For a trip to Heinsberg, Heinsberger Heide, Schwarzbachtal and hikes connected with the Rothaarsteig provide a clear point of reference. The trails vary in length, starting point and theme—from access routes that can also be used as circular hikes to routes focusing on nature and culture.
Heathland, streams and rocky landscapes
Heinsberger Heide is associated with the Haberg nature reserve. In Schwarzbachtal, diverse meadows along a varied stream invite you to explore and take a break. The limnological trail offers insights into life in and around the stream and draws attention to the aquatic habitat.
Further afield in the region around Heinsberg lies the Albaumer Klippen nature reserve. A rocky ridge of keratophyre, about 750 m long, defines the area. It also features rock vegetation, diverse oak forests, and notable lichen and moss vegetation.
Hiking trails with different starting points
Access routes from Heinsberg to the Rothaarsteig are 4 to 10 km long and are also suitable as circular hikes. The Schwarzbachtal soul-place hike (A4) starts and ends at the hiking portal or car park at Hochheide near Kirchhundem-Heinsberg. The path is paved and almost level in the area around the car park. This makes the Heinsberger Heide nature reserve accessible to people with mobility impairments, too.
The “Stauweiher Heinsberg” car park is the starting point for the approximately 11 km circular route “Quality Trail Krenkeltal & Goldener Zapfen.” Another route, “Heinsberg: Through the Wild Cliffs,” leads to the Albaumer Klippen nature reserve and then follows a varied trail with wide views to the Panoramapark.
The Hochheide car park is also a suitable starting point for hikes on the Rothaarsteig. One example leads through the Schwarzbachtal nature reserve to the Rhein-Weser-Turm. This gives you a choice of different starting points and types of routes when planning your hikes.
Nature and culture along the way
The Rothaarsteig Aqueduct Experience Station is on the access trail between Kirchhundem-Heinsberg and the Haberg nature reserve. At the station, a scale-accurate copper relief model of the terrain illustrates how an aqueduct works. The themed hike “Heathland, Legends, Three-Country Border” explores the cultural and natural history of the Rothaarsteig through anecdotes and stories. “Border Stories Up Close” turns a hike around Heinsberger Heide into a special experience with the help of a smartphone. The themes are explored in different ways: through a model, stories or a route guided by smartphone.
Getting here and finding your way
The Heinsberg Ludwig bus stop is 2 km from the Schwarzbachtal soul-place hike (A4) and is served by bus route R93. If you plan to take the bus to the hike, check the timetable in advance.
Kirchhundem as the wider destination
In the wider destination of Kirchhundem, a 14.4 km stage of the Rothaarsteig runs from the Rhein-Weser-Turm through the Schwarzbachtal nature reserve and Heinsberger Hochheide to Ginsberger Heide. Along the way, it passes Dreiherrnstein and the source of the Ferndorf. The historic Rhein-Weser-Turm on Westerberg is 24 metres high and offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The tower has a restaurant with a terrace serving regional dishes, coffee and cake. Check that the restaurant is open before your visit.
For a cultural highlight in the wider destination of Kirchhundem, visit Kulturgut Schrabben Hof in Kirchhundem-Silberg. The largely listed complex of buildings combines a local history museum with, among other things, a nostalgic café, an old bakehouse and a theatre barn. Covering about 250 m², the museum tells the story of life in a Sauerland village and the mining history of Silberg; it also provides information about the region’s nature reserves and displays fossils and minerals. In Oberhundem, the embroidery museum offers a different focus: housed in a listed rectory dating from 1685, it displays antique hand-embroidered work in restored historic rooms.
Discover more destinations: Oberhundem, Brachthausen, Varste, Silberg.
Back to the destination overview: Kirchhundem.
