Bettenfeld: Volcanic Landscape and Crater Lakes

Bettenfeld lies on a plateau in a striking volcanic landscape. Here, crater lakes, a dry maar and visible traces of ancient lava flows come together. The Mosenberg reaches 519 metres and is considered the last active volcano in the Eifel. There is plenty to discover around Bettenfeld for a stay that combines nature and geology.

Crater, Maar and Volcanic History

The Mosenberg is a group of five cinder cones. Associated with it are the Windsborn crater lake and the Hinkelsmaar. Windsborn is considered the only true crater lake north of the Alps. Hinkelsmaar, by contrast, is a dry maar where rare animal and plant species live. A former lava flow is also visible in the Horngraben. The Mosenberg Chain of Craters Nature Reserve covers around 62 hectares within Bettenfeld and preserves a landscape where different volcanic landforms and habitats meet.

At Windsborn, too, the distinctive landscape is intertwined with fragile nature: rare plants grow along the shore, and endangered dragonflies live there. Swimming and fishing are prohibited at the crater lake. The Mosenberg Volcano Experience Park displays a large cross-section of a volcanic cone. Exposed feeder conduits, lava layers and cinder illustrate its internal structure. If you would like to visit the Mosenberg Volcano Experience Park, it is about a 20-minute walk from the Hinkelsmaar/Kratersee car park.

The Mosenberg Panorama Tower offers a different perspective. From there, the view stretches southeast across the Lieser Valley, Manderscheid and the Hunsrück. This means that on one trip you can take in both the volcanic landforms near Bettenfeld and the wider landscape.

On Foot Between the Crater Lake and Volcano Park

The approximately five-kilometre Heimatspur Kraterseen Mosenberg trail loops around the Windsborn crater lake and links it with Hinkelsmaar and the Bettenfeld Volcano Experience Park. The route is considered suitable for families and brings together several of the area’s distinctive natural and geological sites in one hike. If you would rather shape your day around individual highlights, you can explore the crater lake, dry maar and Volcano Experience Park as separate focal points.

Bettenfeld is also a starting point for regional hiking and cycling tours. Routes and activities in the area include the VulkaMaar Trail, the Lieser Trail, the Eifelsteig, the Kosmos cycle path and the Vulkaneifel Trail Park. The options therefore range from hiking trails to cycling and trail activities. Your choice of route may depend on whether you would like to spend the day on foot or by bike; check details of individual routes when planning your trip.

Group Accommodation

Bettenfeld offers a youth guesthouse for groups of up to 38 people. It welcomes hiking and pilgrimage groups crossing the Volcanic Eifel or exploring it from Bettenfeld. Facilities include shared group bedrooms, showers and toilets, a group kitchen, a dining room and a multi-purpose sports hall. These are useful details for groups looking for shared accommodation and wanting to combine their stay with hikes or nature excursions.

Groups with a specialist interest in the landscape can also find a particular connection to the Mosenberg: the Mosenberg Biological-Ecological Station hosts groups working on limnological, geological, plant-sociological or other field ecology questions for research or teaching. Booking is required. Bettenfeld can therefore be seen not only as a starting point for hikes, but also as a place for in-depth study of water bodies, geology and ecology.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Meerfeld, Oberscheidweiler, Großlittgen, Laufeld, Hasborn, Pantenburg, Wallscheid, Greimerath.

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