Rothaarsteig from Willingen to Küstelberg

Sauerland-Wanderdorfs / Neusta Touren / Rothaarsteig from Willingen to Küstelberg

The Rothaarsteig trail takes you over 15 kilometers from Willingen, over the Richtplatz, the Langenberg - the highest point in North Rhine-Westphalia, through the Niedersfelder Hochheide to Küstelberg.

Tour starting point:

Willingen, train station

Tour destination point:

Medebach-Küstelberg

Properties:

Summit
Refreshment stop
Suitable for winter
Accommodation option
Signage
Tour with dog
Quality Trail Wanderbares Deutschland
Good public transport connections
free of charge / accessible at any time

Additional Information

Further information about the Rothaarsteig can be found at www.rothaarsteig.de or by calling the free service hotline on +49 2974 / 499 4163, where we will be happy to advise you personally on your tour planning.

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Length

16 km

Duration

4:37 h

Elevation ascent

382 m

Elevation descent

299 m

Lowest point

570 m

Highest point

847 m

Condition

Difficulty

Recommended seasons

J F M A M J J A S O N D

This stage on the Rothaarsteig starts in Willingen. The access path leads up to the Richtplatz. From here, the Rothaarsteig turns south and runs over the Rothaar ridge on the Hessian state border, which is also the watershed between the Rhine and Weser. From the Richtplatz, it is then not far to the Langenberg, the highest mountain in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The trail continues over the ridge to the Neuer Hagen nature reserve, the largest high or mountain heath in North Rhine-Westphalia with a small moorland area. On the edge of the nature reserve is the Clemensberg (839 m), one of the few Rothaar peaks that is free of forest and therefore offers a beautiful view even without a viewing tower. Passing the source of the Hoppecke, the route continues over the Hillekopf (805 m) to Küstelberg.

Bahnhof Willingen

Langenberg (höchster Berg in NRW)

Aussichtspunkt Hillekopf

Ladestation für Elektroautos Küstelberg

Wanderparkplatz Dorfmitte Küstelberg

Information

Directions

Willingen - Richtplatz - Langenberg - Neuer Hagen nature reserve - Clemesberg - Hillekopf spring - Hillekopf - Küstelberg

Equipment

The Rothaarsteig leads along numerous natural paths away from agricultural and forestry roads. Weatherproof clothing and sturdy shoes are therefore a must for every hike. We want you to experience the "Path of the Senses" not only "dry" but also with "good" feet.
In our small hiking store at rothaarsteig.de/shop you will also find a selection of Rothaarsteig articles to prepare for your tour or as a souvenir. We are also happy to recommend the durable and high-quality outdoor equipment from our long-standing partner, the outdoor outfitter Tatonka.

Hiking rucksack
A suitable hiking rucksack will make your tour on the Rothaarsteig twice as much fun! Thanks to their ventilated carrying system, hiking rucksacks are very comfortable to wear, as this ensures that sweat can evaporate immediately. They can be fastened with a waist or hip belt and thus sit firmly on the back with every movement. They are also equipped with a practical holder for hiking poles and often have a compartment with a tube outlet for a hydration bladder, so that you can stay hydrated at all times.
Here you can find hiking rucksacks from outdoor outfitter Tatonka in various sizes for day hikes and multi-day tours and with different ventilated back systems.

First aid kit
To make sure you can enjoy your hiking tour on the Rothaarsteig to the full, a first aid kit should be included in your rucksack. After all, nothing is more annoying than not being able to immediately treat a blister on your foot or minor injuries properly. Tatonka's first aid kits are filled with all the important materials for the initial treatment of injuries and also contain an "outdoor cheat sheet" with a concise and clear guideline for the correct behaviour in case of emergencies in the great outdoors. You can find Tatonka's first aid kits here!

Food and drink
On some stages, especially between Lahnquelle and Dillenburg, there are unfortunately no refreshment stops along the way. Remember to pack food and drink, especially here. Especially in summer, it is important to drink enough.
The stainless steel bottles, stainless steel insulated jugs and stainless steel lunch boxes from the German outdoor equipment manufacturer Tatonka are not only practical, but also unbreakable and durable.

Safty guidelines

Information about the rescue signs on the Rothaarsteig
Most hiking trails run away from villages and settlements and everyone who hikes has certainly thought about what would happen if an emergency were to occur. How can I be found here? Where am I anyway? Can the emergency services reach me?
But in an emergency, things have to happen quickly! That's why the Rothaarsteig is equipped with so-called rescue signs throughout. The green and white plaques attached to the posts of the signposts have a number that you must give when making an emergency call. This way, the emergency services know exactly where you are and valuable time can be saved.

Note on the increased risk of forest fires
Please bear in mind that there is currently an increased risk of forest fires due to the dry weather! Please note the following information:

Observe the legal ban on smoking in the forest - it applies in spring, summer and fall, more precisely: from March 1 to October 31.
Observe the ban on open fires in the forest and within 100 meters of the forest.
Take glass out of the forest - the burning glass effect can cause forest fires.

When it is (too) late:

Extinguish small incipient fires if you can do so safely. Check the area carefully if necessary.
Report fires via "112".
Leave the danger zone by the shortest route.

The forest will thank you!

Author Tip

Richtplatz

Langenberg - highest mountain in NRW
Nature reserve Neuer Hagen / Niedersfelder Hochheide
Clemensberg

Refreshment stops:

Restaurants:

Trekking:

Trekking Park Willingen

Literture

To help you prepare for your hike, we will be happy to send you our free information pack. At www.rothaarst eig.de/prospekte you can easily select the information you need. A good companion for every tour is our brochure "Rothaarsteig Wegweiser" (Rothaarsteig Trail Guide) with the hosts along the trail and other useful information.

Maps

You can order the original Rothaarsteig hiking map on a scale of 1:50000 on waterproof paper, with up-to-date route guidance and useful markings, such as shelters, parking lots, bus stops and much more at www.rothaarsteig.de/wanderkarte for 11.00 euros free shipping to your home.

Public transiot

You can reach Willingen train station directly from Dortmund, Hagen, Marburg, Warburg and Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe. You can reach Küstelberg from Winterberg station in just a few minutes on the R48 bus line

, and you can find more information at www.bahn.de.
If you are coming by car, we recommend using public transport at the start of your tour and leaving your car at the end point. This way you don't have to follow the bus/train timetable on the hike.