Sauerland-Höhenflug: From Altastenberg to Hallenberg

The stage begins at the hiking car park at K 75, which lies just a few meters beyond the exit of Altastenberg when driving from Altastenberg towards the hiking car park Großes Bildchen. You are here directly on the Sauerland-Höhenflug. Now follow the Sauerland-Höhenflug in the direction of Altastenberg/Kahler Asten/Renauwiesen.

Altastenberg, at 809 m, is the highest located town in North Rhine-Westphalia and has long since developed into a spa town with a healing climate. The Sauerland-Höhenflug does not run directly through the town center, but only skirts the northern edge of Altastenberg. From here, the path first leads over the Renauwiese with a shelter and then into the idyllic Renautal. A wooden footbridge takes you dry-footed through the wet lowlands. Slightly uphill along natural paths and following an educational trail from the Sauerland Rothaargebirge Nature Park, the path runs to the car park below the north slope (watch out when crossing L 640!). Here, the Sauerland-Höhenflug meets the Rothaarsteig and runs parallel with it up a path to the Kahler Asten.

The Kahle Asten, at 841.9 m, is the third highest but probably the best-known mountain in North Rhine-Westphalia. The tower houses, besides a mountain inn, a natural history exhibition and a meteorological station of the German Weather Service. From the viewing platform, you enjoy a magnificent view far beyond the Sauerland! The Heide educational trail runs over the Kahler Asten, informing the hiker about the rare and endangered nature on the Kahler Asten. The vegetation mainly consists of heather, cottongrass, and blueberry. Trees hardly grow in the harsh climate. This high heath is a habitat that has become rare today; among other things, the tree and meadow pipit breed here and it is therefore protected as a nature reserve of international importance (FFH area). Take a short walk on the Kahler Asten to the source of the Lenne before you begin the descent towards Mollseifen (the Höhenflug briefly crosses the car park below the observation tower. Attention: The entry from the car park onto the path of the Sauerland-Höhenflug is difficult to recognize!). The Höhenflug leads steeply downhill to the Helleplatz, crosses it, and then continues to the idyllic and quiet forest village Mollseifen. Along the way, the path passes an impressive geological fault, which makes the fascinating and tremendous primal force of the earth tangible. Those who did not stop on the Kahler Asten should refresh themselves in Mollseifen for the further hike, as there is no other opportunity to stop on this stage until Hallenberg.

In Mollseifen, the Höhenflug passes the ski hut, then turns left at the hiking cross into a spruce forest. The path first ascends, runs through an area affected by Kyrill again downhill to the crossroads Lose Holz, then ascends again through beech saplings, whose branches form a magnificent canopy, up to the summit of the Siebenahorn. Here at 690 m stands the Femegericht Freie Stuhl (Sauerland soul place), an old court site where crimes such as murder, robbery, or perjury were tried between 1375 and 1580. Seven maples were planted in memory of this historic place. A rest area invites you to take a break.

Over natural paths, past the bright forests of the nature reserve around Oster- and Moselkopf, the Höhenflug leads to the Ziegenhelle. The summit can be reached via a narrow, steep path. On the Ziegenhelle, hikers are welcomed by a shelter and a 13-meter high observation tower. First mentions of a tower on the 815 m high Ziegenhelle date back to the 19th century. However, the current observation tower was only inaugurated in 2011 after the previous tower was demolished for safety reasons. From the viewing platform, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view. Especially the Kahle Asten and the ski jump at Winterberg are very well recognizable as landmarks.

The further course of the path to the third observation tower, the Heidkopfturm, is also characterized by quiet, natural paths. The Heidkopfturm is located on the summit of the 703 m high mountain of the same name. The Heidkopf forms the easternmost outlier of the Ziegenhelle massif and is at the same time the junction to the Medebach Bay. From its viewing platform, there is a fantastic panoramic view over parts of the Rothaargebirge, over Hallenberg and parts of the Medebach Bay, as well as across to Kellerwald and Habichtswald.

Through forests, the path leads steeply downhill towards Hallenberg. Above Hallenberg, you enjoy one last view of Hallenberg itself and the further course of the Höhenflug towards Medelon on the opposite mountain side. The Sauerland-Höhenflug runs directly through the historic town center of Hallenberg. Particularly impressive is the half-timbered ensemble around the parish church St. Heribert with the Petrus fountain and the Kump. The stage ends at Heinrich-Hugo-Platz on the B 236. Here there are parking spaces as well as a bus stop.

No special equipment required

Altastenberg: Coming from Winterberg via B 239, then via K 18

Hallenberg: From Winterberg via B 236.

In Altastenberg: The stop for express bus line 40 is located on Astenstraße near the church. To reach the Sauerland-Höhenflug from here, turn into Bildchenweg and follow it at the intersection with Am Platz street. Follow Zum Heidengarten street to the left until you reach Renauweg (K75). The third street on the right, also Renauweg, leads you out of town and into nature: The Sauerland-Höhenflug lies about 60 m from this small intersection at a fork in the path.

In Hallenberg: The Heinrich-Hugo-Platz stop is located on B 256 (Merklinghauser Straße) near where the Sauerland-Höhenflug crosses this street. To reach the Höhenflug trail, follow B 256 south to the intersection with Talweg. You can reach the stop via public transport from Olsberg (bus 356), Medebach (bus 361), and Allendorf (bus 364).

More information at http://www.rlg-online.de.

In Altastenberg: Hiking car park at K 75 shortly after the exit of Altastenberg, GoogleMaps coordinates: 51.196121,8.46962

In Hallenberg: In the town center at Heinrich-Hugo-Platz, Mecklinghauser Str. 35, 59969 Hallenberg, GoogleMaps coordinates: 51.109531,8.624277

www.sauerland-hoehenflug.de

Service and booking hotline of the Sauerland-Höhenflug: 02974 - 202 199

Food and accommodation options:

Hotel Sauerländer Hof

Merklinghauser Str. 27

59969 Hallenberg

Phone: 02984 - 421

Email: hotel@sauerlaender-hof.de

www.sauerlaender-hof.de

Hotel Diedrich

Nuhnestr. 2

59969 Hallenberg

Phone: 02984 - 9330

Email: mail@hotel-diedrich.de

www.hotel-diedrich.de