Steffeln: Volcanic Landscape and Local History

Steffeln is shaped by visible traces of volcanic activity and a distinctive local history. In the Volcanic Garden, layers of eruptions are exposed in the Steffelberg crater; St. Michael tells the story of the area’s geology through its building material. Dry maars and volcanic cones provide another geological context for the municipality. The range of options extends from a walk of about an hour to longer hikes in the Volcanic Eifel.

Volcanic Garden: Experience volcanism in a crater

The Steffeln Volcanic Garden is part of a geotope considered unique in Central Europe. Inside the Steffelberg crater, it reveals layers of eruptions. A circular trail with 24 stations explains volcanic phenomena; allow about an hour for the route. A viewpoint also offers panoramic views across the Volcanic Eifel. Geological details and views of the wider landscape come together as part of a visit here.

For families who enjoy coming up with questions together as they explore, the stations offer plenty to discuss: what can the exposed layers tell us about volcanic processes? The walk combines these insights with views of the crater. The multilingual information concept was presented on November 5, 2024; the panels are in German, English and Dutch.

Dry maars, volcanic cones and the wider context

The municipality of Steffeln, including the district of Auel, has six dry maars of varying sizes and a number of volcanic cones. The Steffelner Drees is another geological feature: it is classified as an iron-rich calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate carbonated spring. These different landforms and the classification of the spring offer various ways to explore the landscape, from its visible elevations to the composition of its water.

Across the wider Volcanic Eifel destination, 77 maars have been identified to date and 350 eruption centers counted, about 270 of them from the more recent phase. The Ulmen Maar marks the most recent volcanic eruption in the Volcanic Eifel, which took place about 10,900 years ago. These regional figures describe the Volcanic Eifel as a whole, not just the municipality of Steffeln.

Tuffstone in local history

St. Michael stands on the southern slope of a prominent tuff cliff on the eastern edge of Steffeln. The church building is made of palagonite tuff, which was quarried immediately below the site. The quarry was in use as far back as Roman times. The church therefore offers a tangible connection between architectural history and the local rock, as well as an interesting setting.

The Wahlhausen votive chapel stands about one kilometer northeast of Steffeln, on a hill 560 meters above sea level. Together with St. Michael, it adds two different buildings and locations to the geological perspective.

A walk, a guided group tour or a longer hike

The Volcanic Garden offers a manageable time commitment: allow about an hour for the circular trail. If you would like to explore the stations as part of a group with a guide, contact the Eifel Association; guided walks in the Volcanic Garden are available by prior arrangement. Please arrange your visit in advance.

One section of the Volcano Trail leads from Steffeln to Gerolstein. The route description names Jünkerath railway station as a possible starting point for access by train. If you are considering traveling by train or planning your hike, check connections and route information before your trip. This will help you distinguish between the walk in the Volcanic Garden and a longer route without assuming they take the same amount of time.

Hiking and museums in the Volcanic Eifel

The Volcanic Eifel Trails are marked and signposted. They offer half-day, full-day and multi-day hikes, leading to scenic highlights on both sides of the Eifelsteig. The eleventh stage of the Eifelsteig runs from Daun to Manderscheid and is 23.4 kilometers long. The Volcanic Eifel therefore offers a range of hiking options, from a shorter walk in Steffeln to hikes requiring a full day or several days of planning.

Museums in the Volcanic Eifel also cover a range of subjects. The Eifel Volcano Museum in Daun displays three-dimensional landscape models of cinder cones, maars and mineral springs, as well as exhibits on West Eifel volcanism. The interactive Volcano House in Strohn focuses, among other things, on a lava fissure wall about 30,000 years old, around six meters long and four meters high. Exhibits like these offer families and other visitors another way to learn about volcanic landforms and how they formed.

If you are looking for accommodation in Steffeln, the type of trip you have planned may help you decide: would you like to focus mainly on the Volcanic Garden and local history, or include longer hikes in the Volcanic Eifel as well? The walks and hiking options mentioned above can help you weigh up your interests.

Discover more destinations: Jünkerath, Gönnersdorf, Esch, Scheid, Stadtkyll, Ormont, Kerschenbach, Lissendorf.

For the overview of the wider destination: Obere Kyll.