Solange es geht, wird gewandert, auch wenn der Coronavirus etwas im Radius einschränkt. Wir wählen eine Tour die möglichst viel T1 und stückweise T2 Pfade einbaut. Siehe da es klappt; so kann man sogar zu einer ausgesprochenen Tourenempfehlung kommen, für bessere Zeiten. Das Rurtal noch nass, kalt und steinig; beim Anstieg...

Es bläst ein eisiger Wind über die Höhen, trotz Sonnenschein, man könnte sich eine Lungenentzündung holen, jedenfalls gefühlt. Noch dürfen wir raus. Wir finden sogar noch ein paar Schleichpfade in der Umgebung, die wir noch nicht komplett abgegangen sind. Die Narzissenzeit fängt an - am Nationalparktor tummeln sich...

Es wird warm! Die Sonne scheint! In verzweifelter Suche nach einer passender Tour muss der Kompass Führer her: passt. Der Hasselbachgraben sammelt Rinnsale entlang einer Isolinie am Rande der Nordeifel, und führt sie in die Dreilägerbachtalsperre. Das war so ein Ziel für Klassenausflüge, sichert die Talsperre doch den...

Wir haben einen Ochsenkopf, wie im Allgäu. Am Ochsenkopf bei Simonskall beginnt einer der Gedenkpfade. 75 Jahre ist es her, dass hier im Hürtgenwald junge Menschen auf einander losgehen mussten; 75000 oder mehr starben in der längsten Schlacht des von hirnlosen Gangstern angezettelten Krieges; viele der Opfer wurden erst...

Erst geht es an den Kletterfelsen vorbei. Es ist um Null Grad; Castor und Pollux heute ohne die nervigen Kletterer. Haha, war nur ein Witz, habe früher selber geklettert hier, auf den runden Kieseln im Buntsandstein. Einmal bin ich ins Seil gefallen, mein Seilpartner hatte nicht aufgepasst, aber dann doch zugegriffen. Auf der...

Mir tun die Ohren weh, dröhnend, stechend. Der Mann am Nebentisch steigert sich in einen rasenden, gewaltigen Wortschwall: Ostwind, Frühjahrskälte, Thermik, morgens, Aufwind, warm, Höhe, Fahrt, kreisend tragend Frankreich gleitendraftdownspannendschirmsuper…er hat gar keine Zeit Luft zu holen, pausenlos, wird immer...

Was für ein Wunder, ein weiterer niederschlagsfreier Urlaubstag kündigte sich an. Diese Chance ließen wir uns nicht entgehen, um den vielgepriesenen Calmont-Steig in Angriff zu nehmen. Er wird als Klettersteig bezeichnet, was den Nagel nicht so richtig auf den Kopf trifft. Auf jeden Fall ist der Calmont aber ein...

The hike starts in Kalterherberg, explores the Hasselbach Valley to where the Hassel Stream joins the Rur, then climbs to the Engelsley and Teufelsley (Angel's Rock and Devil's Rock). From there, the hike descends into Monschau. This is about half way into the hike. Explore Monschau and have some refreshments. Two more ascents...

Given the popularity of Monschau as the prime destination in the Northern Eifel, one may wonder whether there are alternatives to the busy tourist roads that approach the town from all directions. Indeed there are such trails. One of them follows the left bank of the Rur (seen upstream) from Grünental. The trail is - in parts...

The old parking at the Wolfgarten trailhead seems to be no longer available, and some signs have been posted insinuating that the trails starting from here are closed for a length of about 200 meter. The suggested deviations are incomplete and the entire situations appears to be utterly confusing. Our inquiry with some locals...

The Riffelsbach Loop is a misnomer. While the trail crosses and - for a short part - follows the Riffelsbach, it is really a trail above the Rur, from Hammer to Dedenborn and back through the hills. The Rur is without doubt the most important stream in the Northern Eifel, and it is beautiful wherever you go. This makes it...

The Dreiborner Hochfläche is part of what used to be a restricted area used for military exercise. For many years, no commercial or touristic activity was allowed. Following the suspension of military activity, the area became part of the Eifel National Park - meaning it is left on its own save for trail maintenance. The area...

A varied hike that combines trails along the huge beech hedges that are so typical for the area, farmland, the secluded Kluckbach valley, and many interesting sites along the way. The hike starts in Höfen. After a few hundred meter you pass the "Alte Molkerei", which is one of the official gates to the Eifel National Park. Pay...

Most people experience the Wahlerscheider Forest by driving right through it, when going from Monschau to Schleiden or vice versa. It appears dark and monotone, and one has to venture off the road side to unlock its treasures. On its north-eastern side stretches the Eifel National Park, and on its south western side the...

The Ehrensteinsley is not a summit, but a cliff above the steep slopes of the Rur valley. When coming from Mützenich, one actually descends to the Ehrensteinsley. For those with some energy to spare, Mützenich, the Ehrensteinsley, the Rur valley and part of the Ravel trail can be combined to a pleasant loop hike. The descend...

Erkensruhr, the hidden village in the Erkensruhr valley, doesn't seem to have made up its mind wether it wants to blossom or disappear from the map. The nearby Rur dam and the village of Einruhr forever seem to steal the show. This might be exactly what makes Erkensruhr the hiker's secret tip: A beautiful hidden valley, with easy...

Einruhr is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the Eifel Nature Park. It is in a great location, at one of the salients of the Rur dam, connected to the village of Rurberg and Urft dam via a cruise on the regular steamer (in fact, a battery-powered ship). It is also in hiking distance to Vogelsang, the center of the...

The Buhlert is part of the larger Hürtgenwald Forest, between the villages of Vossenack and Schmidt, or the Kall stream and the Rur dam. It is just outside the Eifel National Park, which also means that it is less frequently visited. Different starting points are possible, for example in Kommerscheidt or Simonskall. We chose...

The Rur valley near Nideggen offers a spectacular array of sandstone cliffs that make for interesting hikes, a lot of up and down, and fantastic views. The sandstone formations have been the training ground of rockclimbers for more than 100 years. More recently, however, climbing activity is regulated to 4 areas, still offering...

The Vulkaneifel is one of the most visited areas of the Eifel. Not that you would find fire-and-lava-spitting volcanoes here, but this part of the Eifel has a volcanic origin. It is best seen by the 'Maare', which are lakes in the old craters of volcanoes. Their story is in fact a little more complicated, and we suggest you visit...