Hiking in winter

Fancy a hike amidst the splendour of a white winter landscape? Here, at an altitude of around 800 metres, your chances are among the best in North Rhine-Westphalia – but whether there’s snow or not, North Rhine-Westphalia’s most famous mountain offers the perfect setting for a leisurely winter hike. The circular route around the summit (which is cleared when there’s snow) offers sweeping views across the Sauerland hills at every turn. 

This short loop follows the Hochheide nature trail, which offers you fascinating insights into the area around the Astenturm at 25 different stops: from nature conservation and weather phenomena to the history of the Hochheide region, you’ll learn a great deal about this special landscape along the way. This turns the winter walk into a little discovery trip – also ideal for children.

The start and finish of the roughly two-kilometre circular walk is the Astenturm, which serves as both a hotel and restaurant – making it a great place to stop for refreshments – as well as a weather station and viewing tower. On a clear day, a climb to the top is highly recommended, which shouldn’t be a problem as the walk itself has no real incline.

The Freudenberg Half-Timbered House Trail offers double the enjoyment, as it combines the idyll of historic half-timbered houses with sweeping natural panoramas of the Siegen-Wittgenstein region. The starting point is the small town of Freudenberg, whose historic centre is known as the ‘Alter Flecken’ and, with its winding alleyways, cobbled streets and black-and-white half-timbered houses, looks like a scene from centuries past. From here, the circular route takes you out into the countryside: you’ll walk past streams, through peaceful woodland sections and reach a former smelting site that bears witness to the region’s industrial history. A tunnel passage around 400 metres long near Hohenhain also bears witness to the past: the path leads right through the middle of an old railway tunnel, lending the walk an almost adventurous feel. Afterwards, open countryside with sweeping views awaits you once more, before the path leads you back to Freudenberg.

Around the old town, you’ll find cosy cafés and restaurants where you can refuel before or after the tour – whether with coffee and cake, a bowl of soup or a hearty Siegerland dish. 

On some winter days, it’s simply too cold or too wet for long walks. Short circular walks are a great alternative on such days. In the Münsterland region, there are various trails around Nordkirchen Castle, which is also known as the ‘Versailles of Westphalia’. The 3.5-kilometre-long Bat Circular Trail, for example, leads right past Nordkirchen Castle and otherwise winds its way through old tree-lined avenues and past ponds teeming with amphibians. Further options for short walks are offered by the Oak Leaf and the Emperor’s Cloak circular walks. And if, in clear air and bright sunshine, you do feel the urge to hike, you can walk ‘From Castle to Castle’ on a 12-kilometre route from Nordkirchen Castle to Westerwinkel Castle.

In the Eifel, you can enjoy a winter walk in complete relaxation from a deckchair: On the stargazing walks at the Vogelsang IP Observatory, only the stars move – you stay in one spot and gaze up at the (hopefully clear) night sky through telescopes, binoculars and with the naked eye. Specially trained stargazing guides will explain the constellations, planets and the Milky Way to you – which, incidentally, can be seen with the naked eye here in the Eifel National Park. That’s why the region has been officially designated the Eifel National Park International Dark Sky Park. Open-to-all guided tours allow for spontaneous visits, whilst groups can request a bespoke date and location. For those who fancy a lie-in afterwards, the certified “Star Hosts” offer exactly the right package with a late-riser’s breakfast and late check-out.

When darkness falls, the Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park is always bathed in colourful light. During the torchlight tours around the disused steelworks, a few more lights are added: With torches in hand, participants set off past blast furnaces, bunkers and steel pipe structures. Along the way, a guide explains how steel used to be smelted here and how the disused steelworks has become one of the most fascinating destinations in the Ruhr Area.

If you’d rather be by the water than on a mountain peak in winter, Hennesee is the perfect spot for you. The trail, which is around eight kilometres long, takes you right along the shore – with sweeping views across the water. Here, you can walk at your own pace, take a deep breath and enjoy the crisp winter air of the Sauerland.

This regional walking trail is ideal whether you’re out with the family or enjoying a leisurely stroll as a couple. In snowy or icy conditions, the path can be slippery and icy, so sturdy, non-slip footwear and a bit of caution are recommended, depending on the weather.

There are several places to stop for refreshments around the lake: whether it’s coffee and cake with a view of the water, a hot chocolate for the kids or something hearty after your walk – here, you can combine your winter hike perfectly with a delightful break. If you’d like to stay a little longer, you’ll also find a range of accommodation options at Hennesee, from hotels to holiday flats – perfect for a short winter weekend in the Sauerland.

When winter blankets Willingen in white, the region reveals its most atmospheric side. The route begins in the idyllic hamlet of Stryck, very close to the Mühlenkopfschanze, where World Cup ski jumping events are regularly held. From here, the circular route leads up to the Ettelsberg – step by step into the mountainous landscape of the Sauerland.

Once at the top, sweeping views of the Sauerland’s hills and forests open up time and again. The route then takes you back through ‘Paradise’ – a section that truly lives up to its name when snow or hoarfrost make the landscape glisten like something out of a fairy tale.

After all, one of the best things about hiking is the breaks – and there are plenty of places to stop for refreshments along this route: at the start and finish points, as well as on the Ettelsberg, you’ll find several options to choose from. Or you could simply enjoy it all, from a bowl of soup after the first climb to a slice of cake to round off the walk.

Between Rott and Roetgen in the Eifel, the Struffeltroute offers a winter walk full of natural highlights. Circling the Dreilägerbach Dam, this circular route – approximately ten kilometres long – takes you along mostly unspoilt paths through the full diversity of this unique landscape – from tranquil woodland stretches to open raised bogs. The route takes its name from the Struffeltkopf, a hill where the wind blows in your face and you can enjoy sweeping views across the heights of the Northern Eifel. A particularly distinctive feature is the pipe-cleaner grass that grows here: its fluffy spikes, which were actually used to clean pipes in the past, create a unique atmosphere even in winter. 

As a partner trail of the Eifelsteig, the Struffel Route is well signposted and classified as ‘easy’ – ideal for a longer family walk or a relaxed day trip. Gentle to moderate ascents and descents ensure you won’t get cold, without being too taxing. Before or after the walk, you can stop off in Rott or Roetgen and warm up with a coffee, cake or a hot meal. 

Travel by train, get off and start walking straight away – the route from Vormwald to Lützel is ideal if you’re travelling without a car. From Vormwald station, the path takes you onto the Rothaarsteig. After just a few steps, you’ll reach the Ginsburg, the first highlight of the route. The short climb up to the castle is well worth it, even in winter: from the top, you can look out far across the Siegerland. The route continues through the Ginsberger Heide, a nature reserve where open plateaus alternate with woodland. In winter, the landscape here has an almost Nordic feel – barren expanses, quiet paths, crisp air. Your next destination is the Giller, at 653 metres the highest point in this area. If visibility is good, we recommend climbing the Gillerberg Tower, which offers another panoramic view over the wintry low-mountain landscape of Siegen-Wittgenstein. The circular route ends at Lützel railway station, so you can easily make your way home by train. There are places to stop for refreshments here, just as there are at the starting point, as well as at the castle ruins, in the Ginsberger Heide and on the Giller.