Full Rothaarsteig (10 days) - Bookatrekking.com
Duration: 10 days
Trails: T2 trails
Distance: More than 20 km / 12 mi per day
Ascent per day: 250 - 500 m / 820 - 1640 ft ascent per day
> From Brijon to Dillenburg
> The entire Rothaarsteig through the Sauerland
> Staying in pleasant Gasthofen and hotels.
The Rothaarsteig in the Sauerland is one of Germany's top hiking trails. Less than a four-hour drive from Utrecht and combinable with a weekend in Winterberg, it is also a popular route with Dutch hikers. If you want to go hiking in Sauerland or in Winterberg, then sooner or later you come on the trail of the Rothaarsteig.
During this 10-day hiking vacation you will hike the entire Rothaarsteig and experience the Rothaar Mountains from north to south. During your hiking adventure, your stay in charming and comfortable accommodations is fully arranged, allowing you to enjoy it without any worries. All you need to do is focus on the beauty of the Sauerland!
> The entire Rothaarsteig through the Sauerland
> Staying in pleasant Gasthofen and hotels.
The Rothaarsteig in the Sauerland is one of Germany's top hiking trails. Less than a four-hour drive from Utrecht and combinable with a weekend in Winterberg, it is also a popular route with Dutch hikers. If you want to go hiking in Sauerland or in Winterberg, then sooner or later you come on the trail of the Rothaarsteig.
During this 10-day hiking vacation you will hike the entire Rothaarsteig and experience the Rothaar Mountains from north to south. During your hiking adventure, your stay in charming and comfortable accommodations is fully arranged, allowing you to enjoy it without any worries. All you need to do is focus on the beauty of the Sauerland!
Itinerary
Day
1
Arrival day Brilon
Today, you arrive in Brilon. If you plan to travel by car, it's easiest to park your car in Dillenburg and use public transportation to get to Brilon. But keep in mind that this takes an additional five hours and makes your journey a full day. If you arrive directly by train, you'll have some time to look around in Brilon. The center with its beautiful half-timbered houses is perfect for a relaxed afternoon. Tomorrow, the hiking tour begins!
Hotel Starke (Brilon)
Day
2
Brilon - Willingen
Duration: 07:07 h
Distance: 23.3 km / 14.5 mi
Ascent: 700 m / 2297 ft
Descent: 510 m / 1673 ft
The first stage of the Rothaarsteig leads south to the town of Willingen. The hike begins in front of Brilon's town hall. From here, you leave the town through the Drübelse Nature Reserve. Later on, you'll reach the Borberg, which offers a beautiful view of the Ruhr area. From there, the trail continues to the endpoint in Willingen.
Aparthotel Jägerhaus (Willingen)
Day
3
Willingen - Winterberg
Duration: 06:15 h
Distance: 22 km / 13.7 mi
Ascent: 490 m / 1608 ft
Descent: 470 m / 1542 ft
This stage of the Rothaarsteig begins in Willingen and leads along the Hessian border. Further south, you walk through the Neuer Hagen nature reserve. Once you reach Küstelberg, the route heads westward along the Wagenschmier quarry and ends in the town of Winterberg, which is also a favorite destination for winter sports enthusiasts in the winter. It's a challenging stage but definitely worth it.
Hotel Hessenhof (Winterberg)
Day
4
Winterberg - Schanze
Duration: 05:10 h
Distance: 18.7 km / 11.6 mi
Ascent: 340 m / 1115 ft
Descent: 300 m / 984 ft
The third stage of the Rothaarsteig takes us to the Kahle Asten. Here, you have a beautiful view of the surrounding region, overlooking the Brocken, the Feldberg, and the Wasserkuppe in the Rhön. At the Heidenstock, the Rothaarsteig splits into two paths. The main path continues along the mountain ridge and leads to Kühhude, but to reach Schanze, you have to turn right into the valley. The decision for the next stage can be made in the evening.
Hotel Stoffels (Schanze / Schmallenberg)
Day
5
Schanze - Rhein-Weser Tower (through the valley)
Duration: 06:38 h
Distance: 23.4 km / 14.5 mi
Ascent: 490 m / 1608 ft
Descent: 530 m / 1739 ft
Today, you have the choice to either hike through the valley or walk along the mountain ridge. Both stages start at the same point and have the same level of difficulty. Stage 4a is the favorite of most Rothaarsteig hikers. On your way to Jagdhaus, you'll pass through the town of Latrop before continuing on the route to the Rhein-Weser-Turm, a tower that offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Sauerland.
Gasthof Zur Hahnenquelle (Rhein-Weser-Turm)
Day
6
Rein-Weser-Turm - Lützel
Duration: 05:07 h
Distance: 18.2 km / 11.3 mi
Ascent: 330 m / 1083 ft
Descent: 430 m / 1411 ft
The fifth stage of the Rothaarsteig starts at the Rhein-Weser Tower and leads south to the town of Lützel. You'll pass by the Sauerlandse Wildpark and enter the Schwarzbachtal. Before reaching the endpoint of this stage, you'll walk by the Giller, a lookout tower that offers a beautiful view of the region.
Ginsberger Heide (Lützel / Hilchenbach)
Day
7
Lützel - Lahnhof
Duration: 03:53 h
Distance: 14.2 km / 8.8 mi
Ascent: 230 m / 755 ft
Descent: 190 m / 623 ft
The sixth stage of the Rothaarsteig takes us south to Lahnhof. The majority of this route follows the historic Iron Road along the Rothaarkamm. You start with a walk along the Eder and then head east to Großenbach. Afterwards, you head south to Lahnhof, the source of the river Lahn.
Hotel - Restaurant - Café Forsthaus Lahnquelle (Lahnhof / Netphen)
Day
8
Lahnhof - Wilgersdorf
Duration: 05:22 h
Distance: 19.6 km / 12.2 mi
Ascent: 230 m / 755 ft
Descent: 440 m / 1444 ft
This stage of the Rothaarsteig first takes us to the Ilsequelle, which was a pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages believed to have healing powers. Then, the path leads southwest along the Jagdberg, offering a beautiful view of the valley.
The Kaffeebuche is a good place to take a break and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Afterward, you'll reach the source of the Dill, which happens to also mark the border between the Hessian Westerwald and the Lahn-Dill-Bergland Nature Park. Follow the route to the town of Wilgersdorf.
Gästehaus Wilgersdorf GmbH (Wilgersdorf)
Day
9
Wilgersdorf - Dillenburg
Duration: 05:58 h
Distance: 20.9 km / 13 mi
Ascent: 390 m / 1280 ft
Descent: 670 m / 2198 ft
This is the final stage of the Rothaarsteig. Starting from Wilgersdorf, it leads southeast through the Lahn-Dill-Bergland region. You'll pass by the Lucaseiche monument and Forsthaus Steinbach. You'll walk through the town of Rodenbach and continue eastward, crossing the Hengstbach. Finally, you'll reach the endpoint of the Rothaarsteig in Dillenburg.
Hotel Bartmanns Haus (Dillenburg)
Day
10
Final day
After breakfast, the program is over. We hope to see you again soon in the Sauerland and wish you a safe journey home!
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