Neckar cable ferry
FerryTerminals are not recorded for this crossing yet.
Route · Bad Wimpfen - NeckarzimmernStage · Stage 3
Small cable ferry; cyclists board first. Runs April-October, roughly every 30 minutes.
FerryCrossing
from Erfurt
to Pforzheim
E-Bike: 2h 27 / day
Bike: 3h 22 / day
A four-day ride from Thuringia across Franconia into the northern Black Forest foothills. Fully unlocked demo tour.
Four days, four river systems and a steady drift from Thuringia's forests to the edge of the Black Forest.
Layered clothing for ridge descents, a light rain shell, and a spare tube - bike shops thin out between towns.
Continental and changeable: warm valley afternoons, cooler ridges, and a real chance of summer thunderstorms.
Rental and e-bike hire available in Erfurt, Wuerzburg and Heilbronn; one-way returns possible at larger shops.
Wuerzburg Residenz, the Tauber valley old towns and the Neckar vineyard terraces are the cultural high points.
This demo tour links Erfurt and Pforzheim over four varied stages, climbing through wooded ridges and dropping into the Main and Neckar valleys. Every section is unlocked so you can see the full guide.
215 km
Medium
—
Erfurt sits on the ICE high-speed line; bikes need a reservation on long-distance trains.
From Pforzheim regional trains reach Karlsruhe and Stuttgart in under an hour, both with onward bike-friendly connections.
4 days
4,480 m
—
Stage 4 has the longest sustained climb - start early and carry water, as the forest section has no shops.
2
1,000 m
4,320 m
Mostly Tarmac (10-25% gravel), Tarmac (up to 10% gravel), Mixed (25-50% gravel)
Each stage ends at a rail station, so the tour can be shortened to two or three days without backtracking.
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Prevailing south-westerlies mean a mild headwind on the final stage; mornings are usually calmest.
4/5
· Quiet
Mixed wind
54 km1,120 m
54 km1,120 m
54 km1,120 m
54 km1,120 m
Baden-Wuerttemberg pairs the dense forests of the Black Forest with gentle river valleys along the Neckar and Rhine. Quiet farm roads, a thick network of signed cycle paths and frequent rail connections make it one of Germany's most rewarding regions for multi-day touring.
1 / 11
UNESCO World Heritage baroque palace with the largest ceiling fresco in the world.
Steep terraced vineyards rising straight from the riverside cycle path.
Long wooded ridge with a fast, rewarding descent toward the Werra valley.
Distance: 14.8 km, Max gradient: 9.6%, Peak: 819 m
Distance: 7.0 km, Max gradient: 8.0%, Peak: 980 m
Distance: 14.8 km, Max gradient: 9.6%, Peak: 819 m
Distance: 7.0 km, Max gradient: 8.0%, Peak: 980 m
Distance: 14.8 km, Max gradient: 9.7%, Peak: 819 m
Distance: 7.0 km, Max gradient: 8.1%, Peak: 980 m
Distance: 14.7 km, Max gradient: 9.7%, Peak: 819 m
Distance: 7.0 km, Max gradient: 8.1%, Peak: 980 m
This tour includes a ferry crossing. Plan ahead and book in time.
Terminals are not recorded for this crossing yet.
Small cable ferry; cyclists board first. Runs April-October, roughly every 30 minutes.
Travel to start
Take the train to Schweinfurt Hauptbahnhof. From there, it is about 54 km to the tour start. Plan a short local connection, taxi or ride to the route.
Airport
Erfurt-Weimar Airport, 86 km · no public transport connection found
Travel from finish
Use Goslar railway station for your return journey. It is about 43 km from the tour finish, so plan a short transfer after the final stage.
Bike-specific essentials. Pack light, ride more.
Everything you need for a comfortable cycling trip when staying in hotels or guesthouses.
Additional gear for bike trips with camping.
Tip Pack for the conditions, your route and the duration of your ride. Less weight means more freedom to go further.
