Eislek Trail

Starting at Kautenbach in Luxembourg and ending in La Roche-en-Ardenne in Belgium, this route doesn’t only cross borders but also passes through an astonishing amount of 30 nature reserves, 45 unique viewpoints, three cities, and 19 villages. And this whilst following 60% unpaved and natural trails.

The trailhead is located in Kautenbach. Due to its train station, it is easy to reach by public transport. However, one can hike the Eislek Trail in both directions. The trail leaves Kautenbach by taking a small and steep unpaved path that was once a path to transport cattle. The trail provides you with a breathtaking view of the valley of Wiltz before descending back to the campsite of Kautenbach.

From there, the trail takes the ‘Kriibsewee’ or ‘Lobster way’ up to the castle of Schibberech. This oddly named path is based on a story that dates back to 1748. It’s said that the owner of the castle caught two farmers catching lobsters in its river. As punishment, they had to carve this eastern path to the castle into the hillside.

After passing Lellingen and Enscherange, also known as the center of Luxembourg (which ironically is not the center of Luxembourg), the path runs through some dense forests before passing the intersection to Munshausen. This typical medieval village is well-worth a visit. Running along the hilltop, the trail treats you with a beautiful sight of the Abbey of Clervaux right before entering the city.

Following a train line, the path leaves Clervaux again to enter the lush forest of ‘Beischend.’ There’s a folklore saying that the villagers of a town that was once located in this forest, are still looking after their houses there. On the highest point of the forest, there is a stone cairn. When descending, the trail passes an airplane wreck that was downed in World War II.

After a few kilometers the trail, once again, passes a World War II memorial: an old monastery that was used as a ‘residency’ for Jewish people. A tragic history that got its own memorial on the site that is now used as an education center.

Right after, the trail ascends and descends again, before getting a clear view of the church tower of Troisvierges. The path doesn’t enter the city but runs along the river and takes you to the watermills of Tretterbach. There used to be more than 10 watermills along the river but only 5 ruins remain. At the watermill of Asselborn, you can stop for dinner, a good night’s sleep, a shop with some local products, and even some first-aid products for hikers.

After leaving the watermill of Asselborn, the path takes you up to the plateau of Wincrange. This is a beautiful wide grass hill that offers some panoramic views. From there, the plateau swings all the way to the canal of Bernistap, a canal that would’ve connected the river Maas to the river Moezel in Luxembourg using the river Ourthe in Belgium. However, this ambitious project has never been completed.

Before you fully realize it, the trail runs along and – after a kilometer or so – crosses the border into Belgium. After walking through some forests, you bump into the city ‘Houffalize.’ Due to its unique location, Houffalize was never able to expand. Therefore, all the streets (and their names) have remained pretty much the same as in the past. Houffalize is a well-known holiday destination for Belgians who are looking for a little getaway in their own country.

After leaving Houffalize, the trail runs under the big viaduct of Highway E25 before entering the mysterious forests of ‘Nabiselle.’ If you’re lucky, you might even spot an otter, a wild cat, or a black woodpecker. Right up the hill, the trail passes the village ‘Bonnerue.’ Due to its location, you’ll be greeted by some panoramic views over the valley. The trail then runs through the forests to stumble across the confluence of the two Ourthes (rivers) and the dam of Nisramont before ascending to Nadrin.

Starting from Nadrin, the trail descends very steeply to the river bank. This is the area of ‘Hérou,’ called out as one of the most extraordinary Walloon heritage sites due to its beautiful and authentic views of the river Ourthe as well as beautiful rock formations.

From the river bank, the trail follows ‘Le Cheslé,’ which are roads that were used for carts and trolleys in the First Iron Age (approximately 2500 years ago). When ascending back to the next village, do keep your eyes open, if you’re lucky you might even spot a beaver!

After passing some small villages, the trail enters once again a forest and starts its descent to La Roche-en-Ardenne, a city known for its rocky massif and its castle on top of the hill in the city center, and the ending destination of the Eislek Trail. Don’t forget to grab a nice and tasty Belgian waffle (which can be found at the ice cream shop right before the entryway to the castle) before heading out of the city again.

Luxembourg and Belgium have moderate temperatures year-round. Therefore this trail can be walked any time of year. During the winter, around November until March, it can be cold and occasionally snowy. Due to the steep passages along the way, it is not recommended to hike the trail during the winter months. In summer, from June until September, the temperatures are higher. However, the weather can be unpredictable so one should always be prepared for rain.

The Eislek Trail is located in a very hilly part of Luxembourg and Belgium. Some parts can be physically demanding. Therefore comfortable hiking shoes and a good backpack are no luxury items on this trail. I also recommend hiking with trekking poles, especially when the rocks get slippery to obtain balance but also to restrain any knee injuries when descending down.

The trail is marked in both directions and it’s never far from a village. But do bring your own map or topo guide and the official GPX file to make sure you don’t get lost in the woods when the waymarkings aren’t clear. In case of emergencies, it’s important to know your way back to the nearest village.