- Family-friendly
- Place to stop for a bite to eat
- Circular Trail
- Signage
- Free of charge / accessible at any time
Dreislar Bird-Watching Trail
The Dreislar Bird Trail offers plenty of entertainment, fun, and interesting facts for explorers of all ages along its approximately 3.5-kilometer loop trail!
Tour starting point:
Dreislar Barite Museum, Am Scheidt 2
Tour destination point:
Dreislar Village Square, Ölfestraße
Properties:
Additional Information
Latest Information (April 2025):Due to construction work, the parking lot at the Schwerspatmuseum is unavailable, and the trailhead sign has also been temporarily removed.
We recommend starting from the village square!
Category
ThemenwegLength
3.3 kmDuration
0:56 hElevation ascent
76 mElevation descent
76 mLowest point
373 mHighest point
450 mCondition
Difficulty
Recommended seasons
There's so much to discover here!
The loop trail is especially well-suited for a family walk with children.
Eleven stations introduce the bird species found here and their way of life. Fifteen small information panels at the stations encourage visitors to observe the environment more closely. Follow Toni, the trail’s mascot, through the charming countryside around Dreislar.
Observation tips, facts, and questions will transport you into the world of birds.
Look closely: Do you see a bird of prey hunting? Can you spot the metal bird figures?
Listen: This is what the white wagtail sounds like; this is how the great spotted woodpecker drums. This is how you’ll get to know bird calls.
Play together: Do it like the jay. Play the squirrel game.
Nature Around Dreislar
From Dreislar, the trail leads to the hiking paradise of Medebach Bucht, a European Bird Sanctuary that is home to a particularly high number of bird species worthy of protection. Among others, red-backed shrikes, great grey shrikes, red kites, partridges, and meadow pipits live here.
Get involved:
The Bird Discovery Trail includes 10 activity sheets with craft instructions, games, and tips on nature and bird conservation. They are available at the Tourist Information Office in Medebach and at restaurants in Dreislar, or you can download them here.
Information
Directions
The Dreislar Bird Trail begins at the Schwerspat Museum, Am Scheidt 2. The route is marked throughout with a green arrow.From the museum, the trail leads past the cemetery, along the natural “Dornröschenpfad” to the Schwinkel wellness rest area, where we reach the first interpretive station. After leaving the rest area, we follow the green arrow along the D5 hiking trail and come across additional stations shortly thereafter. After about 1.4 kilometers, the green arrow points us to the right, and at the next fork in the trail, it points right again (still on the D5). Via a nature trail that also takes us through the forest, we finally reach the Opolt with its breathtaking view. The ninth bird discovery station is already located at the summit cross. Now we head down a fairly steep, natural little path to the Schwinkelweg. The green arrow points the way back toward the village center, where the final station is located at the small herb garden on the village square. To wrap things up, the kids can run around and play on the playground.
Safety guidelines
The route is not stroller-friendly!
The nature trail leading down from Opolt is quite narrow and steep. Depending on the weather, it can be slippery.
Author Tip
Complete the "Baryt" mission at the Barite Museum: The last miner from Dreislar knows many of the mountain's secrets. Follow his clues and find the treasure in the museum!
Maps
Medebach Cycling and Hiking Map, available at the Medebach Tourist Information Office
Public transit
- From Medebach: Bus R44 (BRS): Medebach – Dreislar – Hallenberg
- From Winterberg: Bus S50 (BRS): Winterberg – Hallenberg / Transfer in Hallenberg to bus R44
- From Brilon/Olsberg: Bus S30 (RLG): Brilon – Medebach / Transfer in Medebach to bus R44
- From Korbach: Bus 550 (NVV): Korbach – Medebach / Transfer in Medebach to bus R44
- From Frankenberg: Bus 530 (NVV): Frankenberg – Lichtenfels – Medebach / Transfer in Medebach to bus R44
How to get there
- From the north: Take the A7, A2, or A33 to the Wünnenberg-Haaren interchange, then take the B480 through Brilon and Olsberg toward Winterberg, then continue on to Züschen, Liesen, and Hesborn.
- From the west: Take the A44 from Dortmund to Kassel, exit at the Werl interchange, then take the A445 through Meschede to Bestwig and Olsberg, heading toward Winterberg, then continue to Züschen, Liesen, and Hesborn.
- From the Rhineland: Take the A4 Cologne–Olpe to the Olpe interchange, then take the A45 toward Dortmund to the Olpe exit, follow the B55 toward Lennestadt, then take the B236 through Schmallenberg and Winterberg, then continue on to Züschen, Liesen, and Hesborn.
- From the east: Take the A44 Dortmund–Kassel to the Wünnenberg-Haaren exit, then take the B480 through Brilon and Olsberg toward Winterberg, then continue to Züschen, Liesen, and Hesborn.
- From the south: Take the A5 from Frankfurt to Gießen, then the A485/B3 to the Marburg exit, followed by the B252 to Wetter, then the B236 via Hallenberg and Winterberg, and finally on to Züschen, Liesen, and Hesborn.
Parking
Parking lot at the Schwerspat Museum above the church, Am Scheidt 2