Mountain bikers in the forest | © Dominik Ketz / Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH

Mountain biking and horse-riding

The Rheinsteig is a hiking trail

We are pleased that riders and mountain bikers are also interested in the RheinSteig. However, it is first and foremost a hiking trail. Unfortunately, there are frequent incidents on the path.

Neither riding nor cycling are permitted on the narrow sections, of which the RheinSteig has quite a few. Inevitably, problems arise when these sections are used by groups with different interests. We would ask you therefore to comply with the general legislation (see below) and only use the permitted sections of the route. We also ask all users of the route to show consideration towards others so that the RheinSteig can be shared as peacefully as possible


 

There are clear legal provisions for the forested areas:

North Rhine-Westphalia

Section 2, para. 2 of the regional Forestry Act for NRW permits cycling on roads and paths with hard surfaces. These are paths on which it is possible to drive a vehicle with four or more wheels all year round (i.e. 2-3 meters wide). Section 50 of the regional Forestry Act for NRW stipulates that horse-riding is not permitted on marked hiking trails in forests.

Rhineland-Palatinate

Section 22 para. 3 sentence 1 of the regional Forestry Act in the Rhineland-Palatinate permits cycling and riding only on normal roads and forestry access roads. Forestry access roads are described in section 3, para. 7 of the Forestry Act as roads designed for forestry activity, permanently surfaced or unmetalled, and not designated for public traffic. Paths used by machinery, cleared aisles, boundary lines for forestry planning and footpaths are not forestry roads.

Hessen

According to section 24, para. 4, cycling, riding, horse-drawn carriages and wheelchairs are only permitted on paths and roads. This includes roads that can be used by trucks or forestry vehicles.