Altenbeken: Beech Forests, Hiking Trails and Viaduct

Altenbeken brings together the beech forests of the Egge hills and distinctive railway landmarks. This gives your trip two distinct focuses: trails through natural areas and hikes on the one hand, and the viaduct and railway landscape on the other. You can plan your stay around whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors or include both nature and railway history. The contrast is especially vivid in the protected forests and the large stone bridge.

Forest landscapes and nature reserves

There are two nature reserves within the municipality: Egge-Nord and Stollen am großen Viadukt. Egge-Nord is a 2,600-hectare forest nature reserve in the northern Egge hills and is also described as a beech forest natural heritage site. The forest area around Altenbeken is also known as the OWL Natural Heritage Forest, with its old beech forests. A significant change affects around 600 hectares: forestry has been discontinued there in favor of research. This allows the forest to gradually develop back towards its original beech primeval forest. The area’s scale and this transformation shape the character of Egge-Nord, along with its old beech stands. Altenbeken also has numerous hiking trails and nature paths that complement the nature-focused side of your stay.

Choose hikes by length and route type

The Panorama Wanderweg V3 is 13.2 kilometers long, described as a moderate half-day hike, and marked with V3 along its entire length. Along the way, you can enjoy views of the Rehberg Tunnel portal, the railway station and Altenbeken. This hike brings together nature and railway landmarks. The Wildnis-Steig offers a different focus: it is a 23.2-kilometer circular trail through the beech-covered Durbeke in the Egge-Nord nature reserve.

The details make the difference between the two hikes clear: the V3 is described as moderate and as a half-day hike, while the Wildnis-Steig’s length and circular route provide useful guidance. The 30-kilometer Viadukt Wanderweg around Altenbeken combines railway and nature experiences. When planning your hikes, you can weigh up whether a shorter half-day hike, a longer circular trail or a combination of both themes on a regional hiking route best suits your planned stay.

The viaduct as an Altenbeken railway landmark

The railway viaduct spans the Beketal valley for 482 meters and rises 35 meters high. It is considered Europe’s largest stone railway bridge. Its lighting is another distinctive feature: since December 2003, 20 of its 24 arches have been lit at night. Its precise dimensions and the number of illuminated arches give the structure a distinctive character; the Panorama Wanderweg V3 also offers views of the tunnel and railway station. If you want to combine nature and railway history in Altenbeken, you can make the viaduct a focus of your trip or combine railway landmarks with a hike.

Getting there and planning your starting points

For the Wildnis-Steig, you can take the train to Altenbeken and then use the Naturerbe bus to reach the start and finish at Waldhaus Durbeke. Check the bus timetable before setting off. The start and finish of the Viadukt Radweg are at the Mobilstation Bahnhofsvorplatz in Altenbeken. These starting points provide practical guidance for planning your day: for the Wildnis-Steig, the bus ride to Waldhaus is part of the described journey, while the cycle route begins and ends at the station forecourt. You can choose accommodation based on the activities you want to include in your stay.

More ways to experience nature in the wider Paderborn destination

In the wider Paderborn destination, the source of the Ems lies in the Moosheide nature reserve. It is a seepage spring with many different water outlets; a wooden boardwalk offers a close-up impression of the natural spring environment. The Steinhorster Becken is also part of the wider Paderborn destination. On both sides of the Ems, shallow-water ponds, islands, reed beds and wet grassland form a mosaic. Migrating wading birds and waterfowl find undisturbed areas there to rest and forage.

Discover more destinations: Hövelhof, Lichtenau, Bad Wünnenberg, Paderborn, Borchen, Barkhausen, Herbram, Büren.

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