Our favourite places
It smells wonderful. The still damp forest floor. The fresh grass. And the wonderful flowers, the sight of which will enchant you on the very first stage of the Rothaarsteig. In the Sauerland flower garden. A total of eight themed gardens, including a butterfly and bee garden, have been created here at the foot of the Bruchhausen Stones and form a wonderful contrast to the rugged rock formation, which is one of four national natural monuments in Germany. Formed millions of years ago by volcanoes, erosion and folding of the earth's layers, the four impressive rocks rise up to 92 meters into the sky above Olsberg and some of them can even be climbed.
In memory of hurricane Kyrill
The forces of nature to which the forests are still exposed today can be seen a little off the actual trail at the Schmallenberg ski jump. In 2007, a huge hurricane raged across large parts of the country and caused extensive damage. To commemorate this event, the Rothaarsteig rangers, who know the forest like no other and are happy to accompany you on your tour, have set up the "Kyrill Trail" in the middle of a windthrow. It leads over footbridges and stepladders past upright root plates and fallen trees.
Not for those in a hurry
It usually takes a moment to let the impressions sink in. This will certainly be the case at the Kühhude suspension bridge, which spans 40 meters over a small forest gorge at a dizzying height. And it will be like this again and again on the 14 stages of the Rothaarsteig, which also crosses the two highest elevations in the state, the Langenberg (843 m) and the Kahler Asten (842 m), and along which eleven rivers have their source. These include the Ruhr, the Sieg and the Lahn.
The "Path of the Senses", as the Rothaarsteig is also known, is therefore not for those in a hurry. On the contrary. Take your time to wander through the quiet forests and let your gaze wander into the distance from the peaks of the low mountain range. There are plenty of opportunities to do so - and the right furniture too. Rest benches, forest loungers, forest sofas and forest swings have been created especially for the Rothaarsteig, and no one is likely to pass them by carelessly. You deserve a break too!
