Bad Zwesten’s hiking options range from three Nordic walking trails with a shared start and finish in the spa park to the approximately 160 km Kellerwald Trail at the ruins of Löwenstein Castle. There are also activities in the spa park, as well as cultural and historical attractions.

Hiking trails and their starting points

The certified Bad Zwesten Nordic Walking Park comprises three trails of 4.4, 8.8 and 12.5 km, with varying levels of difficulty. Each starts and ends in the spa park by the Kurhaus. Their lengths and respective levels of difficulty offer two points of comparison when choosing a trail; all three share the same start and finish. Check the route conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Another option is the 7.5 km Burg Löwenstein-Weg circular hiking trail. It starts at the “Urfftal” hiking car park by the recreational pond complex in Bad Zwesten-Oberurff-Schiffelborn and has been awarded the “Wanderbares Deutschland – Traumtour” quality trail designation. Its named starting point sets it apart from the Nordic walking trails in the spa park; it is also laid out as a circular route.

The ruins of Löwenstein Castle lie directly on the Kellerwald Trail, an approximately 160 km circular hiking trail that explores Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park. The former 26 m-high defensive tower can be climbed via a total of 82 steps. From there, the view stretches across Bad Zwesten, the Urff Valley, the Löwensteiner Grund and the Schwalmpforte as far as the Knüll Mountains. Comparing the trail lengths, the 7.5 km Burg Löwenstein-Weg contrasts with the approximately 160 km Kellerwald Trail.

Spa park, art and history

You can play boccia and outdoor chess in the spa park by the Kurhaus. Along the sound experience trail, you can make sounds at 12 installations featuring sound instruments. The tree trail in the same park lets you see 27 different tree species. The two trails offer different activities: on the sound experience trail, you make the sounds yourself, while on the tree trail, you view the species. Boccia and outdoor chess offer additional options as games.

The ART-GARTEN is a sculpture park and open-air exhibition venue on the outskirts of Bad Zwesten-Niederurff, in the direction of Neuental-Bischhausen. The Archaeological Circular Trail, with 13 stations, can be reached from Bad Zwesten via the campsite. This gives you the choice between an open-air sculpture park and a circular trail with archaeological stations.

One access point to the ARS-NATURA circular trail is in the spa park by the Kurhaus in Bad Zwesten. Another hiking car park is located between the Bad Zwesten district of Wenzigerode and Bad Wildungen; the second access point is there. The spa park is therefore both the starting point for the Nordic walking trails and a possible access point to ARS-NATURA. Conditions on this trail and its signage may change; check both before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Wenzigerode, Fritzlar, Willingshausen, Schwarzenborn, Neukirchen, Spangenberg, Jesberg, Schwalmstadt.

Go to the regional travel overview: Schwalm-Eder District.