Eselsweg

Eselsweg
Eselsweg near Rohrbrunn
Length	111 km (69 mi)
Location	Naturpark Hessischer Spessart, Naturpark Bayerischer Spessart Germany
Trailheads	Schlüchtern, Großheubach, numerous places in between
Use	Hiking
Elevation
Elevation gain/loss	2,071 metres (6,790 ft) gain in; 2,078 metres (6,820 ft) gain out
Highest point	525 m above sea level (east of Bad Orb)
Lowest point	212 m above sea level (western start near Schlüchtern)
Hiking details
Waymark	black "E" on white
Surface	natural paths (35%), gravel on forest roads (60%), tarmac (5%)
Website	www.spessartbund.de

The Eselsweg (English: "donkey trail") is a long-distance hiking trail that follows an ancient trade route through the Mittelgebirge Spessart, in the states of Hesse and Bavaria, Germany. It is 111 km long and leads from Schlüchtern in the valley of the Kinzig river to Großheubach on the river Main. The trail follows an ancient trade route on which donkey caravans used to transport salt, thus giving rise to the name.

The historic road Eselsweg has likely been in use since prehistoric times. It may have connected Celtic circular ramparts, found for example at Bürgstadt and Miltenberg to similar places near the Kinzig, such as the Alteburg (). Since in pre-modern times the valleys of the Spessart were often swampy and water-logged, the path stuck to the higher elevations. This route also avoided the need for constant climbing into and out of the river valleys. The route's name derives from the caravans of donkeys used in the Middle Ages to transport salt from Orb to Miltenberg, where it was either loaded on ships or carried on by land. Miltenberg was an important toll station set up by the Archbishop of Mainz. The Eselsweg was first mentioned in 1339 as "Eßelspfadt".

The modern hiking trail mostly follows the historic route and crosses the Spessart as a high route which sticks to the peaks and ridges and avoids the valleys and villages. It is maintained and signposted by the Spessartbund () with a black "E" on white.