The “Upper Elpe Valley” Nature Reserve lies close to the village of Elpe and protects an unspoilt, open and largely intact upland valley. The area includes the natural upper reaches of the Elpe with riverside woodland, a spring-fed stream, and wet and nutrient-poor grassland. North of Elpe, the “Elpe and Bremecke Valleys” Nature Reserve covers a roughly two-kilometre section of the Elpe floodplain.

Hiking around Elpe

Numerous hiking trails cover around 160 km in the area around Elpe, offering views of the landscape. The village also has plenty of benches for resting and a barbecue area; idyllic horse-drawn carriage rides provide another option. The foot bath invites you to enjoy Kneipp water therapy. Plästerlegge, a waterfall, lies along a hike that starts in Elpe and is a natural spectacle, especially in winter and spring.

The Elpe E1 Panorama Circular Trail starts in the village centre. This moderately difficult circular hike is around 10 km long and offers views of Elpe. It is marked with the E1 trail symbol, climbs uphill along the Hirtenweg and passes through the “Krauseholz with Chapel” area.

The Elpe E3 is marked with the E3 trail symbol. It heads towards Altenfeld, passing the hang-gliding site on the way to the waterfall, then returns to the village via the “auf'm Kipp” area. To help you choose: the E1 is a moderately difficult circular route of around 10 km, while the E3 focuses on waypoints and the return to the village.

Village Centre and Air Sports

Elpe’s village centre is home to the St. Lawrence Fountain and the Roman Catholic Church of St. Lucia. The fountain was inaugurated on 10 August 2007. The church has geometrically ornamented windows by Vincenz Pieper dating from 1955; they are made of antique glass and lead.

Air sports are also part of the village’s history: as early as 1977, Elmar Müller’s father opened the “West German Hang-Gliding School” in Elpe. The Papillon Paragliding Sauerland flight school in Elpe offers large, unobstructed launch and practice slopes with clear exposure to the wind from all directions. Introductory paragliding courses are offered there throughout the season.

In the wider destination of Olsberg

The Bruchhauser Steine near Olsberg-Bruchhausen were designated North Rhine-Westphalia’s first National Natural Monument in April 2017. The area is a nature reserve, an FFH site and a bird sanctuary. A visitor centre, guided tours and several themed trails provide access to the protected rock formations. Between the rocks lies a prehistoric hillfort and place of worship dating from around 500 BC. In the wider destination of Olsberg, the Kneipp Hiking Trail is an alternative to the foot bath in Elpe: it is 40 kilometres long, is certified as a “Wanderbares Deutschland” quality trail and includes six natural Kneipp footbaths. While the foot bath invites you to enjoy Kneipp water therapy, the hiking trail includes several natural footbaths as part of a longer route.

Discover more destinations: Assinghausen, Bruchhausen, Wulmeringhausen, Gierskopp, Elleringhausen, Antfeld, Wiemeringhausen

Return to the wider travel overview: Olsberg.