Eifel Heights Route
Up and down through the Eifel
The 230 kilometre long multi- day stretch passes 3 reservoirs and rough rock formations around the Eifel National Park. It offers challenging altitude profiles and fantastic panoramic views. Starting points are at the railway stations in Mechernich, Kall, Urft, Nettersheim, Blankenheimer-Wald, Dahlem and Heimbach. These options make arrival and departure environmentally friendly.
Beautiful sights left and right along the way
Highlights around Hellenthal
Along the route you will pass the Hellenthal Birds of Prey Compound / Wildlife Park with its famous birds of prey station and the Oleftalsperre. Friends of medieval times will enjoy a visit to Reifferscheid with the castle enthroned above the town.
Eifel National Park & Water
Along this route you will come past Rurtalsperre which is the located in the Eifel National Park and is the second largest reservoir of its kind. From there you cycle past Heimbach toward Mechernich. There you can visit the LVR Kommern Open-Air Heritage Museum. Or alternatively, you can take the short cut via the Kneipp spa town of Gemünd.
Monastery walls, Roman relicts and a mighty castle
The Eifel Heights Route leads you through Mechernich, towards Kall and later to Kall-Urft, from where you can take a small detour to visit Steinfeld Monastery with its impressive basilica. By following the route through the Urft valley, you’ll arrive in Nettersheim where the former Roman aqueduct to Cologne found its origin. In addition to the Eifel Nature Centre and its interesting exhibits, you can search for archeological clues in the Archeological Landscape Park. The next stage goal is the Eifel town of Blankenheim with its impressive castle and the Eifel Museum.
Scenic landscape finale
At the end of the Eifel Heights Route you cycle along the upper Ahr to the Lampertstal, which reminds you of Tuscany with its impressive juniper hillsides. From there, the route takes you to Dahlem where you have an environmentally departure option with the cycle and hike train station.
Further information about the Eifel Heights Route
- Order free and/or paid information material
- Our package deal for the Eifel Heights Route
- Further information www.eifel-hoehen-route.de
- Eifel-Heights-Route as PDF download
- Tour planner outdoor active
Eifel cycle and hike bus (line 771)
The Eifel cycle and hike bus is in operation again from April 10. 2020 to October 25. 2020 on weekends, long weekends and on statutory holidays. The bus is on route between Schmidtheim train station - Kronenburg - Losheim - Weißer Stein - Hollerath and Hellenthal.
You have the option to hop on and hop off three times a day with starting and finishing points at Kyll-Cycle Route and the Eifel Heights Route. The trailer of the cycle and hike bus can accommodate up to 16 bicycles or e-bikes.
Hikers are also welcome on the bus and find numerous hiking opportunities along the route such as the Eifel loops & Eifel traces, and the path to the wild narcissus in Hol-lerath. In Kronenburg and Hellenthal you have connections to the EifelSteig partner trails Eifel source path and Castle Route.
The fare complies with the VRS rate. In addition to your single ticket you will need to purchase the bicycle ticket in order to use the bus. You will need an adult ticket, price level 1b/2a, a set of 4 adult ticket, price level 1b/2a, or a bike day ticket for unlimited tra-vel in NRW. Different regulations may apply if you own a VRS-pass.
If you bring a dog, you are required to follow the transportation rules of the VRS.
Bicycle bags must be removed from to bicycles in advance of loading the bicycle onto the trailer.
A reservation for a ride on the Eifel cycle and hike bus is not possible.
Further information is provided in the folding map “tourist lines 2020”. Exact travel times can be found on the timetable.
Other tourist lines
There are several options to get to the starting points for your hikes. In addition to the EifelSteig cycle & hike bus (line 770) you have the options for bus line SB 82 from Kall train station - via Gemünd - to Vogelsang IP and line 829 from Kall train station - via Gemünd - Olef - Schleiden - and Hellenthal as a shuttle.
The EifelSteig hiking bus and the Eifel cycle & hike bus connect the stages of the premium hiking trail EifelSteig and its partner trails.
Plan your trip on the Eifel Heights route or the Kyll Cycle route online.