Best kid-friendly trails in North Rhine-Westphalia

Family-friendly hike in Monschau, North Rhine-Westphalia. On this tour, Monschau shows an unknown side. The slopes on both sides of the Rur are an ideal complement to the walk through the winding alleyways of the old town and an extraordinary experience. Located in the Rur valley, the old town of Monschau is a treasure chest filled with historic buildings, quaint streets and alleyways, romantic corners and impressive viewpoints. Highlights of the route: - Beautiful natural landscapes -...

Popular circular loop trail in the Siebengebirge nature park, North Rhine-Westphalia A beautiful and very varied round near Königswinter. The starting point is the Margarethenhöhe car park. This round is also doable for slightly older children. Quiet forest sections, great views over the Siebengebirge, and of course, the impressive ruins of the Löwenburg (fantastic views from here, too!) ensure that this hike never gets boring. There are two rest stops near the starting point. Highlights of...

Varied loop hike around the Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest Nature Park. The Externsteine are striking sandstone rock formations in the Teutoburg Forest, which represent an outstanding natural attraction in Germany and are protected as a natural and cultural monument. The loop route leads from the free Hermannsweg hiking car park on the B1 (exit Horn / Detmold-Süd) to the Externsteinen via the Bärdenstein and the Knickhagen. The route makes a detour to the visitor center, where there is...

Popular circular loop trail near Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia This family-friendly circular route around the Baldeneysee in Essen is very popular and attracts many skaters, cyclists, runners and hikers, especially on weekends. The route runs picturesquely directly on the shore of Lake Baldeney, past historical monuments such as the former Pörtingsiepen colliery and the Scheppen house. During the spring and summer months, numerous wild geese can be seen with their young on the lake shore....

Popular hiking route in the Eifel National Park, North Rhine-Westphalia. This short tour begins at the Rurberg National Park gate and leads over the dam, along the Obersee and Urft into the magnificent low mountain range landscape of the Eifel National Park. That's where the wilderness of tomorrow comes into being. The concept of the national park envisages such zones in which man no longer interferes with nature. Accompanied by oak trees, it's quite a steep climb up a sunny mountain slope....

Popular loop near Monschau, North Rhine-Westphalia. Pure nature and historical places characterize the so-called "Rundwanderweg 55" on both sides of the Rur. The varied, mostly natural" path leads through forests, over the route of the former Vennbahn, past the Reichensteiner Klostermühle and to the remains of the wall of the "Fischerhütte". On the way there is a varied forest and beautiful panoramic views. Sturdy shoes and some provisions are recommended. When the weather is nice you can...

Popular nature hiking excursion in Heimbach, North Rhine-Westphalia The tour starts at the train station in Heimbach. It goes over the Rur wooden bridge and then, following the signs, past the Kurpark to the Art Nouveau hydroelectric power station. There the lake is crossed and along the green shore it goes back to Heimbach. The route can also be shortened; then it only goes to the dam. On the way there is the possibility to take a pedal boat across the reservoir in Heimbach at a boat...

This scenic route through the Teutoburg Forest follows the legendary Hexenpfad, or Witches' Path. The adventure begins at the marketplace in the medieval town of Tecklenburg. From here, the path climbs and dips through the woods, visiting five unique stops marked by signs. Visitors can explore the ruins of the Tecklenburg castle, which was once the largest hilltop fortress in northern Germany. One highlight is the Wierturm, a brick tower built to honor Johann Wier, a physician who bravely...

Natural loop in the Hohes Venn-Eifel Nature Park, North Rhine-Westphalia This hike leads through the Struffelt nature reserve, which includes both moorland and the heathland of the Dreilägerbachtalsperre. It is possible to walk through the high moor without wet feet thanks to the wooden footbridges - a real experience for children too! With an attentive look, numerous rare plant and animal species can be discovered along the way. Alternatively, the route can also be reached from the east...

Short circular hike through the forests near Hugenpoet and Landsberg. The start and end point is the Breitscheider Berg hiking car park at the Kettwig Catholic Cemetery in front of the bridge. The course of the path is chosen so that it runs entirely on unpaved roads and paths. If the weather is good at the weekend, there is a lot of hiking activity in the area. However, since the route does not follow a uniformly marked path, it does not matter much. The path is not consistently marked but...