Hiking under the sign of the wildcat - hiking tip of the day "Wilderness Trail Stage 1"

The first of the four stages of the Wilderness Trail is already a tough one and gets off to a challenging start. It takes you around 24 kilometers from Höfen to Einruhr. A varied route lies at your feet - with romantic meadow valleys, the picturesque Erkensruhr valley and the natural forest cell "Im Brand". Additional adrenaline highs are not neglected either. The high-altitude trail near Hirschrott will get your pulse racing. All the more rewarding is the view of the Obersee lake in front of you when you reach the end of the stage.

Good to know: The Wilderness Trail logo with the stylized wildcat symbol shows you the way along the entire route. The stage is classified as "medium" and involves climbing a few meters in altitude. A good basic level of fitness is therefore a prerequisite for completing the trail.

The tour at a glance

The tour starts at the national park gate in the Monschau district of Höfen, where it immediately descends into the Perlenbach valley. A short descent is followed by an ascent past Fuhrtsbach and Döppeskaul. The highest point of the stage is reached at Wahlerscheid. Time to take a deep breath. After the short breather, the route continues alternately uphill and downhill along the Wüstebach stream, into the Erkensruhr valley and to Einruhr on the Obersee lake. The first stage is now complete. The only thing missing is a well-deserved end to the day. In Einruhr, you can treat yourself to regional delicacies or enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the village. The water garden at the Heilsteinhaus is also well worth a visit. Here, tired limbs quickly get back into shape.

Some highlights of the first stage of the Wilderness Trail are ...

... the Höfen National Park Gate with its interesting exhibition

... the blooming fields of daffodils in spring

... the idyllic Erkensruhr valley

... the natural forest cell "Im Brand"

... the beginnings of the vast Dreiborn plateau

... the adventurous high-altitude trail near Hirschrott

... the fantastic views of the Obersee lake

... the Einruhr National Park information point with the hiking rest stop

... the water garden directly at the Heilsteinhaus

... the healing stone fountain in the inner courtyard of the Heilsteinhaus

... the Einruhr natural adventure pool