Recently, a friend and I set out to explore the Eifel region in Germany, hiking two of potentially the best stages on the Eifelsteig, one of Germany’s most popular long-distance trails. The Eifelsteig consists of 15 stages and a total of 313 kilometers of trails through the volcanic landscape of the Eifel region.
We hiked Stage 11 from Daun to Manderscheid and Stage 12 from Manderscheid to Kloster Himmerod. To add some extra thrill, we also took on the Burgenklettersteig, a klettersteig or via ferrata, which starts in Manderscheid. The combination of varied landscapes, historic landmarks, flowy trails, and the climbing section on the last day made this a perfect long weekend trip for hikers. I personally really enjoyed this, especially because it was so close to my home in the Netherlands.
Editor
Elmar Teegelbeckers
Passionate hiker Elmar spends months of his time on the trail. He’s usually on the lookout for hidden gems in one of his favourite countries such as Slovenia, Switzerland and Japan. He founded hiking-trails.com in need for a community and detailed information about the trails. Before this, he worked for the Alpine asscociation in the Netherlands[ (NKBV) but lost his heart to the trails.
Not long ago, Elmar published the book (in Dutch) Hiking Trails – best long-distance trails in Europe. With this book, website and socials, he hopes to inspire and shape an inclusive community for hikers all over world. No matter your speed, experience or level, you can get out there to enjoy the trails and connect with the heartwarming hiking community. Life is so much better outside and he hopes to inspire hikers to take their first, or next, step on the trail.
Our hiking trip began in Daun, a small town surrounded by ancient volcanic lakes called Maaren. Setting off early in the morning, we followed the well-marked Eifelsteig signs as they led us through the hills, along the Maaren into the first wooded sections. The initial part of the trail was relatively gentle, a perfect start for us to get into our hiking rhythm again.
One of the highlights of stage11 was when we reached the Dronketurm, a stone observation tower located on the Mäuseberg. The panoramic view from the top offered views of the surrounding landscape and even larger cities way further away. From here, the trail began to ascend and descend more frequently through the woods. It’s a relatively easy stage today.
As we approached Manderscheid, the trail took us along a nice ridge path that provided glimpses of the two castles that the town is known for: the Oberburg and Niederburg. The sight of these medieval ruins perched on opposing hillsides, separated by the Lieser Valley, was a great way to end this hike. After arriving in Manderscheid, we took some time to explore the town and had a nice late afternoon snack at the local bakery. The perfect way to end a good day of hiking.
Eifelsteig stage 12: Manderscheid to Kloster Himmerod
The next stage kicked off with more varied terrain, as we left Manderscheid behind and descended into the Lieser Valley. This stage, approximately 18 kilometers, took us deeper into the heart of the Eifel, with more narrow trails and a mix of forests, open pastures, and riverside hiking trails. Early in the day, we crossed several wooden bridges over the Lieser River, enjoying the quietness of this unknown trail. By this point, we hadn’t seen any other people on the Eifelsteig!
The hike gradually led us uphill to several viewpoints of the valley below. We stopped for a break at some rocky stones, enjoying a packed lunch in the deep forest. I can’t reiterate enough how peaceful it is out there. The trail itself was well-maintained, with occasional signs that shared insights into the geology and history of the area. Further on, the trail began to level out, taking us toward the grounds of Kloster Himmerod, a Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century. The abbey’s quiet surroundings and atmosphere were a contrast to the forest terrain we had hiked earlier in the day. We took some time to walk through the abbey garden and rested at the shop where you can buy the special Himmeroder Abteibier, a beer brewed by the monks from a neighboring Kloster.
The best for last: the Burgenklettersteig, Via Ferrata Manderscheid
Feeling good and fit after completing the two stages of the Eifelsteig, we decided to tackle the Burgenklettersteig, a short but amazing klettersteig route near Manderscheid. The Burgenklettersteig isn’t a long route, but it offers three different trails from moderate to difficult. We decided to climb all three of the klettersteigs, which normally takes about three to four hours.
The route took us along the cliffs surrounding the Niederburg castle, with views of the castle ruins, the Lieser Valley, and the rivers below. The Burgenklettersteig is rated from moderate to difficult, and it’s mandatory to bring your via ferrata equipment (helmet, harness, via ferrata kit, and gloves). You can rent this equipment and additionally book a guide at the Visitor Center in Manderscheid. We found it to be a perfect complement to the hiking we’d done, as it required a bit more concentration and effort, especially on the steeper sections.
The Burgenklettersteig is a unique klettersteig and you shouldn’t miss this! It added a perfect adventure element to this trip and was a great way to experience the landscape from a different perspective by climbing instead of hiking.
Hiking in the Eifel and two stages of the Eifelsteig from Daun to Manderscheid and Manderscheid to Kloster Himmerod, along with the Burgenklettersteig, was a perfect three-day weekend trip to explore the Eifel region’s natural and historical attractions. The trails offered a nice balance of physical challenge and scenic flowy trails, without being overly strenuous.
You can find more information about all the stages of the Eifelsteig on our trail page and find everything you need to know about the Burgenklettersteig here. Please note that you can only do the Burgenklettersteig with a via ferrata-kit and if you have the know-how of how to use it. Otherwise, you can always book a guide and rent the material at the visitor center.
Happy trails! 😊
Further on, the trail began to level out, taking us toward the grounds of Kloster Himmerod, a Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century. The abbey’s quiet surroundings and atmosphere were a contrast to the forest terrain we had hiked earlier in the day. We took some time to walk through the abbey garden and rested at the shop where you can buy the special Himmeroder Abteibier, a beer brewed by the monks from a neighboring Kloster.
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