Hiking trails in the Eifel: Traumpfade from the Waldsee

Introduction

Around the Riedener Waldsee lies one of the densest networks of premium walking trails in Germany. The trails are called Traumpfade — 27 circular routes in all, plus 14 shorter Traumpfädchen, certified by the Deutsches Wanderinstitut.

Some context, because it often gets muddled: these trails belong to the Traumpfadeland Rhein-Mosel-Eifel in the district of Mayen-Koblenz. They are not in the district of Vulkaneifel, which begins around 40 kilometres to the west.

Straight from the front door

Waldseepfad Rieden

The trail begins right at the lake. The high point is the climb to the Gänsehalsturm — the tower is 74 metres high, and the viewing platform at 24 metres is reached by 108 steps.

Worth knowing when you plan: the tower is closed from the start of the frost period until Easter. There is hardly anywhere to stop for food along the way, so take supplies with you.

Traumpfädchen Riedener Seeblick

Around 5 kilometres, graded easy. It stays close to the lake and works with smaller children too. The right choice for arrival day, or for a morning.

A short drive away

Traumpfad Vulkanpfad: approx. 8 km away

Starts at the Hochsimmerhalle in Ettringen. It runs over the Bellberg and the Kottenheimer Büden and past the “Sieben Stuben", shelter caves from the Second World War. The old basalt quarries give this trail a landscape all of its own, and it is at its finest in autumn light.

Traumpfad Monrealer Ritterschlag: approx. 15 km away

Starts in Monreal. The grading “difficult" is meant seriously — steep sections, and considerably more demanding than the Waldseepfad. In return, it is one of the best-known trails in the region.

A second Traumpfad, the Hochbermeler, also starts near Monreal.

Laacher See lakeside circuit: approx. 9 km away

Right around the Laacher See, largely flat and close to the water. The easiest of the trails named here, and the one that gives the most back for the effort, because along the way you see the mofettes: bubbles of gas rising from the dormant volcano.

If you want more, take the ridge circuit ML 1 over the crater rim: 14.1 km, 270 metres of ascent, 3.5 to 4.5 hours, passing the Lydiaturm tower of 1927 on the way.

Sorted by difficulty

Easy — with children too, or after a long break from walking

• Traumpfädchen Riedener Seeblick (5 km)
• Laacher See lakeside circuit (8.4 km)

Moderate — for a full day’s walking

• Waldseepfad Rieden (14.2 km, 464 m ascent)
• Laacher See ridge circuit (14.1 km, 270 m ascent)

Difficult — for the fit, in proper boots

• Monrealer Ritterschlag (13.7 km, 508 m ascent)

The great long-distance trails

If you want to walk several days in a row, there are three top-rated long-distance trails within reach:

• Eifelsteig — 313 km in 15 stages, Aachen to Trier. The stages run between 14 and 28 kilometres.
• Rheinsteig — on the right bank of the Rhine, from Bonn to Wiesbaden
• RheinBurgenWeg — on the left bank of the Rhine, from Remagen to Bingen

You can tackle all three stage by stage from the Waldsee: drive out, walk a stage, drive back.

Walking with a dog

All the trails named here work with a dog on the lead. What does not work is the bathing area at the Riedener Waldsee, where dogs are not allowed at any time of year.

The details are in Dog-friendly holiday home in the Eifel.

Current closure

The best time of year to walk

May and June — fresh green, long days, moderate temperatures Mid-September to the end of October — leaf colour and the most settled spell of weather in the year November to March — bare trees, but long views; the underrated season July and August — warm, at times humid, so start early

There is more on that in The Eifel in autumn.

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