- Summit
- Place to stop for a bite to eat
- Circular Trail
Schwedensteig - Heidenstraße (W1)
Stunning views, picturesque forest scenery, and traditional regional half-timbered architecture define the character of this varied hiking tour, which has been awarded the “German Hiking Seal” as a premium trail. Meadows, small areas of heathland, a little stream, and small, interestingly accessible rock formations await you, as do idyllic spots to linger. Refreshments are also available, thanks to several places to stop for a bite to eat located right along the trail.
Tour starting point:
SGV Hiking Portal in downtown Westfeld.
Tour destination point:
SGV Hiking Portal in downtown Westfeld.
Properties:
Additional Information
Dining options along the Schwedensteig–Heidenstraße hiking trail:
•Landgasthof Schneider Winterberger Straße Phone: 0 29 75 / 33 2
•Gasthof und Hotel Bischof Am Birkenstück 3 Phone: 0 29 75 / 96 60 0
•Schwedenhütte Altastenberg Phone: 0171 / 3729398
•Gasthof Braun Ohlenbach Phone: 0 29 75 / 41 1
•Hotel Waldhaus Ohlenbach Phone: 0 29 75 / 84 0
•Café-Restaurant Bauernschänke Ohlenbach Phone: 0 29 75 / 410
•Café Backes Lennestraße 1 Phone: 0 29 75 / 10 65
You can find more restaurants, accommodations, and activities in the Schmallenberg Sauerland region here.
Category
regionaler WanderwegLength
14.9 kmDuration
5:00 hElevation ascent
470 mElevation descent
470 mLowest point
482 mHighest point
779 mCondition
Difficulty
Recommended seasons
The trailhead and endpoint are located at St. Blasius Church—the trail is marked W1. The loop trail has a total length of 15.5 kilometers, but can be shortened to 6, 9 (Rehhecke: toward Schützenkreuz and back via the Heidenstraße) or 12.5 (Knick) kilometers. As the name suggests, the trail follows the old Heidenstraße (this centuries-old historic military, trade, and pilgrimage route between Leipzig and Cologne, which crosses the Electoral Cologne Sauerland region in the Hochsauerland and the Olpe district), past the Schwedenschanzen (an old border fortification) to the Schwedenhütte in Altastenberg, a mountain village in the Winterberg region. You’ll cross the Rehhecke Nature Reserve, with its juniper heath and hooded beech trees, and from the Wesenberg, you’ll repeatedly enjoy beautiful views of the “Bundesgolddorf” Westfeld, the Hoher Knochen, and the Kahler Asten.
Information
Directions
You’ll start your hike at the SGV hiking portal in the center of Westfeld. The trail begins by following the W1 in a wide loop and, after about 2.5 km, passes a charcoal burner’s hut on its way over the Wesenberg.It then heads east to the Rehhecke Nature Reserve—a juniper grove with old red beeches, dwarf heather, and rare plant and animal species—and continues on to the Hubertusstein.From here, you’ll first follow the Heidenstraße steeply uphill to its summit, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view at an elevation of about 766 m. Continue along the Heidenstraße to the Alten Schanzen, where you have the option to take a shortcut to the right toward the Schwedenhütte.Alternatively, continue along the As2 trail to the large parking lot in Altastenberg. There, turn sharply right onto the As3, passing the Heidenstraße milestone, and continue to the Schwedenhütte, where you can stop for a break.Continuing on the As3, you’ll reach a fork in the trail where you’ll turn left onto the W1 hiking trail, which is marked by a narrow path through the beech forest.The W1 leads the remaining 5 km back to the starting point of the hike, the SGV hiking portal in the center of Westfeld.
Equipment
We recommend sturdy shoes and plenty of food for your hike.
Safety guidelines
A rescue point system has been set up in the Hochsauerland district. You can find rescue points on the information boards at intersections and on hiking trail signs, among other places. All signposts along this trail are marked with official location numbers indicating that they are rescue points.
Author Tip
Don't forget your camera. The tour offers beautiful views of the Lenne Valley at every turn. The juniper heath in the Rehhecke Nature Reserve is also worth seeing.
Maps
Schmallenberger-Sauerland hiking map, scale 1:25,000; Nordenau & Westfeld hiking map, scale 1:19,000, available at the tourist information office in Schmallenberg and the Westfeld tourist offices.
Public transit
The S40 bus line runs through Westfeld. To get to the starting point of the tour, get off at the “Kirche” stop.
For schedule information: www.rlg-online.de
With the Schmallenberg Sauerland Card , you can ride buses and trains throughout the region for free
How to get there
The hike begins in the center of Westfeld, right on the L640 country road.
Parking
Parking is available in the center of Westfeld near the church (Winterberger Straße / Dorfstraße junction).
Alternatively, you can park in the parking lots near the cross-country skiing center / ski lodge (about 1 km from the church).