The Tiefenbachtal (literally: deep stream valley) starts near Simmerath and connects to the Rur valley, just ahead of the Rur dam. Our trail starts at the nice hamlet of Huppenbroich with its many stylish modern village buildings. Any budding home owner can get inspiration here. We parked at the cemetery, and quickly descended...

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...

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...

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 creation of the Eifel National Park, together with the Fuhrtsbach Nature Reserve has created some confusion and limitations to the trail network. Here, we wanted to explore more of the interior of the Wahlerscheid area, in particular the Wermessief, a tributary of the Fuhrtsbach. (Sief is vernacular and describes the beginning...

The Olef stream, before it feeds into the Olef Dam, forms the border between Germany and Belgium. It crosses right through one of the largest patches of forest in the Northern Eifel. As such, our trail is somewhat remote and requires a few minutes of planning. We opted to begin the hike at the parking place in Hollerath - the...

This has nothing to do with cold feet. Coltsfoot (tussilago farfara), or in German Huflattich, is one of the first wild flowers showing up in March - about at the same time as Daffodils. They signal the arrival of spring, and if one hasn't started to shake off the dust from the hiking boots, this is the time to do it. We selected...

A winter walk near the Höfener Mühle. Plenty of snow, glorious weather, well below the freezing point, make this hike even more desirable than in summer. The Fuhrtsbach and the Perlenbach were partly frozen. The long ascent from the valley to the Jägersief is sufficient exercise to keep warm. The shiny new shelter at the...

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...

The Perlbach valley, which during spring sees the spectacle of thousands of wild-growing daffodils, is a favourate hiking area along the German - Belgium border. For those shying away from the big Daffodil-tour, this is shorter variant. As a bonus you get the views from the Bieley, which is a rocky outcrop overlooking the...

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...

The trail visits Kölschkier, which is the place of a new nature-experience-and learning-trail, mainly for kids. Kölschkier is on a beautiful spot on the banks of the Perlenbach. Our trail starts near the Theissbaum in Kalterherberg, where one can avoid the stream of visitors that may come during the Daffodil season - though...

This is a standard for the people of the area, and good for all seasons. Most of the trail is on good forest roads and trails - only the first few hundred meters and the last are a bit rough. Part of the trail leads past the daffodil-trails (when in season). The restaurant at the Höfener Mühle is no longer open.

A rewarding tour, mostly along easy but very scenic forest paths, with some mountain trails typical for the German uplands. There are a few steep ascents, and generally much elevation gain and loss. The first part follows the long-distance Eifelsteig, the second follows the Ahr-River-Steig. The source of the river Ahr is in...

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...

Alcedo Atthis is the Kingfisher (German: Eisvogel). This trail follows some streams in the Hellenthal-Hollerath area, where - with luck - the Kingfisher may be seen. Authorities therefore created the 'Eisvogel-Trail', which we followed in part. Alas, it might have been too early in the season, we didn't see any. This is a long...

Narzissen sind endemisch in der West-Nord-Eifel, und wer nicht hinfährt ist selber schuld. Das Perlbachtal bei Kalterherberg ist das bekannteste Narzissengebiet; weniger bekannt aber nicht weniger eindrucksvoll ist das Tal der oberen Olef. Die Tour ist ziemlich lang, mit kurzen etwas schwierigen Stellen und viel Anstieg....

Eine lange Tour, 53 Kilometer, mit satten 1000 Meter kumulativem Höhenunterschied, keine befahrenen Straßen, ein Mountainbike ist zwingend. Die Narzissenzeit ist vorbei, der Ginster beginnt zu blühen. Das Eifelgold ist besonders sehenswert auf den kargen Hochflächen des Nationalparkes, einem ehemaligen...

Der Rursee ist eines der wichtigsten Touristenziele in der Nordeifel. Die Umgebung um den See ist sehr schön, und leider auch sehr oft sehr voll. Die Gegend wird besonders von Motorradfahrern frequentiert, die - wenn sie nicht gerade auf den Haarnadelkurven Rennen zu fahren scheinen - Spaß am Lärm haben. Der Mountainbiker...