Visitors to Schmitten in the Taunus who want to choose between a longer route, a trail with stories and architectural history will find clearly distinct highlights. The Taunus Wichtel Trail combines carved figures with stories and scenery; the TaunusRunde Höhenluft loops around Schmitten and passes through all its districts. The church, viewpoint and castle ruins offer a different focus. When planning, it is also worth taking account of inclines, terrain and seasonal operating conditions.
Trails and routes in Schmitten
The Taunus Wichtel Trail starts and ends in Schmitten. Along the route are carved gnomes, each accompanied by a story to read. Four information panels provide details about the hiking route. It leads through forests, along the Weil River and over green meadow paths in the Taunus Nature Park. Those looking for a route with stories and changing landscapes will find both along the same trail.
Just over 33 kilometres long, the TaunusRunde Höhenluft is a varied route that loops around Schmitten and passes through all the districts of the Feldberg municipality. It starts at Schmitten outdoor swimming pool. One or more steep climbs may require a good level of fitness or an e-bike; take this into account when planning rather than looking only at the total distance. The Himmelsleiter circular trail starts at an elevation of 434 metres above sea level at the Catholic Church of St. Borromäus. Terrain and seasonal conditions may affect access.
Church, viewpoint and castle ruins
The neo-Gothic Church of St. Karl Borromäus was built from 1892 to 1895 using Taunus slate. The slate was quarried directly from the rock at the construction site. The local material and the construction period give the church a tangible architectural connection to its surroundings. The Wiegerfelsen viewpoint is next to the church and can be reached via a few steps.
Reifenberg Castle rises above Schmitten-Oberreifenberg and is considered the highest-elevation medieval castle in the Taunus Mountains. The surviving structures of the Oberreifenberg castle ruins include a keep, a church cellar and a slender residential tower. Particularly striking is the four-metre-thick shield wall with its round towers. Together, these structures show different parts of a castle complex: a defensive wall, towers and a church cellar.
Outdoor pool and snow-dependent ski lift
Schmitten outdoor swimming pool has a 50-metre stainless-steel pool and two shallow pools for young children with slides. The pools offer a different focus from the routes; check current opening hours before visiting. The outdoor pool also serves as the starting point for the TaunusRunde Höhenluft.
The Oberreifenberg ski lift is a drag lift for skiers and snowboarders. It is located in Oberreifenberg at an elevation of about 680 to 730 metres. Its operation depends on snowfall; the stated weekend hours apply only when snow conditions are good. Check the operating conditions before setting out. This makes it easier to distinguish seasonal activities from the trails and buildings described above.
More to explore in the wider Hochtaunus destination
The Hessenpark open-air museum is in Neu-Anspach in the Hochtaunuskreis district, within the wider Hochtaunus destination. Its family trail shows children and adults together how people lived and worked in the past. Bus route 63 connects Wehrheim or Neu-Anspach/Anspach station with the Neu-Anspach/Anspach Hessenpark stop. Check current timetable information before travelling.
At the Saalburg Roman fort, guided tours cover the interior of the fort, the outer civilian settlement and the Limes. The “extra muros” tour goes through the settlement and the outer area, including the fort’s baths, the hostel, ramparts and the Limes. The descriptions therefore differ in which areas they include.
Also in the Hochtaunus, the Hochtaunus Limes Experience Trail follows the route of the Limes hiking trail or the Limes cycle route. It runs for more than 30 kilometres from Glashütten to Ober-Mörlen. If you choose this longer route, check the route conditions before setting out. This keeps a visit to Schmitten distinct from independent destinations and routes elsewhere in the wider Hochtaunus destination.
Discover more places: Oberreifenberg, Arnoldshain, Usingen, Grävenwiesbach, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Wehrheim, Kronberg, Glashütten.
See the wider travel overview: Hochtaunus.
