Dedenborn: Hiking, Forests and History

Dedenborn lies in the Rur Valley, between dense forests and rolling hills. As part of the municipality of Simmerath, the village is connected to the Eifelsteig and other historic and natural places to visit in the Eifel National Park. Here, hiking trails and landscapes meet landmarks that tell the story of the village.

Rur Valley, Forests and Protected Habitats

The Dedenborn Forest Nature Reserve comprises mainly wooded stretches of valley along the lower reaches of the Puengel and Wuestebach streams, the Girvelscheid ridge between them, and a wooded stretch of valley along the upper reaches of the Erkenzrur. The “Dedenborn, Talaue des Puengel-, Wuestebaches und Erkensruhroberlauf” Special Area of Conservation highlights another aspect of this natural landscape: it includes extensive, contiguous Hainsimsen beech forests and stream valleys with floodplain habitats, grassland and alder floodplain forests. Those interested in the landscape will find a variety of habitats here rather than a uniform expanse of forest.

Individual viewpoints and resting places also give the area its own character. The “Op em Demer” rest area on the Eifelsteig lies above Dedenborn and offers panoramic views across the Rur Valley. Its bench is modelled on the meandering shape of the Rur and has a pendulum. Seifenauel is also home to the “Theo's-Eck” rest area, with reclining seats and benches; it was inaugurated on October 25, 2025.

Hiking Trails with Different Views

Three local hiking trails can be accessed from the Dedenborn Church hiking car park. A connecting path also leads to the Eifelsteig and the Heckenlandroute. The Dedenborn village walk links the landscape with local history: it passes through an oak forest along slopes that descend steeply to the Rur and reaches the “Spicher” rocky outcrop. The walk also takes you past the little chapels of the Stations of the Cross, built between 1857 and 1863.

The Seifenauel loop offers a different route. It first follows the Rur, climbs to the “Schöne Aussicht” Eifel viewpoint and returns to the Rur at Rauenauel. There is also a rock with a mullion structure in the slates of the Rurberg strata at the southwestern exit from Dedenborn. This tectonic structure is considered unique in this form throughout the Rhenish Slate Mountains and can be visited on a short hike. These trails and landmarks offer a range of highlights, from river meanders to geological features.

Church, Stations of the Cross and Remembrance

The Catholic parish church of St. Michael has stood since 1717 and was extended around 1973. Its valuable art-historical features include 16 Stations of the Cross paintings. The 15th image depicts the Finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena; the 16th station takes the form of an indulgence letter. The stained-glass windows were created by the artist Erich Charlier. A lime tree dating from the 17th century can also be seen at Pfarrer-Engels-Platz beside the church; it is around 350 to 400 years old.

The “Spicher” rocky outcrop is home to another place of remembrance: the White Peace Cross was erected there in 1954 by men and young men from Dedenborn, in gratitude for their safe return from the Second World War. Together with the Stations of the Cross, it offers a tangible insight into local remembrance culture, while the church itself brings art and architectural history together in a compact space.

Annual Events

Events also shape local life. The St. Michael Schützenbruderschaft Dedenborn holds a large marksmen’s festival every year at Pentecost. An exhibition of amateur artists takes place every two years at the community centre. A barbecue is held each year on German Unity Day at the “Om Spicher” barbecue hut. If you would like to plan your stay around one of these events, check the current date in advance.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Woffelsbach, Einruhr, Steckenborn, Kesternich.

Return to the main travel overview: Simmerath.