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The 15 stages of the Eifelsteig Trail — Between rocks and waters

© Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH | Foto: Dominik Ketz

The 15 stages of the Eifelsteig Trail — Between rocks and waters

Hiking Collection by Top Trails of Germany

15

days

4-7 h

/ day

194 mi

20,825 ft

20,900 ft

The Eifelsteig leads you in 15 daily stages from north to south through the entire Eifel. The Eifelsteig has a lot to offer you: Views that will take your breath away, wide valleys full of dense forests in which chilly streams flow, climbs that will make you sweat and landscapes like you have never seen them before.
On your hike through the westernmost German low mountain range you will get to know the cultural heritage and the diverse geological history of the region at the same time. Even the Romans settled west of the Rhine and you can still discover the traces of their towns, villages and castles. The most famous Roman building on the Eifelsteig is of course the Porta Nigra, the black city gate in Trier. On the Eifelsteig you will also find numerous castle ruins, historical handicraft workshops and buildings from the early industrialisation.

But the main protagonist of your hike is and remains the varied landscape of the Eifel: in the north, densely wooded mountain ranges and quiet reservoirs enchant you, you walk through hilly plateaus, visit picturesque volcanic meadows and in the very south, rugged sandstone rocks and ancient caves await you. No matter what time of the year you go, the Eifel is always dressed beautifully. In the spring, you’ll be witness to colorful meadows and flowering shrubs, while the summer brings deep green valleys and rippling streams. As the nights grow longer, fall reveals colorful pots and horizons of sparkling gold, before the winter slows everything down: cool, clear and crystallized.

On the Eifelsteig you cover a distance of about 313 kilometres in 15 stages. With a total of around 6,700 metres of altitude difference on the ascent, the Eifel proves to you that it is a genuine low mountain range. But you don't have to worry - the climbs and descents are evenly distributed over all 15 stages. Thanks to good bus and train connections, you can also plan only one section of the Eifelsteig or divide the entire tour into several hikes. The cities of Urft at the end of the fifth stage, Blankenheim at the end of the sixth stage, Hillesheim after the eighth stage, Gerolstein after the ninth stage and Kordel at the end of the 14th stage are the best starting or finishing points for a section - all five cities have their own railway station and can therefore be easily reached by Deutsche Bahn regional trains.

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Eifelsteig

198 mi

21,825 ft

22,125 ft

Last updated: February 7, 2023

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All 15 stages of the Eifelsteig

  • Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

    Etappe 01: Von Kornelimünster nach Roetgen – der Eifelsteig

    Expert
    04:04
    9.10 mi
    2.2 mph
    1,050 ft
    450 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

    Your hike begins in the tranquil Kornelimünster near Aachen, through which the small river Inde flows. From the former Benedictine abbey in the historic town center, it starts along the Inde. On the Itertal Viaduct it goes out into the world and also over the first meters of altitude. Up over narrow

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  • Intermediate
    04:48
    10.8 mi
    2.2 mph
    1,000 ft
    1,000 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    From the tranquil Roetgen it goes over the Vennbahntrasse. Soon you will leave Germany behind you for most of the hike and dive into the moorland of the High Fens in Belgium. The hike through the rugged and unspoilt landscape of the Fens is a real adventure. After about half of the way, the Steling refuge

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  • Expert
    07:04
    15.0 mi
    2.1 mph
    2,025 ft
    2,450 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Today you hike out of Monschau into the valley of the Rur. After a good ascent, you circle around in a wide arc, always looking at the roofs of the city, the place you have just left behind. Narrow paths lead through the Perlenbachtal.

    

    Walking along the eastern bank of the Perlenbachtalsprre, you will

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  • Expert
    05:56
    12.7 mi
    2.1 mph
    1,725 ft
    1,575 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    On the fourth stage you can expect interesting history, places worth seeing and a picturesque nature - not to forget the fascinating views of the lakes of the Eifel. You walk across the Obersee to the Eifel National Park.

    

    Here Urft and Rur meet and you follow the bank over hill and dale to the dam wall

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  • Expert
    05:02
    11.0 mi
    2.2 mph
    1,575 ft
    1,000 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    About a third of the day the hike takes you through the valley of the Olef. You hike steadily uphill to Kuckucksley and can enjoy a break at the refuge there and the beautiful view over the wide Oleftal. Then it goes down to the small town of Olef. The second third of the day begins with a gentle ascent

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  • Expert
    06:31
    15.1 mi
    2.3 mph
    900 ft
    1,000 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Today you are walking in the footsteps of the Romans. Before you come across it, however, you cross the Gillesbach and hike along the western flank of the Königsberg with the towers of Steinfeld Monastery in view. After a leisurely hike in the dense forest, you will come back to the Urft valley, which

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  • Intermediate
    04:59
    11.2 mi
    2.2 mph
    1,050 ft
    1,075 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    From Blankenheim you hike up and down through the wooded region and follow the historical "bread path". There is a rustic refuge here for a quiet break. Immediately afterwards, the forest path leads slightly downhill into the Schaafbachtal near Ripsdorf. Past the church, you cross an agricultural region

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  • Expert
    07:11
    16.3 mi
    2.3 mph
    1,325 ft
    1,375 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    You start your hike at Mirbach's impressive Erlöserkapelle. It's worth taking a look inside and marveling at the golden mosaic. We continue on pleasant paths through green forests and meadows. Soon you will catch the first glimpses of the volcanic landscape of the Eifel. On your way you will pass a striking

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  • Expert
    05:37
    12.1 mi
    2.2 mph
    1,400 ft
    1,650 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

    On the way out of the crime town of Hillesheim, you immediately walk to the remains of the historic city wall. A short visit is worthwhile here, just for the great all-round view. We continue to the lakes, limestone cliffs and the Hillesheimer Bach in the Bolsdorfer Valley - pure nature.

    

    Then you come

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  • Expert
    06:57
    14.9 mi
    2.1 mph
    2,075 ft
    1,875 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Before you start, you can fill up your drinking bottle with mineral water at the Gerolsteiner Helenenquelle. The water comes from the depths of the Eifel, the carbon dioxide is natural and has not been added. Then it goes uphill straight away, to the ruins of Löwenburg. From here you have a wide view

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  • Expert
    06:39
    14.4 mi
    2.2 mph
    1,675 ft
    1,875 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    From Daun today it goes first to the Liesertal and further up to the Gemündener Maar, the first of three maars that you will encounter on the Eifelsteig. It goes up to the Mäuseberg and the Dronketurm. From here you can already see the next maar.

    

    The Totenmaar, actually called Weinfelder Maar, you will

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  • Expert
    05:17
    11.5 mi
    2.2 mph
    1,300 ft
    1,475 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Just like yesterday, it continues today: quiet, lonely, through untouched nature. You hike on narrow paths through the forest, the slopes of the Liesertal become narrower and narrower. On the way there are some shelters that invite you to take a break. Here you can let the silence affect you again.

    

    Later

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  • Expert
    05:30
    12.7 mi
    2.3 mph
    725 ft
    1,075 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    You are now in the Salmtal and follow the Salm river through an idyllic landscape on a winding path without much incline. Historic mills greet you at the edge of the path, you continue on lonely to the outskirts of Landscheid, and then dive straight back into the Salmtal. The river leads you to the village

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  • Expert
    07:02
    16.0 mi
    2.3 mph
    1,200 ft
    1,350 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    ATTENTION: Due to the flood events in summer 2021, the stage is currently only accessible as far as the Deimlinger Mühle and ends around five kilometers before the actual stage destination. From there there are train connections to the stage destination.

    

    ---

    

    The penultimate day will be crisp again; it

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  • Expert
    05:17
    11.0 mi
    2.1 mph
    1,775 ft
    1,650 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

    Today is your last day on the Eifelsteig and it shouldn't be difficult for you to enjoy it again to the fullest. Today the long-distance hiking trail shows everything it has. It starts with a slight up and down through the Kylltal, you pass the Ramstein Castle and the picturesque Butzerbachtal.

    

    Waterfalls

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Collection Stats

  • Tours
    15
  • Distance
    194 mi
  • Duration
    87:54 h
  • Elevation
    20,825 ft20,900 ft

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