Best backpacking trails in Cologne
4.5(129 reviews)
Explore the most popular backpacking trails near Cologne with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
Top trails
- 4.4 (47)·Moderate·8.3 mi·Est. 3.5–4 hrSixth section of the Cologne Trail, North Rhine-Westphalia. This stage leads along the Rhine for longer. The route is often shared with cyclists, so mutual respect is important. There are cafés and restaurants in Flittard to stop for a bite to eat and after this section of the hike, the route heads into the countryside for a bit. As always, the hiking trail is well connected to public transport. Highlights: - idyllic lakes and rivers - "Alter Schlackehafen" viewpoint - Stammheim castle park
- 4.6 (20)·Moderate·13 mi·Est. 5–5.5 hrFirst stage of the long-distance hiking trail Kölnpfad, North Rhine-Westphalia. A good basic level of fitness is required for the first, quite long stage of the Kölnpfad Trail. It starts at the Rodenkirchen bridge. The route passes the Weißer Rheinbogen, the Forest Botanical Garden and the Friedenswäldchen forest until the end of the stage, the Klettenbergpark, is reached. There are several places to stop for refreshments here. Highlights of the route: - Rhine bank - Forest Botanical...
- 4.2 (18)·Moderate·10.5 mi·Est. 4–4.5 hrRelaxed stage of the long-distance hiking trail "Kölnpfad" near Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. The second stage of the Kölnpfad starts at the Klettenbergpark stop and ends at the Bocklemünd stop. Most of the time, the route follows well-surfaced paths along Cologne's green belt. However, the route also briefly runs along a very busy road - special care is required here. It is possible to stop off at the "Haus am See" with its mini golf course. Highlights of the hike: - Cologne's green...
- 4.1 (19)·Easy·6.9 mi·Est. 2.5–3 hrFourth stage of the long-distance hiking trail "Kölnpfad", North Rhine-Westphalia. The fourth stage of the over 170 km long Cologne Trail runs from Thenhoven to Merkenich. The start is directly at Cologne-Worringen S-Bahn station. Two magnificent nature reserves characterize this section. First, the Worringer Bruch is crossed. This includes silted-up arms of the Old Rhine. The route continues through the Rhine floodplains, which are also a nature reserve, and through the Rhine villages of...
- 4.3 (12)·Moderate·8.5 mi·Est. 3–3.5 hrFifth section of the Cologne Trail in North Rhine-Westphalia. The starting point for this section is the Merkenich stop. It runs along the Frühlinger lake - here there is a rowing island with a bistro and a bathing area for cooling off in summer. The route then runs along the Rhine via Niel and on to Mühlheim. There are refreshment stops along the way. Highlights: - Frühlinger lake with bathing area - View of the Rhine floodplains - Fort I
- 4.1 (8)·Moderate·9 mi·Est. 3.5–4 hrBeautiful section of the Kölnpfad, North Rhine-Westphalia. Start is in Bocklemund at the Fettenhof car park. Although this stage often leads along roads, it also offers several lakes and beautiful forest sections, as well as many beautiful views. The finish is at Cologne-Worringen railway station. This means the journey can be continued easily by train. There is also a restaurant near the finish point where to stop for refreshments. Highlights: - Intermediate plant IIIb - Stöckheimer Lake...
- 5.0 (2)·Hard·21.5 mi·Est. 8–9 hrThis historic pilgrimage stage leads from the Cologne Cathedral westward through the Rhineland to Kerpen. The route follows a mix of paved paths, urban green belts—such as the Outer Green Belt—and quiet field tracks through the Cologne Lowland. A major highlight is starting at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cologne Cathedral, and visiting the Brauweiler Abbey with its impressive Romanesque church. The trail is technically simple and, thanks to the flat terrain, perfectly suited for a...
- 4.5 (2)·Moderate·9.7 mi·Est. 4–4.5 hrStage 1 of the “Kölner Weg” long-distance hiking trail, North Rhine-Westphalia. This is the first stage of the traditional Kölner Weg, which leads from Cologne's Königsforst over a distance of around 255 km through the Westerwald, Bergisches Land and the Siebengebirge to Königswinter. The first stage runs from Cologne to Rösrath. For the most part, you hike on quiet forest paths through Cologne's Königsforst. There are places to stay overnight and stop for a refreshments. Highlights of the...
- 5.0 (1)·Hard·54 mi·Est. 19.5–21.5 hr12th stage of the official long-distance pilgrim route (D-Route 7) from Flensburg to Aachen This long-distance cycle route is part of the EuroVelo route EV3, which runs as a trans-European pilgrimage route from Trondheim in Norway to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and thus through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, France and Spain. Almost all of the route is signposted with the D7 logo (half wheel with number 7 on a red background). Highlights: - Exciting cycling through varied...
- Hard·80 mi·Est. 24 hr+Through the fields always towards the Eifel. It is a little uphill the whole time, the headwind can be strong and the farm roads are not always in the best condition - but you will be rewarded when you arrive in the Eifel. And on the way back with a tailwind and full steam towards Cologne.
Showing results 1–10 of 11
Frequently asked questions
What is the longest backpacking trail in Cologne?
According to AllTrails.com, the longest backpacking trail in Cologne is Kölner Weg (Fernwanderweg). This trail is estimated to be 161.1 mi long.
Which backpacking trail has the most elevation gain in Cologne?
Cologne: With an ascent of 27,145 ft, Kölner Weg (Fernwanderweg) has the most elevation gain of all of the backpacking trails in the area. The next highest ascent for backpacking trails is Cologne - Eifel Region with 6,463 ft of elevation gain.
What is the most popular and difficult backpacking trail in Cologne?
The most popular and difficult backpacking trail in Cologne is Jakobsweg Köln - Kerpen with a 5.0-star rating from 2 reviews.
Top parks around Cologne
Explore backpacking trails in the Cologne area
More backpacking trails
Activities
Attractions
- Beach trails in Cologne
- City walks in Cologne
- Easy trails in Cologne
- Event trails in Cologne
- Forest trails in Cologne
- Hard trails in Cologne
- Lake trails in Cologne
- Long trails in Cologne
- Moderate trails in Cologne
- River trails in Cologne
- Short trails in Cologne
- Trails with historic sites in Cologne
- Trails with views in Cologne
- Wildflower trails in Cologne
- Wildlife trails in Cologne
Suitability
Points of interest
- Baptisterium
- Cologne Cathedral
- Schinkenkessel (römisch/preussisch)
- Domfontäne
- Monte Troodelöh
- Tünnes und Schäl
- Von-Diergardt-See
- Roman Aqueduct
- Wiesenhaus Campingplatz
- Alter Schlackehafen
- Skulpturenpark Stammheim
- Römisches Nordtor
- Fühlinger See
- Cologne Cable Car
- KölnTriangle Cologne View
- St. Maria ad Gradus
- Decksteiner Weiher
- Pegel Köln
- Bastei
- Heinzelmännchenbrunnen