Stage 1 of 6 · Neckarsteig
Heidelberg → Neckarsteinach
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Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs and water in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Heidelberg
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-08-26
About 0 min in
20.8 km remaining
+963 m remaining
Climb
0 m
364 m climb
1.8 km at 20.0% average
Neckarsteig official · source 2026-08-26
About 0 min in
20.8 km remaining
+963 m remaining
Water
0 m
Flower
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-08-26
About 0 min in
20.8 km remaining
+963 m remaining
Water
0 m
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-08-26
About 0 min in
20.8 km remaining
+963 m remaining
Water
0 m
Hainsbachbrunnen
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-08-26
About 0 min in
20.8 km remaining
+963 m remaining
Water
0 m
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-08-26
About 0 min in
20.8 km remaining
+963 m remaining
Finish
20.8 km
Neckarsteinach
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-08-26
About 6h 29m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Getting Here
Heiligenberg (bus stop)
981m from trailhead · ~12 min walk
Getting Out
Neckarsteinach Bahnhof (bus stop)
68m from trail end · ~1 min walk
Segment Breakdown
Auto-analyzed from the elevation profile. Each segment shows the dominant character for planning your effort.
| Segment | Dist | ↑ / ↓ | Time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Heidelberg → km 7.0 (318m) 210–577m | 7 km | +416m / -307m | 2h 21m | 📈 Climbing |
km 7.0 (318m) → km 13.9 (316m) 122–318m | 7 km | +308m / -310m | 2h 10m | 🏃 Highly Runnable |
km 13.9 (316m) → Neckarsteinach 115–333m | 6.9 km | +176m / -377m | 1h 57m | 📉 Descending |
| Total | 20.8 km | +963m / -1,054m | 6h 29m |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
Adjust your flat 10K pace to see personalized finish time, calorie burn, and hydration needs.
Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Neckarsteig Stage 1: Heidelberg → Neckarsteinach is usually best from April to October.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (115 m) and high point (581 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this stage: at the lowest point (115 m) and the highest point (581 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Mixed | Mixed | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Mixed |
| High point, day / night | 3°/-2° | 4°/-2° | 8°/1° | 13°/4° | 17°/8° | 21°/11° | 22°/13° | 22°/13° | 17°/9° | 12°/6° | 7°/2° | 3°/-1° |
| Low point, day / night | 5°/0° | 7°/0° | 11°/3° | 16°/6° | 20°/10° | 24°/13° | 25°/14° | 25°/14° | 20°/10° | 15°/7° | 9°/4° | 6°/1° |
| Rain, mm | 94 | 80 | 84 | 53 | 90 | 77 | 94 | 65 | 82 | 90 | 89 | 108 |
| Snow at high point | Possible | Possible | Possible | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Frost | Possible |
| Daylight | 8 h 36 | 10 h 06 | 11 h 47 | 13 h 40 | 15 h 18 | 16 h 14 | 15 h 53 | 14 h 30 | 12 h 42 | 10 h 53 | 9 h 10 | 8 h 12 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
Planning ahead?
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 20.8 km, 963m ascent, max altitude 581.3m, ~6h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 3L hydration vestEstimated 3.2L; verify refill availability
- 🍫 Trail mix, bars & sandwichEst. 2269 kcal burn
- 🆘 Emergency space blanketCritical for preventing hypothermia if you stop moving
- 🧴 SunscreenBasic sun protection
- 🧥 Light rain jacketWeather changes fast in the mountains
- 🔦 Headlamp6h route — plan for delays
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🥢 Trekking poles (optional)963m ascent — helps on descents
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Logistics
This route runs from Heidelberg to Neckarsteinach (20.8 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
🚏 Transit stops along this stage
- 🚌 Blockhaus 322m off trail
- 🚌 Posseltslust km 2.5 · 462m off trail
- 🚌 S-Bahnhof Orthopädische Klinik km 7.4 · 155m off trail
- 🚌 Neckargemünd Kümmelbacher Hof km 9 · 117m off trail
- 🚌 Neckargemünd Sportplatz km 11.4 · On trail
- 🚌 Rainbach km 14.8 · 732m off trail
- 🚌 Dilsberg Blumenstrich km 17.9 · 212m off trail
- 🚌 Neckarsteinach Bahnhof Nord km 20.8 · On trail
🛖 Shelters
- Shelter 1.5 km off trail
- Shelter 1.3 km off trail
- Shelter km 0.8 · 1.1 km off trail
- Shelter km 0.9 · 1.1 km off trail
- Shelter km 2 · 109m off trail
💧 Water Sources
- Flower 1.8 km off trail
- Drinking Water 1.6 km off trail
- Hainsbachbrunnen 1.3 km off trail
- Drinking Water 1.6 km off trail
- Drinking Water 1.6 km off trail
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