Germany’s Ahornweg – hiking among trees, blossoms and spas

The Ahornweg (Maple Way) is a 100-kilometre (62 mi) circular hiking trail through the beautiful landscapes of Germany’s southern Osnabrück region. The route forms a figure of eight, divided into a shorter northern loop and a longer southern loop. Green ridges and spectacular lookout towers give you a view of the many facets of the Osnabrück region.

The entire long-distance trail takes you through part of the Teutoburg Forest, which is located in the TERRA.vita Nature and Geopark. In addition to slowing down in the forest and enjoying wide flower meadows, three health spa resorts – Bad Iburg, Bad Rothenfelde and Bad Laer – ensure you can fully relax. Dip your feet in the Kneipp pools and take a deep breath.

Historical and architectural highlights, such as the new tree top walk and the castle in Bad Iburg, make the Ahornweg even more varied. There is something for amateur geologists too: you can learn about the Noller Gorge and Hase Spring south of Wellingholzhausen on information boards. In spring, the lush colours of blooming flowers at Freeden near Bad Iburg, the magnificent cherry blossoms in Hagen and the splendour of the Blomberg blossoms near Bad Laer await.

The Ahornweg is one of the oldest and most popular hiking trails in the Osnabrück region and has been guiding nature lovers to five towers and countless views for 50 years. In this Collection we’ve divided the 100-kilometre (62 mi) trail into five stages. Since the short and long loop meet in Bad Iburg, you can also hike them independently of each other. The Collection starts in Bad Iburg, but you can of course also start at other places en route.

The easily accessible hiking trails, signposted by a maple leaf, lead you through hilly landscapes with overnight stops in Hagen, Bad Iburg, Wellingholzhausen and Bad Rothenfelde. You don't need any long-distance hiking experience, just a bit of stamina, as some of the stages are more than 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) long. This means anyone with a decent amount of fitness can relax and enjoy the Ahornweg.