Volcano Trail

The 28-kilometre long Volcano Trail (“Vulkan-Pfad”) starts in Jünkerath, which used to be an important railway junction in the Eifel, and enters the forest after just a few steps. Ready for spiritual inspiration? This route is dotted with Ways of the Cross, wayside shrines, pilgrims’ crosses and chapels. Up high at nearly 600 metres above sea level on the Steinbüchel, the view is incredible! The first destination of the first stage is reached in Steffeln. The second stage day is entirely devoted to volcanoes. The Steffeln volcano garden (“Vulkangarten”) offers an exciting, tangible impression of the millions of years of history of volcanism in the Eifel. The route continues past the “Steffener Drees” mineral water spring, the red colour of which is the result of the high iron content, and on to the Eichholz maar, which today offers shelter to rare birds and reptiles. Over the following kilometres, broad meadowlands and fields alternate with dense spruce forests. In the Gerolstein district of Roth, it’s worth taking a detour to the Rother Kopf with its ice and millstone caves.