiss Alpine Club's hiking scale, from T1 (easy) to T6 (very hard), so trails can be compared. It stays an estimate: how hard a trail feels depends on your fitness, experience, pack and the weather.
This trail: T2 (our estimate). Tourismusverband Ostbayern rates the stages "leicht" to "schwer", N16 (Großer Falkenstein – Rachel, 26 km) "sehr schwer"; the Nordroute is the "Gipfelroute" over the Bavarian Forest's summits (Großer Arber 1,456 m, Rachel, Lusen), the Südroute "gemäßigter", and snow can lie on the heights until June. That is mountain hiking on good paths (T2), with length and climbing the main difficulty.
- T1 · HikingWell-made paths, mostly flat or gently sloping. No risk of falling; trainers are enough.
- T2 · Mountain hikingA continuous path, steep in places, where a fall can't be ruled out. Be sure-footed; wear hiking boots.
- T3 · Demanding mountain hikingThe path is not always visible; exposed spots may have chains or ropes, and you may need your hands for balance.
- T4 · Alpine hikingOften no path. Hands are needed in places, terrain is exposed, and there can be easy snowfields.
- T5 · Demanding alpine hikingMostly pathless, with easy climbing and exposed, demanding terrain. Needs alpine experience.
- T6 · Difficult alpine hikingPathless, very exposed, with climbing and glaciers. For experienced mountaineers only.
- Climbingestimated 37 m per km
- Steep stretches8 % of the way
- Natural ground43 %
Climate
How hot, cold, wet and windy does it get? Rated for each month from 30 years of weather (ERA5). Without months picked (the search's When filter), the rating is for the trail's best run of at least two months in its season, and each measure shows its hardest month of that run; a pick re-rates it for your months. The rating takes its hardest measure.
Heat: mean daily high at the lowest point.
- Easyunder 22 °C
- Moderate22–27 °C
- Demanding27–32 °C
- Hard32 °C or more
Cold: mean nightly low at the highest point.
- Easy8 °C or more
- Moderate3–8 °C
- Demanding−2 to 3 °C
- Hardbelow −2 °C
Wet days: days a month with 1 mm of rain or more, the wetter of both points.
- Easyunder 10
- Moderate10–14
- Demanding14–18
- Hard18 or more
Snow: days a month with 1 cm of snow or more at the highest point.
- Easyunder 1 day
- Moderate1–3 days
- Demanding3–6 days
- Hard6 days or more
Wind: mean of the day's strongest wind (hourly mean, 10 m above ground), the windier of both points.
- Easyunder 15 km/h
- Moderate15–20 km/h
- Demanding20–25 km/h
- Hard25 km/h or more
Demanding in Aug–Oct
Outside the season (May–Oct): facilities may be closed, and the weather is harder to plan for.
- Heat · August24 °C by day
- Cold · October1 °C at night
- Wet days · August17 days
- Snow · October3 days
- Wind · October14 km/h
Effort
How long are the days? Rated by the longest main stage; a time range counts its upper end. The rating takes its hardest measure.
Longest day: walking time of the longest main stage, stated or by DIN 33466.
- Easyup to 4 h
- Moderate4–6 h
- Demanding6–8 h
- Hardmore than 8 h
Hard
- Longest day · stage N169 h 45
Climate
- Days in season · lowest point
- 15–24°C
- Nights in season · highest point
- 1–8°C
- Wet days a month
- 12–19
- Daylight
- 10.7–16.1h
| Month | Lowest point, day high / night low (°C) | Highest point, day high / night low (°C) | Wet days | Snow days | Frost nights at the highest point | Daylight (h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3 / -2.9 | -3.6 / -9.3 | 13.8 | 12.2 | 30.7 | 8.7 |
| February | 5.5 / -1.8 | -1.9 / -8.4 | 11.8 | 10.3 | 28 | 10.1 |
| March | 9.8 / 1.2 | 1.7 / -6 | 13.6 | 10.6 | 29.8 | 11.7 |
| April | 14.8 / 5.2 | 7.2 / -2.2 | 14.5 | 5.9 | 20.8 | 13.6 |
| May | 19 / 9.9 | 11.8 / 2.9 | 18.5 | 1 | 5.5 | 15.2 |
| June | 22.6 / 13.6 | 15.2 / 6.7 | 17.7 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 16.1 |
| July | 24.1 / 15.2 | 16.6 / 8.3 | 18.3 | 0 | 0 | 15.8 |
| August | 23.9 / 15.3 | 16.6 / 8.4 | 16.9 | 0 | 0 | 14.3 |
| September | 19.2 / 11.4 | 12.3 / 4.6 | 13.6 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 12.5 |
| October | 14.6 / 7.4 | 8 / 0.9 | 12.4 | 3 | 12.1 | 10.7 |
| November | 8.2 / 2.4 | 1.8 / -4.1 | 11.5 | 8.5 | 25.8 | 9.1 |
| December | 3.9 / -1.1 | -2.6 / -7.8 | 13.7 | 11.4 | 30.6 | 8.3 |
Climate by month
Averages for 1995–2024 from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, at the trail's lowest and highest point, adjusted to each point's elevation. Bars span the mean night low to the mean day high; wet days have at least 1 mm of rain, snow days at least 1 cm of snow. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset in the middle of the month. The shaded months are the trail's season.
Stages
| Stage | Route | Distance | Ascent | Descent | Elevation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marktredwitz Friedenfels | 20.0 km | estimated 590 m ↑ | estimated 580 m ↓ | estimated 540 → 540 m | 6 h 45 |
| 2 | Friedenfels Falkenberg | 16.2 km | estimated 350 m ↑ | estimated 420 m ↓ | estimated 540 → 470 m | 4 h 45 |
| 3 | Falkenberg Neuhaus | 14.0 km | estimated 410 m ↑ | estimated 420 m ↓ | estimated 470 → 460 m | 4 h 30 |
| 4 | Neuhaus Letzau/Oberhöll | 22.0 km | estimated 780 m ↑ | estimated 690 m ↓ | estimated 460 → 540 m | 7 h 00 |
| 5 | Letzau/Oberhöll Leuchtenberg | 14.0 km | estimated 480 m ↑ | estimated 460 m ↓ | estimated 550 → 570 m | 5 h 15 |
| 6 | Leuchtenberg Tännesberg | 22.0 km | estimated 900 m ↑ | estimated 820 m ↓ | estimated 570 → 660 m | 7 h 00 |
| 7 | Tännesberg Oberviechtach | 17.0 km | estimated 490 m ↑ | estimated 590 m ↓ | estimated 650 → 550 m | 5 h 15 |
| N8 | Oberviechtach Rötz | 24.0 km | estimated 890 m ↑ | estimated 850 m ↓ | estimated 530 → 570 m | 8 h 00 |
| N9 | Rötz Herzogau | 31.0 km | estimated 1,060 m ↑ | estimated 910 m ↓ | estimated 530 → 680 m | 9 h 00 |
| N10 | Herzogau Furth im Wald | 17.0 km | estimated 500 m ↑ | estimated 770 m ↓ | estimated 680 → 410 m | 6 h 00 |
| N11 | Furth im Wald Schönbuchen | 20.0 km | estimated 940 m ↑ | estimated 800 m ↓ | estimated 410 → 550 m | 7 h 00 |
| N12 | Schönbuchen Eck | 10.0 km | estimated 680 m ↑ | estimated 390 m ↓ | estimated 560 → 840 m | 4 h 45 |
| N13 | Eck Großer Arber | 15.0 km | estimated 1,070 m ↑ | estimated 530 m ↓ | estimated 850 → 1,380 m | 6 h 45 |
| N14 | Großer Arber Bayerisch Eisenstein | 12.0 km | estimated 150 m ↑ | estimated 820 m ↓ | estimated 1,370 → 710 m | 4 h 00 |
| N15 | Bayerisch Eisenstein Großer Falkenstein | 13.0 km | estimated 890 m ↑ | estimated 290 m ↓ | estimated 710 → 1,310 m | 5 h 00 |
| N16 | Großer Falkenstein Rachel | 26.0 km | estimated 950 m ↑ | estimated 900 m ↓ | estimated 1,310 → 1,360 m | 9 h 45 |
| N17 | Rachel Lusen | 14.0 km | estimated 620 m ↑ | estimated 650 m ↓ | estimated 1,380 → 1,350 m | 5 h 30 |
| N18 | Lusen Mauth | 11.0 km | estimated 120 m ↑ | estimated 650 m ↓ | estimated 1,330 → 800 m | 3 h 45 |
| N19 | Mauth Philippsreut | 10.0 km | estimated 460 m ↑ | estimated 290 m ↓ | estimated 810 → 970 m | 3 h 30 |
| N20 | Philippsreut Haidmühle | 22.0 km | estimated 680 m ↑ | estimated 820 m ↓ | estimated 960 → 830 m | 7 h 15 |
| N21 | Haidmühle Breitenberg | 22.0 km | estimated 750 m ↑ | estimated 890 m ↓ | estimated 830 → 700 m | 7 h 30 |
| N22 | Breitenberg Hauzenberg | 25.0 km | estimated 910 m ↑ | estimated 1,140 m ↓ | estimated 700 → 480 m | 9 h 00 |
| N23 | Hauzenberg Passau | 20.5 km | estimated 720 m ↑ | estimated 800 m ↓ | estimated 470 → 390 m | 6 h 30 |
| Variants | ||||||
| S8 | Oberviechtach Neunburg v.W. (variant) | 8.3 km | 2 h 40 | |||
| S9 | Neunburg v.W. Mappach (variant) | 20.0 km | 5 h 30 | |||
| S10 | Mappach Walderbach (variant) | 12.0 km | 4 h 00 | |||
| S11 | Walderbach Falkenstein (variant) | 22.0 km | 7 h 40 | |||
| S12 | Falkenstein Wiesenfelden (variant) | 30.0 km | 9 h 00 | |||
| S13 | Wiesenfelden Haunkenzell (variant) | 11.0 km | 3 h 30 | |||
| S14 | Haunkenzell Konzell (variant) | 12.0 km | 4 h 30 | |||
| S15 | Konzell Sankt Englmar (variant) | 16.0 km | 6 h 45 | |||
| S16 | Sankt Englmar Grandsberg (variant) | 10.0 km | 3 h 00 | |||
| S17 | Grandsberg Landshuter Haus (variant) | 22.0 km | 8 h 30 | |||
| S18 | Landshuter Haus Lalling (variant) | 15.0 km | 5 h 00 | |||
| S19 | Lalling Zenting (variant) | 18.0 km | 7 h 00 | |||
| S20 | Zenting Schrottenbaummühle (variant) | 22.0 km | 7 h 30 | |||
| S21 | Schrottenbaummühle Ruderting (variant) | 16.0 km | 5 h 30 | |||
| S22 | Ruderting Passau (variant) | 15.0 km | 5 h 15 | |||
Totals and averages count the main stages only. ≈ marks our estimates where the source gives no figure: ascent and descent and heights from the terrain model (Copernicus DEM, 30 m grid, sampled every 100 m), to the nearest 10 m.
Terrain
- Highest · lowest point
- 1,442m high292m low
Gradient
The steepest 500 m of the trail in walking direction, uphill and downhill. On this trail the steepest climb is 29 % (16°, 145 m up over 500 m) on stage N11, the steepest descent −29 % (16°, 145 m down) on stage N22.
A gradient is height per distance: 20 % means 20 m up for every 100 m forward. Percent and degrees don't grow alike: 100 % is 45°, not 90°.
Gradient Angle Feels like 10 % 6° Noticeable on a road 20 % 11° A steep path, slow going 30 % 17° Very steep, often steps 100 % 45° Scrambling Averages over 500 m from a 30 m terrain model: short pitches within them, such as steps and ladders, are steeper.
- 29% ↑−29% ↓
Steep stretches
How many kilometres of the main route climb or descend at 15 % or more (9°, 15 m of height per 100 m), measured in 200 m stretches: on this trail 19.4 km up and 14.6 km down, the darkest parts of the profile. Such stretches are slow going uphill and hard on the knees downhill.
- 34km
Surfaces
- Natural ground: 43%, 177.5 km. Earth, grass, rock and roots: footpaths and forest trails. Can be muddy after rain.
- Gravel: 43%, 177.7 km. Gravel, compacted and stony surfaces: mostly forest roads and farm tracks.
- Paved: 14%, 57.4 km. Asphalt, concrete and cobbles: roads and village streets.
Terrain along the route
Heights from the Copernicus terrain model (30 m grid, every 100 m along the main route); it measures the treetops in forests, so heights may differ from signposts by some metres.
The profile colours each 200 m by its gradient in walking direction: the steeper, the darker, climbs warm and descents violet, from level ground to ±30 % and beyond.
The strip under the profile shows the ground underfoot, from OpenStreetMap; for the 19% of the route without a surface tag, the type of way decides (footpaths natural, tracks gravel).
Landscape
Landscape along the route
Land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (10 m satellite map), every 100 m along the main route; each point takes the most common class within 30 m, so the path itself doesn't count as bare ground. Its eleven classes are folded into the six groups shown. It says what the landscape looks like, not which plants grow there.
Sleeping
Wild camping
Pitching a tent outside campsites. Whether it is allowed, restricted or prohibited depends on the land and the country; the rule for this trail is below the cards.
Restricted
Camping
Official campsites along the trail. Bring your own tent.
Available where the trail's own source lists it, or where OpenStreetMap maps at least 3 within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end.
Available
Campsites · 16 in OpenStreetMap
Huts
Mountain huts (often staffed, with meals) and unstaffed bivouac shelters, usually on the trail itself.
Available where the trail's own source lists it, or where OpenStreetMap maps at least 3 within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end.
Available
Mountain huts · 15 in OpenStreetMap
Hostels
Dormitory beds for walkers: hostels, hiker lodges and pilgrim hostels.
Available where the trail's own source lists it, or where OpenStreetMap maps at least 3 within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end.
Available
Hostels and hiker lodges · 11 in OpenStreetMap
Rooms
Private rooms, usually in villages near the trail: B&Bs, guesthouses, hotels, farm stays and monastery guesthouses.
Available where the trail's own source lists it, or where OpenStreetMap maps at least 3 within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end.
Available
B&Bs and guesthouses, Hotels · 75 in OpenStreetMap
Wild camping is restricted. Wild camping only with the landowner's consent. Tents at the bookable Goldsteig trekking sites near the trail (April to October, one night each, about €15 per tent, a dry toilet), one of them in the Bavarian Forest National Park, and at campsites; hosts often allow a tent by their house.
Places to sleep along the route
One tick per place to sleep along the main route, from OpenStreetMap: 16 campsites, 15 huts, 11 hostels, 75 guest houses within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end (stage towns often lie off the trail). Hotels and day shelters are left out. The shaded column is the longest stretch without any, from km 123.4 to 160.5. The map may miss places or list ones that have closed, so book or check locally.
Water & Supply
Clean water
60 fountains, taps and springs marked as drinkable in OpenStreetMap within 500 m of the trail, and 1 places to sleep OpenStreetMap marks as having drinking water. Clean water also counts the 44 huts, hostels, guest houses and campsites within 500 m where hikers usually fill a bottle: guests come first, and many close out of season, so ask, and carry a little more than the gaps need. Places OpenStreetMap marks as without drinking water are left out. The counts include the approach and variant; the chart shows the main route.
Rated by the longest stretch of the main route without clean water: frequent up to 10 km, regular up to 20 km, scarce beyond. Here: from km 367.4 to 403.8, stages N22–N23.
- 36.4kmScarce
Any water
Clean water, and the 235 springs within 500 m of the trail whose water is of unknown quality: filter, boil or treat it, and expect some springs to run dry in late summer. Here the longest stretch without any water runs from km 367.4 to 403.8. Rated like clean water: frequent up to 10 km, regular up to 20 km, scarce beyond.
- 36.4kmScarce
Shops
124 supermarkets, convenience and general stores and petrol stations with a shop in OpenStreetMap, within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end (stage towns often lie off the trail). Small village shops are often missing, and opening hours vary: check before relying on one. Here the longest stretch without runs from km 250.5 to 314.4.
- 63.9km
Water and shops along the route
One tick per place along the main route, from OpenStreetMap: drinking water and springs within 500 m, refills at huts, hostels, guest houses and campsites within 500 m, shops within 1 km or 3 km of a stage's end. The shaded band in each lane is its longest stretch without; "Water" counts every kind, and opens into one lane per kind, each with its own. The map may miss places or list ones that have closed or run dry, so check locally.