Rothaarsteig Trail: Hiking in Sauerland

The Sauerland is an area shared by the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse. It is not far from the much busier Ruhr region and because of its hilly landscape and a chance of snow in winter, it is a favorite holiday destination for the Dutch, Belgians and, of course, Germans. When it's not snowing, Sauerland is a hiker's paradise and because of the good public transport connections, you can always get back to your starting point very easily. The hiking trails in Sauerland are so-called Qualitätswanderwege; these are hiking trails that are extra well-signposted and thus have earned a quality seal from the Deutsches Wanderverband. Although there are many options for short walks in the Sauerland region, the Rothaarsteig is the literal highlight.

The Rothaarsteig is a 155-kilometer hiking trail that starts in Brilon and ends in Dillenburg. The route runs along the Rothaar Mountains in the region between North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse. The Rothaarsteig can be hiked in both directions but is most often walked from north to south. The route has many great viewpoints and sights, including the Langenberg, the Rhine Weser Tower, the Ginsburg, and many major rivers. On the Rothaarsteig, you walk through beautiful Sauerland and one of the stages ends and starts in Winterberg; a favorite winter sports destination.

How does the Rothaarsteig get its name? Well, at least it has nothing to do with red hair. The route passes through the Rothaar Mountains and that name too has nothing to do with hair color. This name is derived from Rod-Hardt-Gebirge. It has everything to do with clearing forests. And then one more thing: although the Rothaarsteig association sees more and more cyclists on the hiking trail, this is not the intention. The Rothaarsteig is meant for hikers only.

With the right equipment, you can basically hike the Rothaarsteig all year round. However, in winter there is a chance of snow on the Rothaarsteig and then the region is mainly focused on winter sports. The best seasons for the Rothaarsteig are spring, summer, and autumn. You can get on the Rothaarsteig as early as March for a proper hike. Regarding temperatures, it's best to visit the region in spring and summer.

Although the Rothaarsteig is well served by public transport, hikers should bear in mind that Sauerland is sparsely populated and buses do not run every half hour. Because the Rothaarsteig runs through the Rothaar Mountains, not all villages are directly connected to the public transport network either. For arriving, it is, therefore, best to travel to the endpoint and take public transport to the starting point from there. This ensures a relaxing end to your Rothaarsteig adventure. Note: the journey from Dillenburg to Brilon quickly takes five hours. If you want relaxed travel, it's best to arrive and depart by train.

By plane

It is the easiest to fly to Dortmund or Köln. From there it is very easy to take the train to Brilon. From Dortmund, it will only take you approximately 2 hours to travel to Brilon by train. From Köln, it will take you 3.5 hours to travel to Brilon.

By train

You can reach the starting point, the marketplace in Brilon, by train. Traveling from the direction of Utrecht, catch the train to Venlo. In Schwerte (Ruhr), change trains to Dortmund. From here, a direct to Brilon-Stadt. The journey takes about six hours. From Brussels-Midi, you can catch the Thalys to Duisburg. About this, get on the ICE towards Dortmund. From Dortmund, the regional train goes to Brilon.

By car

If you are traveling by car, it is best to travel to the ending point of the Rothaarsteig. From here, you can take public transport to the starting point. This makes for a relaxing end to the Rothaarsteig.

From Dillenburg back to Brilon

From Dillenburg to Brilon is best traveled by train. Note: It is not a direct journey and can easily take 4.5 hours to arrive at the starting point. Take this into account in your planning. It pays to travel from the Netherlands or Belgium directly to Brilon by train and return after the Dillenburg hike. If you do park your car in Dillenburg, you can take the train to Gießen from here. From Gießen, travel to Marburg Hauptbahnhof and from there directly to Brilon.

The Rothaarsteig is one of the more popular long-distance hiking trails in Germany. That, combined with the beauty of the Sauerland and the attraction of Winterberg, ensures that you will find numerous accommodation options along the Rothaarsteig. Be it a hotel, a guesthouse, a Bed, and Breakfast or a so-called Zimmer Frei. On the Rothaarsteig route, you'll find it all. The Gasthöfer and Hotels along the Rothaarsteig are usually family-run businesses, are often accompanied by an in-house restaurant(s) and bar, and play a central role in community life in the village or town.

A typical example of a Gasthof along the Rothaarsteig: