AhrSteig Stage 5: Kreuzberg to Walporzheim (15.3 km)

With a view of Kreuzberg Castle, you go over Bahnhofstraße and the Ahr bridge to 500 m immediately behind the former railway crossing, then right on a narrow forest path up to Lingenberg. The path leads through abandoned vineyards to a small roadside chapel – with a view of the left Ahr heights and the starting point at Kreuzberg station – then continues in a left curve below the Horn down to the outskirts of Altenburg.

On the top left, you can already see the next destination, the rock ridge with the Devil's Hole, and after a short climb, you reach the wayside cross above the Altenahr youth hostel. Here the path forks.

Tip: The Devil's Hole and Altenahr can be reached via a marked access path

The detour to the Devil's Hole is worth it! On a narrow path, you continue left at the fork, first in several loops upwards, then along the rock ridge after a rock saddle. Wonderful views of Altenburg and Kreuzberg and the already walked area accompany the path. After 400 m, the turnoff to the Devil's Hole is reached. The detour to the Devil's Hole branches off right from the path, initially over irregular steps with a short climbing part, over a rock path through the rock hole. From the Devil's Hole, there is a breathtaking view of Altenahr, Are Castle, the Ahr loop with the Langfig valley, the opposite Engelsley, and in the distance behind it the Krausberg Tower.

Back on the AhrSteig, the path steadily climbs until the turnoff to the Schrock viewpoint. The short detour to the viewpoint with a small shelter should definitely be planned.

The path continues towards Mayschoß. Through forest paths, the vineyards of Mayschoß are reached. Between forest and vines, the path passes the Saffenburg ruin on the way to Rech.

From the Saffenburg ruin, there is a magnificent panoramic view of Mayschoß, the Ahr river course, and the surrounding towns.

Upon arriving in Rech, the path leads left at the Bären fountain into the town center. Passing taverns and wineries, it soon turns right, through narrow, winding alleys and up stairs into the vineyards. The path passes by the well-known lettering with the name of the town. From the vineyards there is a wide view over the wine village of Rech. Through forest paths, the AhrSteig continues towards Dernau to the Krausberg. Along a trail that at the end leads briskly uphill through rocks – past a viewpoint – the Krausberg is reached. From the Krausberg Tower, there is a spectacular 360° panoramic view, with good visibility up to Cologne Cathedral.

The remaining 4 km section now leads through mixed forest to the Alfred Dahm Tower; from this tower, erected in 1929 in honor of the founder of the Eifelverein Ahrweiler, you look across to the Siebengebirge on the right bank of the Rhine. The path continues southwards towards the Heckenbach valley and meets at the Geusbach the 6th stage of the AhrSteig. Here, the descent through the Heckenbach valley towards the temporary bridge in Walporzheim is possible.

For the sake of the natural landscape and your own safety, please observe the following instructions:

To protect the animal and plant life of the Ahr valley, it is important that you stay on the marked paths, leash your dogs, and keep the landscape clean. Due to the danger of forest fires, open fires must be avoided.

A61 from the north: Meckenheim interchange, continue on A565, changing to B257, via Altenahr to Kreuzberg.

A61 from the south: Meckenheim interchange, continue on the B257 to Kreuzberg.

Take the Ahrtalbahn to Ahrweiler, then continue with the SEV line 3 to Kreuzberg

Timetable information at www.bahn.de or www.vrs.de

Information on rail replacement service

At Altenahr - Kreuzberg station
Josefbrücke Walporzheim hiking parking lot

Ahrtal Tourism Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler e.V.
Oberstr. 8
53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
Tel: (02641) 9171-0
Fax: (02641) 9171-51

Email: info@ahrtal.de

Website: www.ahrtal.de

Here you can find Stage 4 and Stage 6

When the white flag flies on the Krausberg Tower, the Eifelverein Dernau invites you to homemade delicacies in the hut at Krausberg.