Discover Hellenhahn-Schellenberg

Hellenhahn-Schellenberg offers concrete starting points for planning your trip: a long history, a named hiking route, and road connections toward several major highways.

Local history and the name

The history of the town dates back to 1062. In 1831, Hellenhahn and the younger Schellenberg were united, giving rise to the present-day name Hellenhahn-Schellenberg. These two historical dates give the town’s name a concrete background: it recalls the joining of the two settlements, while the town’s history stretches back much further.

Getting here and the hiking route

Road access to Hellenhahn-Schellenberg is via the B255. The B54 is nearby, and there are also connections toward the A3 and A45 motorway corridors. These are useful reference points when planning your journey.

One local hiking option is the VR4 “Hares, Hazel, Wood.” The 2024 edition of the hiking map gives its length as approximately 13.8 kilometers and names the Hellenhahn-Schellenberg sports ground as the starting point. The edition also lists the Drei-Kaiser-Eichen parking lot on the L298 toward Rennerod. Check the local signage before setting out. This lets you plan your tour around the listed access points without inferring an exact walking time from the route length.

More things to explore in the wider Westerwald destination

The Westerwald offers a range of themes for excursions. Hachenburg is known for its historic townscape and brewing culture: the historic town center around the Alter Markt is characterized by restored half-timbered houses, and the Löwenbrunnen fountain is also part of its historic ambiance. The Hachenburger Erlebnis-Brauerei offers beer experience tours and brewing courses. You can arrange individual dates by phone; check the current booking options in advance.

At Stöffel-Park, a former basalt quarry covering around 140 hectares brings together industrial heritage, geological history, and nature. The park’s TERTIÄRUM displays fossils, including the famous “Stöffel mouse,” which document around 25 million years of geological history. The Westerwald Ceramics Museum offers another way to explore regional history: it presents the history of working with clay, and the objects on display usually originate in a Westerwald clay pit. In the museum workshop, visitors can get creative themselves under expert guidance. Check the current workshop program and booking terms before your trip.

Hiking and scenery in the Westerwald

For longer hikes, two routes with different profiles can serve as a guide. The WesterwaldSteig runs for 235 kilometers through the Westerwald and comprises 16 stages. The Druidensteig runs for 94 kilometers over seven day stages through seven river valleys; there are more than 30 geo-information points along the route. The distances and number of stages help you compare the scale of the routes, but they are no substitute for individual trip planning. Check the current route planner before you leave; the geo-information points may also change over time.

Natural attractions in the Westerwald include the Fuchskaute, the region’s highest elevation at 657 meters, and the Holzbach Gorge. The latter is a breakthrough valley about one kilometer long, with basalt walls up to 30 meters high. The Westerwald Lake District is a natural area with seven ponds. For a different landscape experience, the “Weltende” nature trail in the Kroppacher Schweiz leads along narrow trails and natural paths, with some sections secured by wire ropes, and offers views over the Nister Valley. Conditions and access may vary seasonally.

Discover more destinations: Elbingen, Alsbach, Mudenbach, Westernohe, Oberelbert, Niederelbert, Neuhäusel, Nisterau

Back to the wider travel overview: Westerwald.