The concept for this route emerged in 1980 from its sponsor the Association for the Promotion of Tourism in the West Palatinate (Verein zur Förderung des Tourismus in der Westpfalz) and was a cooperative venture between the counties in the West Palatinate, the Palatine Forest Club (a rambling club) and local pubs and restaurants.

[1] The West Palatinate Way began in the Kaiserslautern district of Hohenecken and ran through Leimen, Hauenstein, Rumbach, Ludwigswinkel, Eppenbrunn and back via Landstuhl, Wolfstein, Rockenhausen, Kirchheimbolanden, Eisenberg and Hochspeyer to Hohenecken.

It was 409 kilometres long overall and thus the longest waymarked circular path in Germany.

[2][3] The path had a cross link between Kaiserslautern and Landstuhl so that it could be split into northern and southern halves.

Waymarks on the main route were a stylized white or black W, branches were given signs in other colours.