- Culturally interesting
- Place to stop for a bite to eat
- Circular Trail
Schmalahtal Loop Trail (Hiking in Germany Quality Trail)
Here you can experience Olsberg’snature in all its beauty.
This medium-length tour has a little bit of everything: plenty of highlights along the way, a trail that winds through unspoiled nature, and, last but not least, a charming half-timbered village with cozy places to stop for a break. The tour also takes you to one of the Sauerland-Seelenorte.
At Schmalahtalsee, the idea is to “let your soul flow.”
Tour starting point:
Hiking sign at the "Feuereiche" on the Rothaarsteig, Olsberg-Bruchhausen
Tour destination point:
Hiking sign at the "Feuereiche" on the Rothaarsteig, Olsberg-Bruchhausen
Properties:
Category
regionaler WanderwegLength
8.6 kmDuration
2:31 hElevation ascent
225 mElevation descent
225 mLowest point
480 mHighest point
650 mCondition
Difficulty
Recommended seasons
The Schmalahtal Tour begins at the “Feuereiche” on the Rothaarsteig and leads past the “Golddorf” (Golden Village) of Elleringhausen, offering views along the way, to the Bruchhauser Steine Information Center. Here, a detour up to the stone giants is recommended. An admission fee is required to visit the Bruchhauser Steine and must be paid at the InfoCenter. This detour adds about 2 km to the route, but it’s well worth it.
A view of the privately owned Wasserschloß and the “European Gold Village” of Bruchhausen rewards the effort of the gentle ascent. You’ll also reach the Silbersee, Brilon’s source of drinking water. It’s no coincidence that the lake bears this beautiful name.
Information
Directions
The route starts at the small parking lot right next to the "Feuereiche," between Olsberg-Bruchhausen/Elleringhausen and Willingen/Brilon.Cross the street once.Well-signposted and marked with trail sign B1 and the Rothaarsteig trail sign, the hiking trail leads around the area toward Bruchhausen. Passing through the gate to the Rothaarsteig and below the Bruchhauser Steine Information Center, the trail offers beautiful views of and above the “Golden Village.”Through the Bruchhauser Steine InfoCenter, you also have the option to explore the stones by paying an admission fee(an additional approx. 2 km). The four stone giants are definitely worth the extra kilometers. (For more information, visit: www.stiftung-bruchhauser-steine.de )The trail now continues uphill around the Istenberg. The Silbersee—Brilon’s source of drinking water—is located along the trail during the last third of the hike. A rest here is recommended. However, the water must not be used for refreshment; signs indicate this.The final leg then leads uphill back to the hiking parking lot at the Feuereiche.
Equipment
*Sturdy shoes.
* Lightweight hiking gear
* Brilon-Olsberg hiking map.
* Water bottle
Safety guidelines
Warning: Lake Silbersee is the source of drinking water for the city of Brilon. Please do not swim in the lake.
Author Tip
Take this opportunity to visit the Bruchhauser Steine Information Center. www.stiftung-bruchhauser-steine.de
Maps
Olsberg Hiking Map, published by Touristik und Stadtmarketing Olsberg GmbH, Ruhrstr. 32, 59939 Olsberg
Public transit
Olsberg Station (Hagen–Kassel rail line)
Brilon-Wald Station (Hagen–Kassel rail line)
R 31 bus route Olsberg–Bruchhausen or Elleringhausen
How to get there
L 743 Olsberg-Elleringhausen toward Brilon-Wald
Parking
Parking lot located directly on the L 743. Caution: busy country road.
Parking space is limited. If the parking spots are full, you can park further down the road—near the Brilon-Wald railroad tunnel.
A path leads directly from below the country road up to the “Feuereiche.”