Hohe Loog (Haardt)

The Hohe Loog is a 619-metre mountain in the Haardt range, the eastern edge of the Palatine Forest. It stands west of Neustadt an der Weinstraße in Rhineland-Palatinate. The summit is entirely wooded, with sandstone outcrops but no distant views. East of the top lies the Hohe-Loog-Ebene, a flat area of nearly two square kilometres at about 580 metres. The mountain has two notable neighbours: the Rutschsteinberg to the north-east and the Rittersberg to the south-east, where a conciliation cross marks the spot. The climb offers several signed routes managed by the Palatine Forest Club. From Neustadt walkers follow the Kaltenbrunner Tal or the Nollenkopf. A route from Diedesfeld passes Hambach Castle and the Rittersberg before joining the summit ridge. Another path starts in Maikammer and runs through the Klausental valley. The quickest ascent begins at the Hahnenschritt saddle car park below the Kalmit. At the summit stands Hohe Loog House, run by the Palatine Forest Club. It overlooks the Kalmit massif and the Rhine Valley. On the massif itself the Bergstein rock formation is a natural monument. The wooded slopes and marked trails make the mountain a quiet destination for hikers seeking the Palatine Forest’s quieter heights.