Sauerland-Höhenflug winter hike: over the Nordhelle and through wild moors

Numerous boards in a large signpost hut at the hiking parking lot provide information about hiking trails, the surrounding villages and winter sports around Nordhelle. From the parking lot, walk back a little towards the L 707 and then turn left onto hiking trail A2. This so-called "Old Valbert Ski Trail" leads downhill through forests towards Valbert. The A2 automatically joins the Sauerland-Höhenflug. Both hiking trails lead parallel back up to Nordhelle.The trail leads through fascinating and untouched nature as it crosses the narrow wooden footbridge through the "Wilde Wiese" moorland area. The nature reserve is part of the Ebbemoore moors, which have been designated an FFH area due to their rarity. Many rare animal and plant species, such as the peat moss, cranberry, bog lily and the raised bog fritillary butterfly, can be found in these hillside and spring moors.The high-altitude route continues steadily uphill through the wild and romantic nature reserve. Below Nordhelle, you will come across a 250-year-old branded tree. The gnarled copper beech served as a border tree and marked the boundary of the Herscheid Mark. Here you now have the option of hiking back to the parking lot via the A2, or you can follow the Sauerland-Höhenflug further up to Nordhelle. At 663 m above sea level, it is the highest mountain in the Ebbegebirge. Next to a hiking restaurant is the Robert-Kolb-Turm on the summit, which was erected in 1913 and named after the then head hiking warden of the Sauerland Mountain Association. From here, you have a wonderful view over the Märkischer Kreis. The 130-metre-high WDR broadcasting tower is also located on the Nordhelle. After a well-earned break, you can easily return to the parking lot via the asphalt access road.The path is not cleared or rolled in winter. However, due to the high frequency of use, it is usually easy to walk in low to medium snow conditions.