Salm: Views towards Mosenberg and the Hunsrück

Discover Salm through a striking viewpoint and the river of the same name. Eifel-Blick Schöne Aussicht is 614 metres above sea level. From here, the view extends south-southeast towards the Mosenberg volcanic complex near Bettenfeld and the heights of the Hunsrück. The nearby source of the Salm is another geographical reference point for finding your way around the area.

Viewpoint, river and Wallender Born

The Salm flows through the area before joining the Moselle at Klüsserath. Wallender Born, in the nearby village of the same name, is an easily reached destination from the viewpoint. It is considered the only cold-water geyser in the Vulkaneifel. Together, a far-reaching view, a river and a distinctive geological feature offer different ways to explore the surroundings of Salm.

Volcanic landscape in the wider Vulkaneifel destination

The wider Vulkaneifel destination reveals its volcanic history on different scales. To date, 77 maars have been identified there; in addition, 350 eruption centres have been counted, about 270 of them from a more recent phase. The most recent volcanic eruption in the Vulkaneifel took place at Ulmener Maar around 10,900 years ago. Near Bettenfeld is also Windsborn Crater Lake, considered the only natural crater lake north of the Alps.

The maars also differ in size: Gemündener Maar has a water surface of about seven hectares and is the smallest of the three famous “Eyes of the Eifel.” Those interested in the origins and forms of volcanism can also visit museums and other geological sites, which offer different perspectives.

Hiking and cycling in the Vulkaneifel

The Vulkaneifel trails lead to scenic highlights on either side of the Eifelsteig. They are marked and signposted, and offer half-day hikes, day hikes and multi-day hikes. One specific section of the Eifelsteig is the eleventh stage, from Daun to Manderscheid: it is 23.4 kilometres long. The Vulcano Trail, meanwhile, is a 26.2-kilometre circular route east of Schalkenmehren. When choosing a route, you can compare different formats and stated distances. Since trail conditions can change, it is worth checking the latest information before setting out on a particular hike.

For mountain biking, the Trailpark Vulkaneifel offers a dedicated guide: its network of routes is about 750 kilometres long and includes more than 17,500 metres of elevation gain. Hiking trails ranging from half-day to multi-day hikes, along with an extensive mountain biking network, cater to different activity preferences across the wider destination. Which options suit your travel plans depends on whether you would rather focus on a particular type of hike or on cycling.

Museums and cultural sites in the wider destination

The Eifel Volcano Museum in Daun features three-dimensional landscape models of cinder cones, maars and mineral springs, as well as exhibits on West Eifel volcanism. The interactive Strohn Volcano House offers a different perspective: its geological features include a lava fissure wall about 30,000 years old, around six metres long and four metres high. The Gerolstein Natural History Museum is considered the largest and oldest geomuseum in the Eifel. Across three floors, it displays stone evidence of the region’s geological history. Models, exhibits and the striking rock wall offer different points of interest for anyone seeking to better understand volcanic formations.

Architecture and landscape can also be explored together in the Vulkaneifel. Ulmen Castle Ruins rise above the steep shore of Ulmener Maar; parts of the upper castle remain. Near Manderscheid, the narrow Lieser valley separates the two castles. Their interplay of nature and culture offers a different focus from the geological exhibitions. This gives you the choice of landscape, geological history, hiking or castles for your trip, rather than planning around just one theme.

Choose accommodation to suit your interests

When looking for accommodation in Salm, it helps to decide on your main interest first: would you like to focus on the viewpoint, the river and nearby Wallender Born, or also include hiking, mountain biking, museums and castles across the wider Vulkaneifel destination? The route types and topics mentioned here can help with your planning.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Pelm, Hohenfels-Essingen, Kopp, Gees, Kalenborn-Scheuern, Mürlenbach, Densborn and Berlingen.

Go to the main travel overview: Gerolstein.