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Hiking in the Sauerland – experience picturesque nature

Every single day is worth it! Head into the forest and recharge your batteries; the restorative effect intensifies with every hour. Mother Nature is just a 10-minute walk away. From the large meadows at the edge of the forest, you can look out over the treetops, the idyllic town of Hallenberg, and beyond to the picturesque half-timbered town.

Feel free in this vastness. Enjoy pure nature here on hikes along the Sauerland Höhenflug hiking trail or discover the popular Sauerland Forest Route! Stroll through the forest. Find your favorite spot. And then: simply enjoy the fresh air. Take a look at our hiking routes:

Aerial view of the Heidekopf observation tower with the sun low in the sky
Map of Germany showing all federal states and the location of Hotel Diedrich

Located in the Hochsauerland region

15 kilometers south of Winterberg, North Rhine-Westphalia – Address:

Nuhnestraße 2
59969 Hallenberg

  • Approximately 45 minutes north of Marburg
  • Approximately 90 minutes south of Paderborn
  • Approximately 90 minutes west of Kassel
  • Approximately 100 minutes south of Bielefeld
  • Approximately 100 minutes north of Frankfurt
  • Approximately 140 minutes northeast of Koblenz
  • Approximately 140 minutes east of Düsseldorf
  • Approximately 140 minutes east of Cologne

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Hiking in the Sauerland is wonderful; you discover true natural beauty.

Well-known hiking trails such as the Sauerland Forest Trail and the Sauerland High Altitude Trail attract numerous hikers to the Hochsauerland region every year. Are you also longing for a vacation surrounded by impressive nature and plenty of outdoor activities? Our DIEDRICH Wellnesshotel & Spa in Hallenberg is located in the midst of beautiful natural scenery and is perfect for a varied vacation with exciting hikes. Not far from the famous town of Winterberg and the hiking resort of Schmallenberg, the picturesque half-timbered town on the edge of North Rhine-Westphalia invites you to enjoy incomparable hikes. The hiking trails in Winterberg and Schmallenberg are within easy reach of the DIEDRICH Wellnesshotel & Spa and are sure to give you a feeling of happiness. But there are also many trails in Hallenberg waiting to be discovered by you.

To make your hiking vacation a unique experience, we have compiled a list of fantastic hiking routes on this page, ranging in difficulty from easy to medium to difficult, as well as some particularly beautiful excursion tips. Explore the beauty of the region, marvel at the colorful foliage of the forests, listen to the gentle babbling of the streams, smell the scent of the flower meadows, and enjoy the magnificent view from the mountain peaks of the Rothaar Mountains.

Hiking in the Hochsauerland region: These destinations await you

Let your thoughts wander for a moment and listen to the birds chirping, the wind in the trees, or the crunch of snow under your winter boots. No matter what time of year you set off on your hiking trip, here in the Sauerland region, we have the perfect hiking trails for every season.

A couple strolls along a dirt road lined with bushes in summer weather.

Heidekopf Tower viewpoint

After a climb, the wooden observation tower at an altitude of 710 m offers a magnificent panoramic view of the Rothaar Mountains and the Hessian Highlands.

Panoramic view of the countryside from the Heidekopf observation tower

Sauerland-Stabil-Stuhl viewpoint

This wooden sculpture is a real eye-catcher on the "Königsloh" – between Hallenberg, Liesen, and Hesborn. The chair is not intended for sitting, but for climbing. From a height of 8 meters, you can enjoy the view of bird and landscape conservation areas and the beautiful Sauerland Höhenflug.

The Sauerland stable chair between Hallenberg and Hesborn, surrounded by bushes and grasses

The Sauerland is a land of caves

The Sauerland region is known for its mountains, which are perfect for hiking. As one of the most famous German poets and naturalists of the 19th century said:

Mountains are silent masters and make silent students.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749–1832

If you are also looking for a place to pause and reflect, then the Sauerland is the perfect destination for you. But did you know that there are also a number of caves to visit here? Each of these caves has its own unique character. The Attahöhle, also known as the Attendorfer Tropfsteinhöhle, is located about 70 km from our DIEDRICH Wellnesshotel & Spa and holds an underground treasure. In its depths lies a magnificent natural spectacle: artfully shaped stalagmites and stalactites grow from the rocks, and unique stone curtains hang from the ceilings, fairytale-like in their beauty, as if a magician had carved them from the rock. The temperature in the cave remains a constant 9°C in both summer and winter, making the Attendorfer Tropfsteinhöhle a popular destination for excursions in every season.

Hiking in the Sauerland: Whatever takes your fancy

This was just a brief glimpse into the wide range of hiking destinations in the Sauerland region. But there is so much more to discover in this part of Germany. Between Altena and Korbach alone, there are over 250 kilometers and 56 marked hiking destinations offering athletic or leisurely nature experiences. We would be happy to advise you on further excursion options at our hotel and put together a tour tailored to your individual needs.

Our hiking routes for you

As one of the most well-known hiking hotels in the Sauerland region, we would like to give you a few helpful tips for your hike and recommend some particularly beautiful tours. Whether you are a professional athlete or just starting out on your first hikes, here, in one of Germany's most unspoiled natural landscapes, adventurers will get their money's worth.

Hiking in the Sauerland – Nuhnewiesen nature trail

For a short, easy hike in the Sauerland region, we highly recommend the Nuhnewiesen nature trail in Hallenberg. The circular trail is around 3 kilometers long and has only slight inclines. You can start directly from our hiking hotel, as the route begins almost on our doorstep, just a 10-minute walk away. On this tour, you will walk past grazing cows, through lovely valleys and beautiful meadows. In spring, the largest contiguous meadow area in the country is transformed into a rich yellow and green. This is when the marsh marigolds bloom and reflect the color of the sun. But cuckoo flowers and numerous other meadow flowers also mingle among the carpet of blossoms. At the end of August, you can admire the pink splendor of autumn crocuses on the meadows. Bird lovers will also be delighted by rare discoveries. Keep an eye out for the whinchat, for example. The Nuhnewiese is one of the last refuges for this bird species. You can pick up a flyer at our reception desk for more information about this circular route.

Hike through the Liesetal and Hilmesberg nature reserve

North of Hallenberg, an approximately 13-kilometer adventure trail awaits you, leading from the Liese forest valley to the high heathland of the Hilmesberg. Experienced hikers can complete this route in around four hours on average, enjoying a varied tour that showcases the beauty of nature in all its many facets. Walk under the alder forest along the stream and discover the broad-leaved marsh orchid, a native orchid species that blooms in spring, amid the colorful flower meadows. Then look down from the Hilmesberg, let your gaze wander into the distance, and enjoy the pure, fresh mountain air.

Hallenberg tours: valleys, forests, historic town centers

Would you like to take in the vastness of the Sauerland region on your hike, experiencing not only idyllic landscapes but also historical buildings? Then you can experience plenty of nature and culture on this 51-kilometer high-altitude and floodplain tour. The tour starts at the market square in Hallenberg and passes pretty half-timbered houses and the late Romanesque Heribert Church, which, like Hallenberg itself, dates back to the 13th century. If you are interested, you can admire well-preserved Renaissance frescoes from the 16th century inside the church. You then leave the historic center of Hallenberg and continue hiking into the Nuhne Valley.

Hiking in the Sauerland – Sauerland Höhenflug as a highlight

You'll be close to heaven on this challenging tour. As the name suggests, the Sauerland Höhenflug (Sauerland High-Altitude Flight) takes you over the mountain ridges of the region to lofty heights. On this route, you can experience 154 kilometers of natural beauty while hiking in the Sauerland and enjoy the feeling of boundless freedom on 800-meter-high peaks. The hiking trail to the Sauerland Höhenflug is hard to miss. In Hallenberg, you will discover numerous numbered trails. Simply follow the signs, which show the route and also provide exciting information about nearby and distant destinations along the hiking route.

A tree trunk with hiking signs on sheet metal

Redhead Trail

The Rothaarsteig is a long-distance hiking trail certified by the German Hiking Association (Deutscher Wanderverband e.V.), whose main route leads from Brilon in North Rhine-Westphalia to Dillenburg in Hesse. Most of the Rothaarsteig trail runs through the Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park in the immediate vicinity of our hiking hotel and connects water with mountains: hike along the Rhine-Weser watershed, past the sources of the Ruhr, Eder, Sieg, and Lahn rivers. Climb the lofty heights of the Kahler Asten and Langenberg mountains and enjoy magnificent panoramic views over treetops, forests, and valleys. Between Schmallenberg and Bad Berleburg, you can admire culture in the heart of nature: on the Forest Sculpture Trail, renowned artists from all over the world exhibit their works, creating the greenest gallery in the Sauerland. The Rothaarsteig is also known as the Path of the Senses. The name says it all: all the colors, scents, the rustling of leaves, the silvery splashing of springs, the refreshing coolness of their water, the singing of birds. You will feel intoxicated by such unique natural beauty.

Kellerwald-Edersee National Park

This beech forest is so enchantingly beautiful that it simply has to be included on this page of hiking tips in the Sauerland. Although it is no longer located in the Sauerland, but in a nature park in Hesse, it is only half an hour's drive from our DIEDRICH Wellnesshotel & Spa. The Kellerwald is the largest beech forest in the country and one of the most beautiful forests in Europe, and it is not without reason that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of its trees are up to 200 years old and captivate hikers with their mystical, bizarre shapes. But it is not only the forest that is impressive; the beauty of the surrounding mountains and the lively splashing of up to 800 crystal-clear springs also characterize the idyllic landscape of the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park. Not to be forgotten is Lake Edersee itself, which lies picturesquely between the trees and whose bays, growing far into the beech forest, are reminiscent of wild fjords. This region is also home to the popular Lake Diemelsee, also known as the pearl of the Sauerland. Around the idyllic Lake Diemelsee, there are numerous exciting hiking trails through an incomparably beautiful natural landscape.

Hiking sign with signposts

Numbered trails

Simply follow the signs, which mark the route of numerous numbered trails in the four districts of Hallenberg. They also provide information about nearby and distant destinations along the hiking route.

Hallenberg

read

Hesborn

Braunshausen

Hiking hotel in Sauerland: The DIEDRICH Wellness Hotel & Spa in Hochsauerland

Our wellness hotel for adults is not only the perfect starting point for hikes, but also offers the perfect retreat for relaxation and recuperation after strenuous excursions. We are Sauerland hosts – so we know exactly what you need on hiking days. That's why your hiking vacation begins with a hearty breakfast to fortify you for the day's exertions. At our breakfast buffet, you can choose exactly what you feel like eating. Many of the products on offer are regional. After breakfast, it's often time to lace up your shoes and get going. Discover one of the numerous hiking trails and get to know some of the most beautiful corners of the Sauerland. After returning to the hotel, you can relax in the large spa area to your heart's content. In the evening, we will spoil you with fine cuisine in the restaurant. Here you can reflect on the past day and make plans for the days to come. Whether we welcome you for one night or several nights, we hope you feel completely at home with us and enjoy a few days of hiking in the beautiful Sauerland countryside.

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