Hike to the Bear Cave
- Pfalz mit Kids
- 21. Dez. 2025
- 2 Min. Lesezeit
The largest cave in the Palatinate is located near Rodalben.
Some moments of happiness come completely unexpectedly. Like the bear cave on our hike along the rocky trail. Who would have thought it was sooooo big?
FACTS
Distance: 2 km or 5 km total
Price: freely accessible
Weather: dry weather
Age: Kindergarten and school children
Dogs: allowed
Location: Pirmasens/Rodalben
Bear's Cave
Wow, who would have thought this cave was so huge! We're walking deeper and deeper into the rock. At 40 meters deep, it's the largest cave in the Palatinate. At the very back, a small stream flows out of the cave and down into the Langenbach stream. We find benches for a picnic in front of the cave. But of course, the kids would much rather have their picnic inside.
Lower Bear Cave
In the lower Bear Cave, the water seems to flow down through the rock ceiling, creating a waterfall effect. In summer, you can have a lot of fun in the water here, always watched over by the large sandstone bear.
3 routes to the Bear Cave
Two paths to the Bear Cave are not suitable for strollers. The hiking trail is part of the Rodalben Rock Trail. Depending on the desired length of the hike, there are several starting points for reaching the Bear Cave. The stroller-friendly path is described further down.
2 km route (total)
The quickest and shortest route to the Bear Cave begins at the Bear Cave hiking parking lot near the Pirminius workshops on the outskirts of Pirmasens. The entrance is located directly on the L482 towards Rodalben, hidden behind a large boulder. The path leads you downhill, parallel to the main road. Follow the signs for the Palatinate Forest Trail. For the return trip, take the same route. I have included the starting point of this route in the directions .
5 km route (total)
Starting at the Bruderfelsen (Brother's Rock) near Rodalben, you'll follow the well-marked rocky hiking trail, part of the Palatinate Forest Trail, to the Bärenhöhle (Bear's Cave) natural monument. The Bruderfelsen is a sandstone massif, also a protected natural monument. The starting point is located a few meters above the town and is suitable for older children.
With the stroller (4.5 km total)
Thanks to a kind reader, I can now share another stroller-friendly route to the Bear Cave. This flat path follows the Langenbach stream, and the walk to the cave takes about half an hour. The starting point is a small hiker's parking area at the edge of Rodalben on the L482 (the main road between Rodalben and Pirmasens), near the Langenbach/Geißbühl exit.
Combination options
The area around Rodalben and Pirmasens offers both outdoor and indoor activities for the whole family. In Pirmasens, you'll find the Dynamikum interactive museum, which I highly recommend. You can also sweeten your trip with a visit to the WAWI Chocolate World or combine a hike to the Gräfenstein castle ruins with a stop for refreshments.
For those who want to stay overnight, the youth hostel in Pirmasens is recommended - it's cool and modern and designed for families and their needs.
Impressions
More information
More information about the bear cave: