Nature Reserve Guide
Hesse is home to more than 20 designated nature reserves (Naturschutzgebiete) accessible via komoot. The landscapes across these protected areas are diverse, ranging from the ancient beech forests and deep valleys of the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park to the open, rolling hills and moors of the Rhön Biosphere Reserve. Other significant areas include extensive Rhine floodplain ecosystems, characterized by alluvial forests and wet meadows. These areas provide extensive networks of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and cycling.
This list of nature reserves in Hesse aggregates more than 3,000 routes for hiking, cycling, and running. More than 141,000 visitors have shared their experiences, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Among the best nature reserves in Hesse are the Rhine floodplain of Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue, the largest reserve in the state, which offers flat terrain ideal for cycling and hiking. In the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, the Rotes Moor features a unique raised bog ecosystem with more than 150 routes for exploration. Within the Taunus Nature Park, the forested hills of Altkönig provide varied elevations for hiking and mountain biking. The legal status of these reserves ensures the preservation of their specific ecosystems, offering opportunities to experience landscapes shaped by minimal human intervention.
3826
Routes
4.6
(28813)
Average rating
140K+
Explored with komoot
Last updated: April 23, 2026

4.6
(3502)
15,673
hikers
Altkönig is a nature reserve in Germany's Taunus Nature Park, offering diverse terrain for hiking, road cycling, and gravel biking through dense forests and varied elevations.
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4.7
(3278)
12,282
hikers
Rotes Moor is a nature reserve in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, featuring a unique raised bog ecosystem with a moorland lake and boardwalk. It offers diverse routes for hiking and cycling.
Hiking
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Mountaineering
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Cycling

4.6
(1902)
11,628
hikers
Mariannenaue is a Rhine River nature reserve offering diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and jogging, with routes through vineyards and floodplains.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.6
(1322)
9,334
hikers
Luderbachaue Von Dreieich is a 290-hectare nature reserve offering diverse forests and grasslands for hiking, mountain biking, and road cycling routes.
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Cycling

4.5
(1049)
8,351
hikers
Scheftheimer Wiesen Bei Darmstadt is a 166.7-hectare nature reserve offering diverse wetlands, meadows, and forests for cycling, hiking, and more. It features natural beauty and historical elements.
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Cycling

4.7
(1861)
6,446
hikers
Meißner is a German nature reserve with diverse landscapes, from ancient forests to volcanic formations, offering routes for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor sports.
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Cycling

4.4
(1372)
6,412
hikers
Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue is a German nature reserve with a flat floodplain landscape, ideal for hiking, cycling, and jogging on its diverse routes.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
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Cycling

4.5
(1064)
5,809
hikers
Hegbachaue Bei Messel is a 228-hectare nature reserve in Hesse, Germany, offering diverse routes for hiking, cycling, and running through varied landscapes.
Character count: 160
Hiking
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Mountain biking
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Cycling

4.6
(1105)
5,692
hikers
Hessische Schweiz Bei Meinhard is a nature reserve with distinctive limestone cliffs and beech forests, offering varied terrain for hiking, jogging, and cycling routes.
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Cycling

4.5
(1657)
5,466
hikers
Borkener See is a nature reserve, transformed from a former coal mine into a unique landscape with clear water and diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and mountain biking.
Character count: 173
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Mountain biking
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Cycling

4.6
(1310)
5,162
hikers
Dreiherrenstein-Eschenberg-Kreutzerberg is a nature reserve in northern Hesse offering diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and jogging routes through dense forests and rolling hills.
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Cycling

4.5
(871)
5,014
hikers
Natural Park Mönchbruch is a Southern Hesse nature reserve with diverse wetlands, forests, and a network of paths for hiking, cycling, and mountain biking.
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Cycling

4.5
(648)
4,831
hikers
Hohe Warte Bei Gießen is a 168-hectare nature reserve with diverse habitats, offering routes for hiking, cycling, and jogging through forests, grasslands, and past Przewalski's horses.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.6
(760)
4,598
hikers
Weideswiesen-Oberwald Bei Erlensee is a diverse nature reserve offering routes for road cycling, touring, hiking, and mountain biking across its grasslands, wetlands, and forests.
Hiking
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Cycling

4.6
(678)
4,397
hikers
Erlensee Bei Erlensee is a nature reserve in Hesse, Germany, offering diverse routes for hiking, road cycling, and mountain biking through its floodplain landscape and forests.
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Cycling

4.7
(737)
4,237
hikers
Breitenbachtal Bei Michelsrombach is a 593.5-hectare nature reserve in Hesse, Germany, offering diverse routes for hiking, cycling, and jogging through rolling hills and forests.
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Cycling

4.6
(872)
4,001
hikers
Talauen Von Nidder Und Hillersbach Bei Gedern Und Burkhards is a 253-hectare nature reserve offering diverse routes for hiking, cycling, and mountain biking through riverine wetlands.
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Cycling

4.5
(968)
3,715
hikers
Waldhof-Standorfsberg Bei Grüsselbach is a 245-hectare nature reserve in Hessen, Germany, offering diverse terrain for hiking, mountain biking, and road cycling routes.
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Cycling

4.6
(690)
3,586
hikers
Im Rußland Und In Der Kuhweide Bei Lindheim is a nature reserve in Hessen, Germany, offering diverse routes for cycling and hiking across grasslands and wetlands.
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Cycling

4.7
(779)
3,001
hikers
Graburg is a nature reserve in northern Hesse, offering diverse terrain and over 50 routes for hiking, cycling, and mountain biking amidst impressive rock formations and beech forests.
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Nature reserves in Hesse, known as Naturschutzgebiete, are legally protected areas established to preserve specific ecosystems and landscapes. This page aggregates over 25 such reserves, featuring landscapes from the ancient beech forests of Kellerwald-Edersee National Park to the Rhine floodplain ecosystems of Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue. These areas offer networks of trails for human-powered outdoor activities.
As of 2021, there were 764 officially designated nature reserves (Naturschutzgebiete) in Hesse. This page provides detailed guides and route collections for more than 25 of these protected areas, including some of the largest and most frequented by outdoor enthusiasts.
Notable nature reserves in Hesse include Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue, the state's largest reserve, characterized by a flat floodplain landscape. The Rotes Moor in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve features a unique raised bog ecosystem. In the Taunus Nature Park, Altkönig offers forested hills with varied elevations.
The primary activities are hiking, cycling, and mountain biking, with more than 3,800 routes available across the aggregated reserves. Many areas, such as Luderbachaue Von Dreieich, also offer numerous trails suitable for running. The specific activities depend on the terrain, which ranges from flat floodplains to hilly forests.
As Hesse's largest nature reserve, Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue is a Rhine floodplain with a predominantly flat landscape. This makes it particularly suitable for cycling and hiking. The reserve contains over 120 documented routes through its alluvial forests and wet meadows.
The Rotes Moor is a nature reserve within the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, known as the "Land of Open Distances." Its landscape is defined by a unique raised bog, a moorland lake, and extensive meadows. A boardwalk allows for exploration of the sensitive bog ecosystem, and the area offers over 150 routes for hiking and cycling.
There are thousands of hiking trails across Hesse's nature reserves, catering to various difficulty levels. For example, Altkönig in the Taunus mountains provides challenging forest hikes with significant elevation changes. In contrast, the Rhine floodplains offer flatter, more accessible walking paths.
Yes, many nature reserves in Hesse are well-suited for cycling. The flat terrain of floodplain reserves like Mariannenaue and Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue is ideal for touring bicycles. Hilly areas such as the Taunus and Rhön offer extensive networks for road cycling and gravel biking.
Mountain bike trails are found in the more rugged nature reserves. The forested hills of Altkönig provide numerous routes with varied elevations for mountain bikers. The Meißner nature reserve also features diverse terrain suitable for mountain biking through its forests and around its volcanic formations.
Yes, many reserves offer routes suitable for families. The Rotes Moor features an accessible boardwalk trail through the bog, which is educational and easy to walk. The flat, well-maintained paths in the Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue reserve are also ideal for leisurely family walks and bike rides.
The largest nature reserve in Hesse is Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue, covering approximately 2,400 hectares (5,930 acres). It is a former Rhine river loop located between Frankfurt and Darmstadt. The area is a designated European bird reserve and one of Germany's most significant intact floodplain ecosystems.
Many smaller nature reserves are located within larger protected areas. For example, the Rotes Moor is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Rhön. Similarly, the Altkönig reserve is situated within the High Taunus Nature Park.

