Rothaarsteig from Willingen to Winterberg

#deinsauerland / Neusta Touren / Rothaarsteig from Willingen to Winterberg

This stage of the Rothaarsteig leads 22 km from Willingen to Winterberg - via the highest point in North Rhine-Westphalia (Langenberg 843 m), the Richtplatz, the Niedersfelder Hochheide and the Ruhrquelle to the winter sports resort of Winterberg.

Tour starting point:

Willingen

Tour destination point:

Winterberg

Properties:

Summit
Refreshment stop
Accommodation option
Signage
Tour with dog
Quality Trail Wanderbares Deutschland
Good public transport connections
free of charge / accessible at any time

Additional Information

You can find more information about the Rothaarsteig at www.rothaarsteig.de and by calling the free service hotline on +49 2974 499 4163, where we will also be happy to advise you personally on your tour planning.

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Length

24.9 km

Duration

7:09 h

Elevation ascent

558 m

Elevation descent

471 m

Lowest point

570 m

Highest point

847 m

Condition

Difficulty

Recommended seasons

J F M A M J J A S O N D

This stage on the Rothaarsteig starts in Willingen. The access path leads up to the Richtplatz. From here, the Rothaarsteig turns south and runs over the Rothaar ridge on the Hessian state border, which is also the watershed between the Rhine and Weser. From the Richtplatz, it is then not far to the Langenberg (843 m), the highest mountain in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The trail continues over the ridge to the Neuer Hagen nature reserve, the largest high or mountain heath in North Rhine-Westphalia with a small moorland area. On the edge of the nature reserve is the Clemensberg (839 m), one of the few Rothaar peaks that has no forest and therefore offers a beautiful view even without a viewing tower. Passing the source of the Hoppecke, the trail continues over the Hillekopf (805m) to Küstelberg.

From Küstelberg, the Rothaarsteig trail heads west and passes the former Wagenschmier quarry. The medieval Heidenstraße, which also runs here, has left impressive traces in the landscape.

The trail then reaches the source of the Ruhr, which gives its name to the Ruhrgebiet, Germany's largest conurbation. The last section of this stage leads right into the heart of the winter sports resort of Winterberg. Shortly before reaching the town center, the Rothaarsteig descends into the Helletal, an alpine-like gorge with a rainforest atmosphere in the middle of the Rothaargebirge mountains. A piece of landscape full of bizarre beauty in the middle of Winterberg.

Langenberg (highest mountain in NRW)

Aussichtspunkt Hillekopf

Charging station for electric cars Küstelberg

Wanderparkplatz Dorfmitte Küstelberg

Information

Directions

Willingen - Richtplatz - Langenberg - Neuer Hagen nature reserve - Clemensberg - Hoppecke spring - Hillekopf - Medebach bay - Küstelberg - Ruhr spring - Winterberg

Equipment

The Rothaarsteig leads along numerous natural paths away from agricultural and forestry roads. Weatherproof clothing and sturdy shoes are therefore a must for every hike. We want you to experience the "Path of the Senses" not only "dry" but also "well". In our small hiking store at www.rothaarsteig.de/shop you will also find a selection of Rothaarsteig items to prepare for your tour or as a souvenir. We are also happy to recommend the durable and high-quality outdoor equipment from our long-standing partner, the outdoor outfitter Tatonka.

Hiking rucksack
With a suitable hiking rucksack, your tour on the Rothaarsteig is twice as much fun! Thanks to their ventilated carrying system, hiking rucksacks are very comfortable to wear, as this ensures that sweat can evaporate immediately. They can be fastened with a waist or hip belt and thus sit firmly on your back with every movement. They are also equipped with a practical holder for hiking poles and often have a compartment with a tube outlet for a hydration bladder, so that hydration is ensured at all times.
Here you can find hiking rucksacks from outdoor outfitter Tatonka in various sizes for day hikes and multi-day tours and with different ventilated back systems.

First aid kit
To ensure that you can enjoy your hiking tour on the Rothaarsteig without any restrictions, you should always have a first aid kit in your rucksack. After all, nothing is more annoying than not being able to immediately treat a blister on your foot or minor injuries properly. Tatonka's first aid kits are filled with all the important materials for the initial treatment of injuries and also contain an "outdoor cheat sheet" with a concise and clear guideline for the correct behaviour in case of emergencies in the great outdoors. You can find Tatonka's first aid kits here!

Food and drinks
On some stages, especially between Lahnhof and Dillenburg, there are unfortunately no refreshment stops along the way. Remember to pack food and drink, especially here. Especially in summer, it is important to stay hydrated.The stainless steel bottles, stainless steel insulated jugs and stainless steel lunch boxes from the German outdoor equipment manufacturer Tatonka are not only practical, but also unbreakable and durable.

Safty guidelines

Information about the rescue signs on the Rothaarsteig
Most hiking trails run away from villages and settlements and everyone who hikes has certainly thought about what would happen if an emergency were to occur. How can I be found here? Where am I anyway? Can the emergency services reach me?
In an emergency, things have to happen quickly! That's why the Rothaarsteig is equipped with so-called rescue signs throughout. The green and white plaques attached to the posts of the signposts have a number that you must give when making an emergency call. This way, the emergency services know exactly where you are and valuable time can be saved

.
Please bear in mind that there is currently an increased risk of forest fires due to the drought! Please note the following information:

Observe the legal smoking ban in the forest - it applies in spring, summer and fall, more precisely: from March 1 to October 31.
Observe the ban on open fires in the forest and within 100 meters of the forest.
Take glass out of the forest - the burning glass effect can cause forest fires.

When it is (too) late:

Extinguish small incipient fires if you can do so safely. Check the area carefully if necessary
Report fires via "112"
Leave the danger zone by the shortest route.

The forest will thank you!

Author Tip

Skywalk Willingen - The longest suspension rope bridge in Germany
Richtplatz
Langenberg
Niedersfelder Hochheide
Clemensberg
Ruhr spring
Heidenstraße

Refreshment stops:

Restaurants:

Trekking place:

Trekkingpark Wilingen

Literture

To help you prepare for your hike, we will be happy to send you our free information pack. At www.rothaarst eig.de/prospekte you can easily select the information you need. A good companion for every tour is our brochure "Rothaarsteig Wegweiser" (Rothaarsteig Trail Guide) with the hosts along the trail and other useful information.

Maps

You can order the original Rothaarsteig hiking map on a scale of 1:50000 on waterproof paper, with up-to-date route guidance and useful markings, such as shelters, parking lots, bus stops and much more at www.rothaarsteig.de/wanderkarte for 11.00 euros free shipping to your home.

Public transiot

To get from Winterberg to Willingen (Upland), take the bus to Olsberg, get on the train to Brilon Wald and then take the train or bus to Willingen (Upland). Travel time: approx. 1 hour, 15 minutes.
You can find detailed timetable information at www.bahn.de. We recommend that you use public transport at the start of your tour and park a car at the end point. This way you don't have to follow the bus/train timetable on your hike.

Parking

In Willingen, you can park your car for free at the Ettelsberg cable car (Zur Hoppecke 5, Willingen). In Winterberg, you can park free of charge at the Oversum (Am Kurpark 4, 59955 Winterberg).