Discover Erkensruhr

Erkensruhr has been surrounded by Eifel National Park since 2004. Forests, hiking trails and the settlement’s history give the village its different sides. The Path of Creation brings nature and short texts together particularly vividly, leading to a walk-through stone labyrinth.

Forest, texts and a walk-through labyrinth

The Path of Creation comprises ten stations featuring short biblical and literary texts for meditation. The landscape shifts between dark spruce forest, old mixed beech forest and rocky outcrops covered in lichen and moss. Both the forest sections and the stations shape the character of the trail.

At the end of the Path of Creation is the walk-through stone labyrinth, “Path to the Centre.” From there, the view stretches far across Eifel National Park. Visitors who would like to pause and discover texts as well as walk during an outing will find a different emphasis here than on a straightforward circular hike.

Several disused slate mines lie along Themed Trail 3, where bats have found a habitat. The mines reveal another facet of the landscape: the bats’ habitat is also one of the themes along the trail.

Hikes with different points of interest

Themed Trail 3 starts in Hirschrott at the end of Erkensruhr or Hirschrott streets. From the “Finkenauel” hiking car park in Erkensruhr, it is about 1.5 kilometres along the road to the starting point. As access information may change, check it before setting out.

The Erkensruhr Village Walk 65 is about 6.7 kilometres long and takes approximately 2.5 hours. This approximate duration provides a concrete guide for planning your day. Another named route is Trail 75, “Püngelbach”: it leads from Einruhr through the Erkensruhr valley to the forest chapel in Hirschrott.

The different trails offer a range of themes for your explorations: the stations along the Path of Creation, disused slate mines on Themed Trail 3, or the village walk with its approximate duration. When looking for accommodation, you can consider which of these experiences are especially important for planning your trip.

Village history and a local event

Erkensruhr was established in the first decades of the 19th century as the youngest village settlement in the Monschau region. This history gives the place its own historical context alongside its nature and hiking experiences.

At Et Backes, fresh wood-fired oven bread is available on the first Saturday of every month. Dates are listed for 2026, but may change. Check the dates before planning your visit around them.

More experiences in the wider destination of Simmerath

The wider destination of Simmerath also offers other nature and excursion options that can be considered on their own. In Woffelsbach Bay, the swimming area is directly in the lake; yellow buoys mark its boundaries. Swimming conditions may vary with the water level. Einruhr Nature Experience Pool uses no chlorine or chemicals; the used water is purified biologically in a reed pond.

The Rurberg National Park Gate in Simmerath includes the “Lifelines of Nature” exhibition, a digital terrain model of the national park and national park films. It is also the starting point for free guided tours into the forests of the Kermeter. Dates may change; check them before planning a tour.

The wider destination of Simmerath has several hiking routes described in detail. The 15.1-kilometre Panorama Trail starts at the village square in Simmerath-Strauch and leads through typical Eifel farmland to the Michelshof wind farm. Along the way, it offers panoramic views of the Eifel landscape, Lake Rur and the Kermeter on the opposite shore. The 14.2-kilometre Rursee Heights Trail starts at the Rursee Centre in Simmerath-Rurberg. The 26-kilometre “Around Lake Rur” cycling route circles the lake.

The Eifel Viewpoint “Wolfshügel” is 360 metres above Einruhr. From there, the distant view stretches across the village and Obersee to the Buhlert forest. The Eifelsteig and the local Püngelbach hiking trail (No. 75) pass directly by the viewpoint. In Einruhr, the hiking rest station at the Heilsteinhaus offers walkers a place to relax and picnic after a hike or cycle ride. At the same location, the Einruhr National Park information point provides information about activities in the Eifel National Park Experience Region.

Discover more destinations: Hahn, Eschweiler, Herzogenrath, Alsdorf, Würselen, Rurberg, Roetgen, Lammersdorf.

Back to the wider travel guide: Aachen.