The final stage of the Rheinsteig (RS) begins at the Schlangenbrunnen. Passing the thermal baths, the RS leads through the well-kept spa park down to Mühlstraße, which you follow to the right up to the junction with Georgenborner Weg. Crossing the Walluf Creek, you leave the town and turn right towards the valley floor. The RS follows the valley to Lochmühle, where the signs point left uphill to the underpass of the B 260. The RS now steadily climbs sharply to the forest edge. The ascent continues there until, after a few bends, you pass the archery range of Georgenborn and follow the forest edge downhill to the right.

In the valley, you cross the Rechtebach, then immediately start to ascend again. You quickly reach the Ludwig-Schwenk-Hut and the Grauer Stein, a massive quartzite rock. The RS passes the gray giant and enters the forest. After a crossing path, you pass a second, significantly smaller rock and follow the forest path to the parking lot at the Monstrance Tree. However, the namesake veteran tree had to be felled in 2009 and now lies, still impressive, next to the RS.

The RS turns sharply right and now runs downhill through the forest into the Erlenbachtal, which you reach at a small forest meadow. The path follows the course of the stream, and as the forest recedes, shrubs and orchard meadows of the Sommerberg nature reserve shape the surroundings. After crossing the Erlenbach, the RS uses the Serpent Path and steadily leads uphill. When you reach the first allotment gardens, the trail flattens out. At Knopp's Alm, the RS turns left onto Georgenborner Straße, crosses it, and reaches the first houses of Frauenstein. You walk through a quiet residential area into the center but immediately head back towards the town's edge. Soon you are on a farm track and climb uphill. Suddenly, the RS turns left onto a path ascending into the vineyards. First views of the surroundings open up. The view becomes particularly beautiful when, after a small bend at the forest edge, you arrive at a spot from where you can look far into the distance. A few steps later, you pay tribute to the prince of poets at the Goethestein and enjoy the scenic break.

Via farm tracks, you reach the Nürnberg Hof below, which offers a place to rest. Afterwards, the RS leads through a landscape shaped by vineyards and orchards down into Leierbachtal. There, the RS passes through allotment gardens and shrubs until it crosses the A 66 via an underpass. After passing more gardens, it goes under the railway line and follows a footpath to Söhnleinstraße. Through Kleinaustraße, you reach Schierstein Harbor, where you walk around the harbor basin to the Rhine bank. The RS follows the bank of the mighty river to the curved jetty, which leads over the harbor entrance to the Rheinmole. Now you follow the harbor path in a curve to Rheingaustraße, where you turn right. After passing under the Schierstein Bridge, you follow a footpath to the right to the Rhine bank. The RS then comfortably leads first on the towpath, then via Uferstraße upstream along the river to the pedestrian crossing over Rheingaustraße. On the right, the red and white facade of Biebrich Palace already shines. Just a few steps more, and the Rheinsteig adventure ends after about 310 km at the magnificent Biebrich Palace.

Large parking lot behind the castle hotel near the Schlangenbad Tourist Information.

Take the regional train to Eltville station. From there, take bus line 173 to Schlangenbad (travel time approx. 20-25 minutes). The bus runs hourly Monday to Friday and every two hours on weekends and public holidays.

www.rheinsteig.de