Eifelsteig Partner hike - the Daffodil Route

Medium

14,8 km

3:30 h

301 m

587 m

470 m

Round Tour

Regional hiking trail

Best Season

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Startpoint

National Park Gate Höfen

Destinationpoint

National Park Gate Höfen

In the middle ages, these fields were cleared and used to raise hay; today, hikers passing here in spring find themselves immersed in a golden sea of daffodils. But this hiking loop offers exciting nature experiences at any time of year.

On this hike, you will wander through more than 600 years of rural and agricultural history as you discover the area around the Perlenbach and Fuhrtsbach valleys, which have been nature reserves since 1976. Today’s hikers here will discover pockets of extensive agriculture embedded in virtually pristine nature. This hike passes through the natural habitat for many threatened species of plants and animal, and the diverse and cheerfully coloured flora and fauna make hiking here an experience to remember. Once, the quality of the waters of the Perlenbach was so good that it allowed freshwater pearl mussels to establish themselves here. Today, the freshwater pearl mussel is virtually extinct, but from the 17th to the 19th centuries there was a flourishing trade in farmed pearls from the valley (from which the stream takes its name, literally “pearl stream”). You will also find traces of more recent history in the Fuhrtsbach valley. The hike takes you past several of the bunkers of the “Siegfried Line” built in 1938, grim testaments to the Second World War and the heavy fighting around Höfen in the winter of 1944-1945. Two of these bunkers remain quite well-preserved despite being dynamited by Allied forces. The larger of the two broods at the foot of the steep slope just a few steps away from the lower bridge. Another highlight of the area is the Perlenbach Valley Dam, built to create a reservoir of drinking water, and with a capacity of 800,000 m³.

Highlights on your route:

- Daffodil fields in spring

- Perlenbach Valley Dam

- Siegfried Line bunkers

- National Park Gate Exhibition

Map

Eifelsteig Partner hike - the Daffodil Route

52156 Monschau

Route

Details

Directions

Routing:

The daffodil route is fully signed with the daffodil route symbol. Signs with yellow tips indicate the way on the partner paths of the Eifelsteig.

Characteristics:

The hike includes light and moderate inclines, both up and down. There are only a few paved sections; for most of the hike, you will be on unpaved, wild paths and trails. It is an ideal family hike, because the climbs are quite moderate for the Eifel, and the 12 km length makes it manageable and not demanding in terms of physical condition.

Safety Guidelines

Please stay on the designated paths.

Equipent

For this hike, we recommend waterproof hiking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Be sure to bring enough water and take a little food with you, and you’ll be all set!

Tip

For a unique experience, do this hike in spring when you will see millions of wild daffodils that transform the meadows of the valley into a sea of gold.

Getting There

To plan your individual trip by car, use our journey planner and enter “Höfen, Hauptstraße 72” as your destination.

Parking

Parking spaces are available at the National Park Gate.

Public Transit

Take bus line 84 or 815 to “Höfen Kirche”, the nearest bus stop to the hike’s starting point. For your full journey by public transport and fare information, see: www.avv.de

Literature

Eifelsteig - Aachen-Trier plus Partnerwege NRW 650km Qualitätswanderwege [Eifelsteig (Aachen-Trier) plus Nordrhein-Westfalen partner routes - 650 km of high-quality hiking trails] Publisher: Eifelverein Düren ISBN: 978-3-921805-76-3

Maps

Hiking map "Eifelsteig" (9,50 € + Porto) (www.eifel.info/prospektbestellung.htm). “Eifelsteig” hiking map from Aachen to Trier. Topographical recreational map at 1:50000 scale, format: 70 x 100, four-colour front and back. Publisher: Landesamt für Vermessung und Geobasisinformation Rheinland-Pfalz und Eifelverein e.V. ISBN: 978-3-89637-405-9