I completed the first four Rheinsteig stages from Wiesbaden to Rüdesheim, finishing at the Niederwalddenkmal. The effort was unsupported, with all food and equipment carried from start to end and water refilled at the three public sources listed in the route description (Schlangenbrunnen in Schlangenbad, the fountain in the market square in Kiedrich, and the fountain at Wallfahrtskirche Marienthal outside the monastery).
I started out in decent weather in Wiesbaden, which transitioned into rain for the first 20 km. Fortunately, the weather later improved to almost ideal conditions for covering longer distances and stayed cool and mostly dry for the remainder of the run, with occasional sunshine.
The route itself was a highlight: forests, vineyards, and increasingly impressive views of the Rhine, alternating between well-marked trails and gravel roads. Along the way, you pass several monasteries, including Kloster Eberbach, where the trail even passes through the monastery grounds. The final approach to the Niederwalddenkmal was particularly memorable, with fantastic views of both the monument and the river below. A very enjoyable day out on one of Germany's best long-distance trails.
The official end of the fourth Rheinsteig stage is approximately 100 m before the Niederwalddenkmal, at the Niederwaldtempel. As this did not seem like an equally epic finish for an FKT attempt, I decided to continue a little farther and finish at the impressive Niederwalddenkmal itself to end this amazing day.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the trail.