Rhönsteps - Entdecke die Vielfalt der Rhön aktiv!

rhönSTEPS

Welcome to the "RHÖNSTEPS" platform of University Sports - your companion for active experiences in the Rhön! With a wide range of offers and a focus on shared experiences, we cordially invite you to explore the Rhön as a unique low mountain range and leave your personal steps behind. The Rhön will become a place to remember. Discover what makes the Rhön so special and get to know people with shared interests. "RHÖNSTEPS" offers:

  • Guided experiences - Discover the beauty of the Rhön through hikes, workshops and field trips organised by University Sports in collaboration with our partners.
  • Digital route guidance - Developed by students and practical supervisors, it allows you to download ready-made tours for integration into hiking apps to explore the region independently.
  • Sports partner exchange - Find like-minded people for shared nature experiences.

"RHÖNSTEPS" emerged from our charity long-distance hike, which impressively demonstrated how diverse the Rhön is. We want to make this diversity even more tangible for everyone. To mark the tenth anniversary of our charity long-distance hike, we are therefore presenting ten exclusive RHÖNSTEPS experiences this year that are just waiting to be discovered by you. Join us and take your own steps in the Rhön!

Discover the Rhön through our guided walks, workshops or field trips.
Our wide range of activities offers the perfect experience for many people.

Publication of new offers:

Course programme for the 2026/2027 winter semester
Registration opens on 5 October at 12 noon

Upcoming courses

20

Sep

RHÖNSTEPS: 60 minutes’ walk towards Wasserkuppe

Every metre (of altitude) counts!

to event

Planned offers

Please do get in touch if you’re interested!

call for proposals:

Do you want to get stuck in and learn about nature conservation in the Rhön at the same time? Then join us for our University Sports initiative at the Heidelstein in the Rhön UNESCO biosphere reserve, where we’ll be digging up lupins together to protect rare mountain meadows.

What’s it all about?
Although lupins look pretty, as an invasive species they spread rapidly, displacing native species and altering the soil through excessive nitrogen levels. As a result, specialised plants – which are vital for the survival of native insect species – lose their habitat, and ground-nesting birds also find fewer suitable areas.

How the session works
After a brief briefing on safe and effective procedures, we’ll get straight down to work: we’ll selectively dig up lupins – particularly in areas where machinery cannot reach – and collect the plant material. The session lasts around 3–4 hours in total and takes place entirely outdoors in the field.

 

Interested? Feel free to send us an email – we’ll let you know as soon as we’re running the offer again . Click here to send the email.

call for proposals:

 

Attendance at this event is particularly aimed at anyone who wishes to bring (practical sports) learning to life and is looking for new ideas on motivation, group dynamics and skills-based teaching practices.

 

Hiking and Knowledge:
In this further education course related to practice, I would like to introduce you to the key principles of experiential learning. On a varied hike in the Rhön, you’ll discover how to support learning and physical activity, successfully manage group dynamics and open up new perspectives in education. You’ll be given specific methods, ideas and tools that you can put into practice in your work – for example, to create motivating learning environments, encourage self-directed learning and facilitate more immersive team and physical experiences.

 

What you can expect...

...Cooperative and problem-based tasks that can be applied to many areas of sport and education.
...Fresh educational perspectives that go beyond traditional seminar or training formats
...Methods for promoting self-directed learning and a supportive learning environment

Through this, you will learn to...
...reflect on and develop your role as a practical supervisor or teacher – from guiding and supporting to letting go.
...Gain greater confidence in working with groups – e.g. in building motivation, fostering cooperation and a solution-oriented approach, and when getting to know HSP groups at the start of the term or when dealing with very diverse groups.
...Develop ideas for transfer that you can apply in other teaching or sports contexts

 

Interested? Feel free to send us an email – we’ll let you know as soon as we’re offering the offer again . Click here to send the email.

Review of our offers and events

All offers and events

Hiking routes in the Rhön

Hiking made easy - whether it's a short loop or a challenging one-day route:

  1. Easy route planning with your smartphone: Download our pre-planned routes as GPX files directly to your smartphone. These files are digital maps that help you to navigate your hike safely and easily.
  2. Use common navigation or hiking apps: Our GPX files are compatible with most apps, such as "OsmAnd". With these apps, you can easily follow your route and always stay on the right track.

In addition, many routes are easily accessible by public transport , so you can start your Rhön adventure in an environmentally friendly and uncomplicated way.
Our routes have been developed by students and practical supervisors who want to share their enthusiasm for hiking with you.

The hiking trail is just under 9.7 km long and can be completed in around 3 hours at a normal pace.

RHÖNSTEPS 1 starts at Grabenhöfchen and is easily accessible from Fulda both by bus (line 30) and by car.

The trail manages through the Hessian Rhön Nature Park up to Milseburg Castle. The 835 metre high Milseburg - known as the "Pearl of the Rhön" - is a striking basalt cone in the biosphere reserve and a mountain steeped in history with a Celtic ring wall, chapel and impressive panoramic views.

 

Route to Rhönsteps 1

The hiking trail is just under 10.8 kilometres long and can be completed in around 3 hours and 20 minutes at a normal pace.

RHÖNSTEPS 2 starts directly at the Milseburg car park at the Hochrhönring / Danzwiesen junction and is easily accessible from Fulda both by bus (line 90) and by car.

The tour offers a varied circular route along the Milseburg, manages the Maulkuppe and ends with another ascent to the Milseburg as the crowning degree.

The 835 metre high Milseburg - known as the "Pearl of the Rhön" - is a striking basalt cone in the biosphere reserve and a mountain steeped in history with a Celtic ring wall, chapel and impressive panoramic views.

 

Route to Rhönsteps 2

RHÖNSTEPS 3 starts directly on the Wasserkuppe and is easily accessible by bus (line 35) as well as by car.

The 10.9-kilometre circular tour starts at the Wasserkuppe tourist information centre and manages its way over the highest point in the Rhön at 950 metres and the Pferdskopf down to Lake Guckaisee.

The circular route combines impressive views with the history of gliding, passes the aviation memorial and returns to the starting point on the Wasserkuppe via well-maintained paths and species-rich mountain meadows - past the Fulda spring. The hike can be completed in around 3 hours and 20 minutes at a normal pace.

 

Route to Rhönsteps 3

RHÖNSTEPS 4 starts directly in Gersfeld and is easily accessible both by regional railway (RB 52) and by car.

The tour manages via the Rodenbacher Küppel (680 m) up to the summit of the Simmelsberg. From here you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the Rhön. Behind the Teufelsberg, a relaxation bench with a view of the Rhön invites you to linger.

The trail runs alongside the Gersfeld Wildlife Park, which can also be visited if you are interested. The tour is around 15 kilometres long and can be completed in around 4 hours and 30 minutes at a normal pace.

 

Route to Rhönsteps 4

RHÖNSTEPS 5 starts directly on the Wasserkuppe and is easily accessible by bus (line 35) as well as by car.

The slightly longer tour manages from the Wasserkuppe to the Pferdskopf, from where there is a wide view towards Fulda. The route also runs past the Guckaisee lake and on towards Poppenhausen.

Via the nature park, along the Eube summit, the route finally manages to return to the Wasserkuppe.

The tour is around 24 kilometres long and can be completed in around 7 hours and 15 minutes at a normal pace. Regular hiking is a condition for this distance, as there are a few metres of elevation gain to contend with. The trail is mostly very pleasant to walk and passes mostly on gravel and natural paths.

 

Route to Rhönsteps 5

Find other enthusiasts for activities in the Rhön!

The University Sports FiduS course instructor training courses take place at the beginning of each semester. You can find the call for proposals with registration options in the current University Sports program. After the training course, you will receive a certificate and remuneration for each FiduS break you lead.

Register now for FiduS course instructor training!

RHÖNSTEPS in pictures

A glimpse of some of the offers

Do you have any lovely photos of the Rhön yourself? If so, please do send them to us. We’d be delighted to publish a selection (with photo credits/author attribution) here on the website. When submitting your photos, please briefly state how you’d like your name to be credited.

If you have any questions, please contact us!

Kontakt

Anita Schleicher

Coordinator of University Sports

anita.schleicher(at)hs-fulda.de +49 661 9640-1603

Kontakt

Jakob Schachtner

Coordinator of University Sports

jakob.schachtner(at)hs-fulda.de +49 661 9640-1605