Four days in the Odenwald means four days of picturesque orchard meadows, vast forests, cozy half-timbered towns, fairytale castles and a wealth of legends and stories about the land of the Nibelungs. And you can enjoy a double dose of adventure as my ‘Trans-Odenwald’ route is a round trip that takes you from west to east and from east to west via an alternative route.
Trans Odenwald times two, so to speak, or in other words, mountain bike fun doubled!

The Odenwald is a low mountain range located in central Germany in the middle of the Darmstadt-Heidelberg-Würzburg city triangle. It stands out in the west compared to the flat Upper Rhine Plain as the Odenwald’s steep mountain slopes emerge suddenly from the lowlands. This is where the mountain biking fun begins.

Your adventure begins close to the train station in Lorsch. At the start, the track profile is slippery, but it changes after a few kilometers. Next, challenging ups and downs and a wonderfully varied landscape await – some leg power will be required in the Odenwald.

The Odenwald is a true paradise for mountain bikers. There is an excellent network of routes with many marked trails, making it easy for you to vary the stages in this Collection. Do you feel like pushing yourself on a long ride? Then add a small trail loop here and there. This Collection is designed to be ridden in four days. If you have less time, you could of course just ride longer stages if you are fit enough or if you prefer to take it easy, you could leave out the second and third stages. This way, you can enjoy a short loop that makes a perfect weekend ride.

I’ve started the ride from the station at Bensheim so you don’t have to rely on your car. Bensheim has direct and fast rail links from Frankfurt. As this ride is a multi-stage adventure, you should come prepared with a change of clothes and rain gear as well as some spare parts and tools. You should also book your accommodation in good time. This is especially important for the end of the second stage which is beautiful, but also a bit lonely – there is only one guesthouse here.