Rothaarsteig

You will begin the Rothaarsteig in Brilon, where you will leave from the town center and almost immediately enter the forest. After a while, you will climb onto ridge paths and pass the source of the Möhne. After the Möhne, the trail will lead you through beech and spruce forests before you reach the Bruchhauser Steine rock formations. These are a great place for a lunch or snack break, as they’re so cool and worth a little extra time. From there, you will descend toward Willingen, where you’ll have great views before you reach your end point for the day. But you can also end your first stage at Bruchhausen, which you will find is a quality host for sleeping. Along the way, there are also more of these extra Rothaarsteig accommodations.

On stage two, you will leave Willingen and begin hiking uphill to the Langenberg, the highest point on the Rothaarsteig. The trail keeps you on your toes! First, the forest, next, the highest point in the region. Once you descend from the Langenberg, you will follow forest tracks again and ridge paths until you reach the source of the Ruhr and continue toward Winterberg.

Leaving Winterberg on stage three, you will walk straight into higher ground, a good wake-up for the day. You will climb onto the Kahler Asten and follow the wide ridge trails through the uplands. You will pass Neuastenberg and Langewiese, where the farmland will meet forests again. You will also pass a fresh water spring (Ruhrquelle) for a break. The trail will stay high above the valleys, and you will walk long, smooth sections before reaching Schanze for the night.

Schanze is a beautiful small town, and you can camp here at the Almhütte. From Schanze, you can choose between 2 Rothaarsteigs paths, just check the signs or the original map. If you descend into the Grubental on narrow paths through the forest, you will follow a small stream before climbing back to the ridge near Latrop. Afterwards, you can have lunch at Schäferhos, a beautiful family-owned spot with regional food. Then, from there, you will hike across open high countryside and continue toward the Rhein-Weser Tower. This part is really beautiful as the meadows and mixed forest will frame the views while you hike across the backbone of the Rothaar Mountains.

After the Rhein-Weser Tower, you will descend into the Schwarzbach Valley and follow smaller side valleys. You will climb again toward the Heinsberger Heide and cross hilly terrain. Then, you will scale the Giller and walk up to the Giller Tower, where you will get beautiful views before continuing toward Lützel near Hilchenbach.

From Lützel, you will walk toward Lahnhof through quiet Siegerland forest. This is where you will reach the source region of three major rivers. You will pass the Sieg Spring first, then Eder Spring, and then follow the old trade routes toward the Lahn Spring. You will finish this stage at the source of the Lahn near Lahnhof, one of the best-known landmarks on the Rothaarsteig.

On the seventh stage, as you leave Lahnhof, you will hike along narrow trails and old boundary tracks toward Wilgersdorf. You will pass Ilse Spring and walk along sections of historic stone paths. Here, the ridgelines will alternate with meadow crossings to give you some variety, and the beech trees will show you where the old borders were. You will descend gradually into Wilgersdorf as the hills begin to soften.

Finally, on the last day from Wilgersdorf, you will follow forest paths toward the Dill Valley. You will pass the Lucaseiche natural monument, a beautiful beech forest, and cross low ridges before your final descent into Dillenburg, where you will finish the Rothaarsteig in the old town.

The best time of the year to hike the Rothaarsteig is spring through early autumn. This is when you will have the best weather, and any residual snow will be gone. Of course, in the high-summer between July and August, there is a higher likelihood of busier trails as people take their holidays. However, the only real consequence of that is you may need to book your accommodations a bit further in advance.

The Rothaarsteig is a great trail for beginning long-distance hikers and experienced hikers alike, as you can sleep in accommodations along the way, and resources are never too far. However, you still need to prepare before you hit the trail! To prepare for the Rothaarsteig, try packing clothing that can handle multiple types of weather and lots of layers. Hiking in the forest can be cooler, and then when it’s time to climb the hills on each stage, you’ll warm up very fast.

Additionally, it is always a good idea to pack a first aid kit (and know how to use it), an extra battery pack in case your navigation device dies (and the cords to charge it), and a waterproof cover for your backpack, just in case you have some afternoon showers as you walk.

Finally, the Rothaarsteig can have challenging days, like when you climb to the highest point in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Langenberg, so it is good to have a basic level of cardio fitness and endurance before you begin this hike. You can train this by taking test hikes or runs on trails, working on your balance, and forcing yourself outside even in uncomfortable weather to work on your mental stamina.

The Rothaarsteig is a moderately difficult trail because of the daily elevation gain and descent. Over 8 days, you will climb around 3500 meters, which is about 400 per day. This can take a toll on your body, especially when carrying a heavy pack. However, with some training beforehand and a basic level of fitness, the average person should be able to manage this without any issues.