Eifel National Park

Eifel National Park near Schleiden in western Germany is North Rhine-Westphalia's only national park and an easy nature escape from Cologne, Bonn and Aachen. Its beech forests, winding reservoirs and open uplands sit close to the Belgian border, and its dark skies are officially protected. If you are planning a day trip from Cologne into real countryside, this is one of the most rewarding options.

What makes it special

Founded on January 1, 2004, the park covers about 42 square miles (110 km²). The guiding idea is simple: let nature be nature. Spruce plantations planted by the Prussians in the 19th century are slowly giving way to native beech woods, and more than 10,500 species have been recorded, including wildcats, black storks and red deer.

Part of the park has a darker history. Around 8,200 acres were the Vogelsang military training area, used by the Belgian army after World War II and opened to the public only in 2006. On the edge of it stands Vogelsang, a former Nazi elite training center that today houses a documentation site and the park's main visitor center. Because old munitions may remain in the ground, you must stay on marked trails everywhere in the park.

Top things to do

• Visit the "Wildnis(t)räume" exhibition at the Eifel National Park Center in Vogelsang: 2,000 square meters of interactive, multilingual, barrier-free exhibits, with sweeping views of the Urft Reservoir.
• Hike the Kermeter beech forest, including the "Wilder Weg," an accessible nature trail.
• Walk the Dreiborn Plateau, a wide open grassland on the former training ground.
• Stargaze: the park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2019.
• Tackle the Wildnis-Trail, an 85-kilometer (53-mile) route crossing the park in four stages.

Tickets and opening hours

There is no admission fee for the national park itself. The exhibition (as of October 2026) is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 2 p.m. on December 24 and 31). Adults pay €8, reduced €4, families €18, and children under 7 get in free. Tickets can also be bought online. Pets are not allowed inside the exhibition. Rangers lead free guided walks on a regular schedule.

How to get there

The park center is about an hour's drive from Cologne. By public transportation, take a regional train from Cologne via Euskirchen to Kall, then the SB82 national park shuttle bus to "Vogelsang IP Forum." From Aachen, bus SB63 serves Vogelsang directly. Guests staying with partner hosts receive a GästeCard that covers local buses and trains for free. Drivers follow the B 266 to Vogelsang 70, 53937 Schleiden, where there is a paid parking lot.

Good to know

Dogs are welcome but must be leashed year-round. The trail network covers about 150 miles (240 km), so you can easily plan anything from a short stroll to a full-day hike. During dry spells, wildfire warnings may restrict access, so check the official website before you go. Is it worth visiting? Yes, especially if you combine nature with the history at Vogelsang.

Nearby

• Monschau: a picture-perfect half-timbered town in the Rur valley.
• Rursee: a large reservoir for swimming and boat trips.
• Heimbach: small town with a castle and a national park gateway center.