Altenahr summit trail 3 summits-1 path

The summit hiking trail in Altenahr – endurance required, spectacular views guaranteed!

Start/Finish: Church Altenahr

 Route description: The route starts at the Roman Catholic parish church Mariä Verkündigung in front of the Friedenseiche, Pützgasse 2 in Altenahr. With Burg Are at your back, the path runs along the federal road 267, passing the train station, towards the former cable car station to the cemetery, from where it returns to the federal road 267. After crossing the railway line, a narrow path to the left of federal road 267 leads up the mountain. Accompanied by forest spirits carved and painted into the trees, you reach a crossroads. Here you turn left and follow the path straight ahead for about 300 m before turning left again onto a short rock path (50 m) to the first summit highlight, the Black Cross.

The approximately four-meter-high wooden Black Cross stands on a hill, 210 meters above sea level, above Altenahr. It is located less than one kilometer in a straight line from its myth-shrouded counterpart, the White Cross on the Reimerzhoven Kirchweg, on the popular Red Wine Hiking Trail in the Ahr valley. According to local tradition, the original cross was erected as early as 1859 as thanks for saving a child from drowning in the Ahr. From up here there is a magnificent view over the valley, the town of Altenahr, and the listed Burg Are.

From the Black Cross, you go back 300 m to the crossroads, and now the path leads south, partly over fixed steps, steeply up the ridge. On the right side, great views open towards the Altenburg district with the St. Maternus Chapel. Over a rock path (partly with steps), you reach the next summit highlight: the Devil’s Hole, a striking rock hole. Just as impressive as the Devil’s Hole shapes the landscape, so spectacular is the legend of its origin. According to legend, it was created when the devil threw his grandmother into hell. From up here you have a breathtaking view of Burg Are, the Ahr loop with the Langfig valley, and the opposite Engelsley.

 From the Devil’s Hole, a short return leads back to the rock path, before you turn left heading south onto a narrow path that leads to a junction with a wider forest path. The forest path gently climbs the mountain until a red bench in a hairpin invites you for a short break. After about 200 m, turn left onto a narrow path that climbs steeply up the mountain. Over rocks and roots you reach the next summit highlight, the Schrock. A small slope must be overcome before you reach the Schrock viewpoint (400 m), where a small hut stands that also offers shelter in bad weather. From here you have a wide view over the Ahr valley with its many tight river loops. To the north, the hills of the Siebengebirge behind the Rhine can be seen. On very clear days, you can even see Cologne Cathedral about 50 km away.

 From the Schrock, the path continues steeply uphill towards the south. Reaching a forest path, the route leads left with little altitude change for about 1 km through the forest, allowing your legs to recover. The last section of the path becomes narrower again and ends at the Steinerberghaus, one of the highest summits of the Mittelahr at 531 m. From here there is a wonderful panoramic view of the Hohe Acht, the Aremberg, the Rheinbach city forest, and the Grafschaft. The managed hut invites you to stay longer.

 From the summit, a narrow path leads down the mountain to the north and crosses an asphalt road. At a crossroads, turn left over a wide forest path, passing forests and a large meadow. At the next junction, the path first turns left before shortly after turning right again over a narrow and rocky path. To the right of the path, the terrain drops spectacularly down until you reach the next summit highlight, the Hornberg (395 m). From here you get the best view over the Altenburg district.

 From here, descend steeply in switchbacks over a narrow path. At the first crossroads, turn left onto a wider path continuing north, passing the holy shrine. 50 m behind the shrine, turn left again onto a narrower path. Here you get the view towards Kreuzberg and its well-preserved castle. Since 1820, the castle has been the residence of the von Boeselager family and is thus the only inhabited castle in the Ahr valley. The path leads down steep switchbacks, crosses the L76 country road and the railway line, and leads through the town of Kreuzberg, fully circling the castle. After crossing the Saarbach, you enter the Vischelbachtal. The path now turns onto a narrower path and leads up to the statue of the merciful Jesus made of colored sandstone. From here you have the last great view over the districts Altenahr, Altenburg, and Kreuzberg. The path then descends to Altenburg and follows the federal road back to the church in Altenahr.