Plesse Barbecue and Picnic Area – Elfengrund Waterfall loop from Wanfried

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

Hesse

Regierungsbezirk Kassel

Werra-Meißner-Kreis

Wanfried

Plesse Barbecue and Picnic Area – Elfengrund Waterfall loop from Wanfried

Moderate

4.8

(297)

867

hikers

Plesse Barbecue and Picnic Area – Elfengrund Waterfall loop from Wanfried

03:36

12.2km

360m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: November 6, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Geo-Naturpark Frau-Holle-Land

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.48 km

Plesse Barbecue and Picnic Area

Highlight • Rest Area

As a starting and ending point of the tour highly recommended, as there is also a Wassertretstelle, which ensures wonderful cooling for the feet after the hike.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

1.87 km

View of Wanfried

Highlight • Viewpoint

Nice rest area with a view of the Werratal and Wanfried. Possibility to rest before the ascent or after the descent from the Plesse when hiking the P5.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.73 km

Konsul Grab Memorial and Cemetery

Highlight • Monument

The imposing cross and the grave inscriptions are worth a detour.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4.93 km

The Elfengrund waterfall in the southern part of the "Plesse-Konstein" nature reserve is unique to the region with some fossil limestone tufts. The very calcareous Gatterbach springs from nearby sources. …

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7.00 km

Hesse–Thuringia Border with Historic Boundary Stone

Highlight • Historical Site

State border Hessen Thuringia with historical boundary stone on the hiking trail

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7.03 km

Green Belt – Former Kolonnenweg

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Kolonnenweg is part of the inner-German border fortifications on the side of the former GDR. In contrast to the rest of the border system, the Column Path has largely …

Translated by Google •

Tip by

9.82 km

Forest Trail with Prominent Roots on the Way to Plesseturm

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

This section of the path on the P5 is impressive: the mountain goes up steeply to the left and down to the right. The trees have formed huge above-ground roots to cling to...

Translated by Google •

Tip by

10.4 km

View of the Geo-Naturpark Frau-Holle-Land

Highlight • Viewpoint

12.2 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.3 km

765 m

645 m

533 m

Surfaces

6.65 km

4.41 km

471 m

374 m

161 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Friday 6 November

4°C

1°C

-- %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: -- km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 30, 2024,P5 Plesse

A bit of a boring premium hiking trail. Viewpoints are rare, the route is mostly on paved paths and rather mixed. Up to exactly halfway, at the Plesse Tower, it is a gentle but steady climb, easy to walk. Then, who would have thought, it is back down again, sometimes a little steeper and sometimes on narrower paths, but still …

Showing Translation

August 30, 2023,P5 Plesse mit kleinem Abstecher

Too bad, too bad - it was a hope to look into the Plesse from below at close range; unfortunately not with the chosen detour

Showing Translation

May 26, 2024,Unterwegs im Frau Holle Land: Runde von Wanfried

Today we went on the premium trail P5 Plesse and switched back and forth between Hesse and Thuringia.
We started in Wanfried and first followed the sign to the barbecue area. We continued past cherry orchards to the private cemetery of the von Scharfenberg family, Consul's grave. Unfortunately, the park-like area was closed.
We continued hiking through the forest and …

Showing Translation

February 24, 2024,P05 "Plesse"

Today we went on the next premium hiking trail in northern Hesse, ... well - I also spent a bit of time in Thuringia. There is a beautiful view from the Plesse tower. I only had to wait for a short rain shower in between and then we continued.
The hereditary burial site of the von Scharfenstein family was also …

Showing Translation

June 12, 2022,Tour

P5. Plesse start at the Elfengund car park over the observation tower back to the car park!
Unfortunately, the tower cannot be used, it needs to be restored and there is a lack of money

Showing Translation

January 7, 2024,Premiumweg P5 Plesse - Konstein

Yesterday there was another hike to my liking: just the path and the forest, the trees and me. Pure peace and quiet on the premium path P5 to the Plesse tower.
And it gets 5 stars from me and will definitely be repeated again, either when everything is green or in autumn with colorful leaves. Certainly also doable on hot …

Showing Translation

April 12, 2024,Wanfried, Elfengrund, P5

From the hiking car park to Elfengrund, a short stretch along the Green Belt between Hesse and Thuringia, up to the Plesse Tower, past a cemetery for the nobility, back to the starting point. Premium hiking trail 5 is a really beautiful circuit.

Showing Translation

October 1, 2024,Auf die Plesse und zur Wanfrieder Schlagd

For the last day tour of our hiking holiday, I had chosen the premium trail P5 and extended it to Wanfried.

naturparkfrauholle.land/wandern/premiumwege/detail/premiumweg-p5-plesse

We started at a car park in Wanfried, walked towards the former train station and to the edge of town.

Then we went uphill, with a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape and the observation tower.

Showing Translation