Golddorf Route Westfeld / Rothaarsteig Trail "Kahler Asten-Steig"

In our small hiking shop at rothaarsteig.de/shop, you’ll also find a selection of Rothaarsteig merchandise to help you prepare for your hike or to take home as a souvenir. We’re also happy to recommend the durable, high-quality outdoor gear from our long-standing partner, the German outdoor equipment manufacturer Tatonka.

Hiking Backpack

With the right hiking backpack, your tour on the Rothaarsteig will be twice as much fun! Hiking backpacks offer exceptional comfort thanks to a ventilated carrying system, which ensures that sweat can evaporate immediately. They can be secured with a chest or hip strap, ensuring they stay firmly against your back with every movement. They’re also equipped with a practical holder for hiking poles and often feature a compartment with a hose outlet for a hydration bladder, ensuring you stay hydrated at all times.

Here you’ll find hiking backpacks from the outdoor gear manufacturer Tatonka in various sizes for day hikes and multi-day trips, featuring different ventilated back systems.

Rain Gear

If changeable weather is forecast for your hike on the Rothaarsteig, remember to pack a lightweight rain jacket or a rain poncho. They take up virtually no space in your backpack and also keep out unpleasant wind. Gaiters are also practical, as they protect your pant legs from dirt and moisture.At our partner, the German outdoor gear manufacturer Tatonka, you’ll find high-quality, breathable rain jackets that pack down to a minimal size, lightweight rain capes, and gaiters to protect your pant legs from dirt and moisture.

Here you’ll find Tatonka’s rain jackets for women

You can find Tatonka’s rain jackets for men here

First-Aid Kit

To ensure you can fully enjoy your hiking trip on the Rothaarsteig, you should pack a first-aid kit in your backpack just in case. After all, nothing is more frustrating than not being able to immediately and properly treat a blister or minor injury. The first-aid kits from the German outdoor gear manufacturer Tatonka are stocked with all the essential supplies for treating injuries and also include an “outdoor cheat sheet” with concise and clear guidelines on how to respond to emergencies in the great outdoors.

Find Tatonka’s first-aid kits here!

Food and Beverages

On some sections of the trail, especially between Lahnhof and Dillenburg, there are unfortunately no places to stop for refreshments along the way. Be sure to pack food and drinks, especially for these sections. Having enough drinks is particularly important in the summer.

The stainless-steel bottles, stainless-steel insulated jugs, and stainless-steel lunch boxes from the German outdoor gear manufacturer Tatonka are not only practical but also unbreakable and durable.

Many species of wildlife live in the forests along the Rothaarsteig. You may encounter red deer, wild boars, mouflon, and, more recently, bison. You may encounter bison on the Rothaarsteig between Albrechtsplatz and Dreiherrenstein. The risks posed by bison to the average hiker are low and can be reduced to an absolute minimum by behaving appropriately and respectfully.

• Walk calmly and unobtrusively past the animals at a distance; do not startle them and do not look them directly in the eyes.

• If the animals approach you, remain calm, do not turn your back on them, and leave the area without panicking, but always keep the animal in sight.

• If the animals come within a distance that makes you uncomfortable, shout loudly, whistle, or make yourself heard in some other way. Watch out for threatening gestures!

• When wild boars “clatter their teeth” or bison lower their heads, they are expecting you to retreat. Step back!

• If you have a dog with you, keep it under control on a leash. If an animal attacks your dog, let it off the leash! The dog is faster and more agile than you and will definitely find you again!

A rescue point system has been installed in the Hochsauerland district. You can find rescue points on the information boards at trail junctions and on hiking signs, among other places

Information on the rescue signs along the Rothaarsteig

Hiking trails usually run away from towns and settlements, and every hiker has wondered at some point what would happen if an emergency were to occur. How can I be found here? Where am I, anyway? Can emergency services reach me?

But in an emergency, speed is of the essence! That’s why the Rothaarsteig is equipped with so-called emergency signs along its entire length. The green-and-white plaques attached to the signposts feature a number that you must provide when making your emergency call. This allows emergency responders to know exactly where you are, saving valuable time.

Please keep in mind that due to dry conditions, there is currently an increased risk of wildfires! Therefore, please observe the following guidelines:

Comply with the legal ban on smoking in the forest—it applies in spring, summer, and fall, specifically from March 1 through October 31.

Observe the ban on open fires in the forest and within 100 meters of the forest.

Take any glass with you when you leave the forest—the magnifying effect of glass can trigger forest fires.

If it’s (too) late:

Extinguish small fires as they start if you can do so safely. If necessary, carefully inspect the area.

Report fires by calling “112.”

Leave the danger zone by the shortest route.

The forest will thank you!

• Due to logging operations, signage may be missing on some sections of the trail. We therefore recommend using GPS data or a hiking map.


• A climb up the Astenturm tower offers you a wonderful panoramic view of the Sauerland mountains.


• If you’d like to test your physical fitness, the fitness trail in Westfeld Park is available at the end of the hike.

To help you prepare for your hike, we’d be happy to send you our free information packet. At rothaarsteig.de/prospekte, you can easily select the information you need. Our Rothaarsteig guidebook—which lists accommodations along the trail and provides other useful information—is a great companion for any hike.

In our brochure “Rothaarsteig Trails—All Circular Hiking Trails at a Glance,” you’ll find map excerpts and brief descriptions for all 13 circular hiking trails, as well as a map of the Breitscheid Cave Tour. It also features the other 12 Rothaarsteig Trails, complete with maps, brief descriptions, and the most scenic rest stops along the route. At rothaarsteig.de/prospekte, you can easily order the booklet to be delivered to your home free of charge or view it online as a PDF or flipbook.

We also recommend our Rothaarsteig Trails Hiking Passport. Anyone who has hiked 8 of the 13 trails will receive a hiking certificate and a Rothaarsteig pin, and will be entered into our annual raffle. You can also easily order the hiking pass to be delivered to your home for free at rothaarsteig.de/prospekte or download it directly online.

You can order the original Rothaarsteig hiking map at a scale of 1:50,000 on waterproof paper—featuring up-to-date trail routes and useful markings such as shelters, parking lots, bus stops, and much more—at rothaarsteig.de/shop for 11.00 euros with free shipping , conveniently delivered right to your door.

Hiking information “Golddorf Routes in the Schmallenberg Sauerland,” Schmallenberg hiking map (scale 1 : 25,000). Both maps are available at the tourist information office in Schmallenberg or at the local tourist bureaus.

You can reach Westfeld by taking bus line S 40. To start the Golddorf Route, get off at the "Sportplatz" stop. From there, it's a 3-minute walk to the route's starting point in the village park.

For schedule information: www.rlg-online.de

With theSchmallenberg Sauerland Card (), you can ride buses and trains throughout the region for free.

You can park for free in the parking lots near the cross-country skiing center / ski lodge.