Karl Bachler Weg

GPX

PDF

Bookmark

15.67 km long
round trip
Difficulty: medium
condition: medium
Great panorama
Hiking trail
Hiking
  • 04:23 h
  • 264 m
  • 272 m
  • 81 m
  • 260 m
  • 179 m
  • 15.67 km
  • Start: Large hiking board at the transition from the spa gardens to the landscape garden in Bad Salzuflen
  • Destination: Large hiking board at the transition from the spa gardens to the landscape garden in Bad Salzuflen
Highlights on the Karl Bachler Trail
 
  • Renaturalized Salzetal
  • Höhenzug Obernberg with views of the golf course and into the distance
  • Getting to know a section of the VitalWanderWeg and the former small railway line
  • Marked burial mounds on the Vieren- and Asenberg
  • Karl Bachler memorial stone and Hühnerwiem
  • Favourite spot Hollenstein - you'll love hiking up for this view

From the landscape garden to the Salzuflen city forest

The 16 km circular tour along the Karl Bachler Trail starts at the large hiking map between the spa gardens and the landscape garden. First, we walk along the western shore of the spa park lake.

At the VitaSol Therme parking lot and the bus stop, the Karl Bachler Trail signpost points to a narrow forest path. We hike gently uphill on soft forest soil. On the right, views of the golf course and into the distance open up.
On the left, a wet stream valley stretches out and leads the hiker to natural ponds.

The Karl Bachler Trail also follows the VitalWanderWeg signposts on this section of the trail. The Bad Salzufler VitalWanderWelt was designed for active people who want to bring more exercise, new nutritional habits and well-being into their lives. Information boards along the way provide information for people who want to lose excess weight through healthy hiking.

On arrival at Schwaghof, we reach a historic site. The Schwaghof farm castle is a remnant of a 12th century manor house and is a listed building.
 

Enjoy the gently undulating Lipperland from above

For a little breather, the view of the vastness of the Lipperland and the green forests is well worth the effort.

The signpost for the Karl Bachler Trail leads hikers back downhill through a sparse beech, pine and oak forest to the Salzetal valley.

For a short stretch, we follow the Extersche Straße parallel to it in the direction of Bad Salzuflen. The streetcar tracks used to run alongside and partly on this road.
At the crossroads to Schwaghof, we cross the road and relax with the views over meadows and fields in the renaturalized Salzetal valley.
 

Once again uphill for fantastic views

Below the Knickberg (117 m), we turn left and climb uphill. The Karl-Bachler-Weg leads in a left-hand bend around the mountain and past the "Stumpfen Turm" with a forest lake. A memorial stone commemorates the Stumpfen Turm of the Salzufler Landwehr and was once used as a warning tower to warn the town of Salzuflen with light and smoke signals.

On the left-hand side of Waldemeinestraße and Alte Vlothoer Straße, we walk along an enchanted forest path again for a short distance to Bad Salzuflen.
 

Discover memorial stones along the way

The next section of the trail on the Heuweg runs below the Vierenberg and Asenberg hills. As soon as the path leads into the open plain, you are rewarded with fantastic views over the municipality of Wüsten and into the distance.

Just a few meters away, it is worth taking a break at Hühnerwiem. There is a memorial stone with the inscription "Hühnerwiem" at this resting place. It is thanks to Karl Bachler that he had this and other memorial stones erected.

The path that now follows, also on the trail of the Hansaweg and Salzufler hiking trail no. 1, leads through mystical forest and shrubbery to the Salzufler Bismarck Tower. Completed and inaugurated in 1900, the viewing platform at a height of 18 m offers interesting distant views of the Kaiser Wilhelm monument at Porta Westfalica or the Hermann monument. Thanks to the tower's renovation in 2004, the Bismarck Tower is now safe to enter. The key can be obtained from the Hollenstein mountain restaurant. This is where the Karl Bachler Trail leads anyway.

In the mountain restaurant, we fortify ourselves for the last stage of the hiking trail and reward ourselves with a magnificent view of the greater Bad Salzuflen area. The gentle descent along the southern foothills of the Vierenberg offers new views.

In memory of Karl Bachler, the father of hiking

On the way, we pass the Karl Bachler Stone. Karl Bachler, born in Lage in 1886 and died in Bad Salzuflen in 1976, was considered a hiking father far beyond the region's borders. A line of poetry by the local and heath poet Hermann Löns is immortalized on the Karl Bachler Stone: "Let your eyes be open, close your mouth, and walk quietly, and secret things will become known to you."

Next to the memorial stone, a shelter offers shelter in case of bad weather.
Not far from the memorial stone is the Asen spring. The Asen stream runs through the Asental valley until it flows into the Salze at the Salzufler Landschaftsgarten.

Below the Asenberg, we enjoy the last views of the plain stretching out before us before we head downhill along residential roads to the Bad Salzuflen adventure areas.

The treading and arm pools in the spa gardens offer hikers refreshment. A glass of brine water, which is served from the Salzufler Brunnen fountain in the Wandelhalle, will make you feel good. Whether you are hungry or not, the culinary variety of restaurants and cafés in the pretty town center of the feel-good town of Bad Salzuflen will tempt you.

You are welcome to spend a few days in the salt town of Bad Salzuflen. Here you will find relaxation, a wide range of health facilities and cycling and hiking tours of varying degrees of difficulty.

Good to know

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

Background information on the Karl-Bachler-Weg

Karl Bachler, born in Lage in 1886, worked at Hoffmanns Stärke for 54 years and was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He was also a member of the church council of the Protestant Reformed parish of Bad Salzuflen for around 30 years and served on the town council of Bad Salzuflen for a good 20 years.

He took over the management of the Salzuflen Beautification Association in 1925. He joined the association as an active member as early as 1906 and founded a hiking group. This later became the Wanderfreunde Bad Salzuflen. Bachler was a member of the Teutoburg Forest Association and founded the East Westphalia Lippe Transport Association in 1927.

The father of hiking was the main trail warden for the Teutoburg Forest and Weserbergland Transport Associations. In the Lippe region, the infrastructure of the hiking trail network and the markings were very important to him. His markings can still be seen today. The "X" stands for long-distance hiking trails, a "diamond" for district hiking trails and a "number" for local circular hiking trails.

At the age of 90, Karl Bachler passed away in Bad Salzuflen. The Karl Bachler Stone on the foothills of the Asenberg was dedicated in his honor. A quote from Hermann Löns adorns the stone: "Let your eyes be open, close your mouth, and walk quietly, and secret things will become known to you."
 
Bad Salzuflen: On a 15.6 km hiking trail between the city forest and the city forest
The Karl Bachler Trail connects two mountain ranges and landscape conservation areas around Bad Salzuflen over a distance of around 16 km. The Salzufler Stadtforst lies to the north of the salt town of Bad Salzuflen. The border between Lippe and Prussia runs through it. In addition to being a natural area for people, the Stadtforst is also an important refuge for numerous bat and animal species.

Ahead of the Stadtforst is another mountain range with landscape conservation areas. The Asenberg with its Asen stream, the Vierenberg and the popular excursion destination Hollenstein invite hikers and cyclists to experience nature at any time of year.

The green Salzetal valley and the extensive landscaped gardens of Bad Salzuflen connect these popular local recreational areas.

Tour information

  • Good Connection to public Transport

  • Loop Road

  • Stop at an Inn

Equipment

For the hike, it is advisable to bring clothing suitable for the weather, snacks and drinks.

Directions & Parking facilities

Bad Salzuflen is well connected to the highway, rail and public transport. For your comfortable arrival and mobility, visit the website of the state bath Salzuflen
You will find inexpensive parking options in the inner-city, historic spa town.
The electric city bus routes run at regular intervals and offer walkers a good option for local mobility. Find out more about the timetables and fares on the websites of Stadtwerke Bad Salzuflen

Additional information

You can find inspiration about the state spa in Salzuflen and the Lippe region on the Bad Salzuflen website.

Author

Kerstin Paar
32105 Bad Salzuflen

Organization

Tourist-Information Bad Salzuflen
Parkstr. 20
32105 Bad Salzuflen

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

On the Karl Bachler Trail, you can experience the diverse landscape and enjoy the wonderful view of the region as far as Porta Westfalica and the greater Bad Salzuflen area from many stopping points;

Nearby

Getting there
Tourist-Information Bad Salzuflen
Parkstraße 20
32105 Bad Salzuflen