Eifelsteig Hiking Trail

The Eifelsteig is a 313 km (194 mile) long-distance hiking trail through the Eifel region in western Germany. In 15 stages it runs from Aachen-Kornelimünster to Trier, crossing North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Its motto is "where rock and water accompany you." If you are looking for things to do in the Eifel on foot, you get a high moor, a national park, volcanic scenery and the Moselle on one route, or you can pick a single stage for a long weekend.

Route and background

The trail starts at the historic Korneliusmarkt in Kornelimünster, a district of Aachen, and ends in Trier, one of Germany's oldest cities. On the way it crosses the Hohes Venn (High Fens), described as Europe's largest intact raised bog, the Rur valley, Eifel National Park, the Vulkaneifel with its crater lakes (maars), and the southern Eifel with sandstone cliffs near Trier. The highest point is at Steling at 658 m, the lowest at 132 m, and the total ascent is about 7,700 m.

The Eifelverein developed the route, and it officially opened on 4 April 2009. It holds the German Hiking Seal, awarded after a review against 36 criteria. Signs show a stylized blue, green and yellow "E"; the yellow stands for the "Eifel gold" of broom and rapeseed blossoms. It is waymarked in both directions and can be hiked year-round. It is rated moderately demanding: you need good basic fitness, and some stages have significant climbs and unpaved paths.

The stages

The 15 stages range from about 14 to 29 km, with figures differing by source. The first three:

1. Kornelimünster to Roetgen: about 14 km, three to four and a half hours. You cross the Inde river, pass the Itertal viaduct and walk through the Struffelt nature reserve, where boardwalks cross heathland. It is short and fairly flat, a good warm-up.
2. Roetgen to Monschau: about 17 km to the cloth-makers' town of Monschau.
3. Monschau to Einruhr: about 24.5 km and roughly 6.5 hours.

For the remaining stages, use Eifel Tourismus or a hiking guide. Some sources list towns such as Gemünd, Steinfeld Abbey and Blankenheim further along.

Getting there and planning

Kornelimünster is a district of Aachen; check the Deutsche Bahn timetable and local bus connections for current times. Along the route you will find hotels, vacation apartments, hostels and campsites; many hosts follow the "Qualitätsgastgeber Wanderbares Deutschland" criteria and offer transfers to the trail access points. There is also an Eifelsteig hiking bus and a digital stamp passport. Eifel Tourismus in Prüm can be reached Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Best time and tips

You can hike the Eifelsteig all year. Broom and rapeseed bloom in spring, forests and heath look good in autumn, and in winter you should plan for cold and damp conditions. The first, short stage suits families best. Because some sections are narrow, unpaved paths, the trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

Nearby

At the start is the Benedictine abbey of Kornelimünster, whose church many hikers visit before setting off. Along the way you will meet Monschau, Eifel National Park and the Vulkaneifel, and at the end Trier awaits.