Hümmerich: Hiking Trails and Early Mining Traces

Hümmerich is located in the Rhine-Westerwald Nature Park in Rhineland-Palatinate. Circular trails, a forest nature trail and visible traces of early mining give a stay here a range of possible focuses. You can compare walking times and elevation gains, learn about the forest and nature, or discover the village’s economic and mining history. You can tailor the mix to your own pace: from a circular walk of about an hour to longer hikes and local history-themed outings.

Circular Trails for Different Time Budgets

The HÜ1 to HÜ6 circular hiking trails are signposted. The starting point for the Sonnenweg (HÜ1), the Fockenbachweg (HÜ3), the trail to the Weißer Stein natural monument (HÜ4) and the Badeweg (HÜ6) is the hiking car park at the entrance to Hümmerich on Bismarckstraße. The Badeweg is a 3.3-kilometre circular trail with 120 metres of elevation gain and a walking time of about one hour. The Sonnenweg is 5.2 kilometres long, with 183 metres of elevation gain and a walking time of about 1.5 hours. The circular route to the Weißer Stein covers 5.9 kilometres and 253 metres of elevation gain; it takes about two hours to walk. The longest is the Fockenbachweg, at 8.1 kilometres and 309 metres of elevation gain; it takes approximately 2.5 hours to walk.

The Badeweg and Fockenbachweg differ by 4.8 kilometres, 189 metres of elevation gain and around an hour and a half of walking time. The Sonnenweg and Weißer Stein can also be compared: the Weißer Stein route adds 0.7 kilometres and 70 metres of elevation gain compared with the Sonnenweg, and takes about half an hour longer. If you want to set a time limit for your day, you can weigh these differences against the time you have available. If you plan to cover more ground, you can also see how the distance and elevation gain change.

Discover the Forest and Mining History

The forest nature trail in Hümmerich is 7 kilometres long and provides information about the forest, nature and mining. Another route runs for around 7.7 kilometres from the entrance to Hümmerich down into the valley to ore fields and mine entrances. Along the way, you can enjoy distant views of the Cologne Bay, follow the Gierender Bach through meadow valleys and return to Hümmerich. This route combines scenic impressions with mining-related themes.

In the Hümmerich district, sinkhole fields with visible traces of early mining lie along the path behind Karlshof leading to the Weißen Steinen. They give the subject a tangible connection to the landscape, while the forest nature trail provides information about mining and the longer route leads to ore fields and mine entrances.

Village History at the Weighing Scale Museum

The Kleine Waagen-Museum in Hümmerich explores objects from village life as well as flax and dairy farming. The Weighing Scale Museum is located in the former fire station of the Hümmerich volunteer fire brigade. These themes lead from traces of mining to other aspects of local everyday and economic history.

The Hümmerich Traffic and Beautification Association also looks after local visitor amenities: benches, shelters and signposting around Hümmerich and along the circular hiking trails, as well as the forest nature trail, the Weighing Scale Museum and the charcoal kiln.

Plan Your Stay in Hümmerich

If you want a hike to shape your day, the approximate walking times for the four circular trails described here provide a concrete guide: they range from about one to two and a half hours. Also consider whether outdoor activity or the area’s nature and history themes should play a bigger part in your stay. This will help you focus your accommodation search on the kind of trip you are planning in Hümmerich.

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