A circular trail about five kilometres long runs through Bettenfeld around the Windsborn crater lake and connects it with the Hinkelsmaar and the Bettenfeld Volcano Experience Park. The Heimatspur Kraterseen Mosenberg trail is considered suitable for families. This lets you combine a hike with maars and visible traces of volcanism.
Volcanic formations and visible traces
Bettenfeld lies on a plateau in a distinctive volcanic landscape. The Mosenberg reaches 519 metres and is considered the last active volcano in the Eifel. It is a group of five cinder cones and is connected with the Windsborn crater lake and the Hinkelsmaar. A former lava flow is still visible in the Horngraben.
At the Mosenberg Volcano Experience Park, a large cross-section reveals the structure of a volcanic cone. Exposed geological sections show volcanic vents, lava layers and cinders. From the Hinkelsmaar/Kratersee car park, it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the Volcano Experience Park. From the Mosenberg Panorama Tower, the view extends southeast across the Lieser Valley, Manderscheid and the HunsrĂĽck. The estimate of about 20 minutes from the car park refers to the walk to the park, not to the circular route of about five kilometres.
Crater lakes and protected habitats
The Mosenberg Row Craters nature reserve covers around 62 hectares in Bettenfeld and includes the Mosenberg, Windsbornmaar and Hinkelmaar. The Windsborn is considered the only true crater lake north of the Alps. Rare plants and endangered dragonflies live along its shores. The Hinkelsmaar is a dry maar with rare animal and plant life. Swimming and fishing are prohibited at the Windsborn crater lake.
The maar landscape can therefore be appreciated not only as a geological feature: rare plants and dragonflies can be seen at Windsborn, while the Hinkelsmaar, as a dry maar, offers a different habitat. Those planning the circuit can observe these differences alongside the volcanic formations of the Mosenberg.
Hiking and cycling around Bettenfeld
Beyond the crater lakes circuit, Bettenfeld is connected to regional hiking and cycling options such as the VulkaMaar Trail, the Lieser Trail, the Eifelsteig, the Kosmos Cycle Route and the Vulkaneifel Trail Park. This means that, alongside the circular route of about five kilometres, there are other named options for hiking and cycling in the region.
Group accommodation
The youth guesthouse in Bettenfeld accommodates groups of up to 38 people. It is open to hiking and pilgrimage groups travelling through the Volcanic Eifel or exploring it from Bettenfeld. Facilities include shared sleeping rooms, showers, toilets, a group kitchen, a dining room and a multi-purpose sports hall. This is a specifically described accommodation option for groups, not a statement about individual accommodation.
The Mosenberg Biological-Ecological Research Station also accommodates groups working on limnological, geological, plant sociology or other field ecology topics in research or teaching. Booking is required.
Discover more destinations: Hasborn, Laufeld, Meerfeld, Greimerath, Eisenschmitt, Eckfeld, Pantenburg, GroĂźlittgen
For the overarching travel guide: Manderscheid.
