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Hiking trail recommended route

Via Adrina - The Eder hiking route with wonderful views

· 14 reviews · Hiking trail · Bad Berleburg · Open
Responsible for this content
BLB-Tourismus GmbH Verified partner  Explorers Choice 
  • Photo: CC BY-SA, BLB-Tourismus GmbH
A hike with expansive views - beautiful landscapes and the rushing Eder river turn this hiking route into a fairy tale spectacle.
Open
difficult
Distance 20.7 km
7:00 h
550 m
550 m
536 m
362 m
The 20 kilometre long premium hiking route runs through the varied landscape along the Eder river around Arfeld and Schwarzenau. On the approximately six hour tour, you can explore the eight bends of the Eder river at a sprightly pace.

The trail goes up and down through the hilly landscape. You will be rewarded along the way with wonderful panoramic views on the heights and adventurous, winding nature trails in the valleys.

The viewing platforms set special accents; these provide good sightlines over the section of the trail that is already behind you and the section to come.

The signs showing stylised waves run in both directions along the Via Adrina, which incidentally was awarded the title of third most beautiful hiking trail in Germany in 2009. By taking a well marked shortcut, it is also possible to divide the circular tour into two stages of twelve kilometres each.

Enjoy the tranquillity along the rambling route and breathe in deeply.

Author’s recommendation

The Via Adrina comes third on the hit list of the best premium trails in NRW, with 71 points.

Schwarzenau: Alexander-Mack-Museum.

Arfeld: Schmiedemuseum (forge museum).

Profile picture of BLB-Tourismus GmbH
Author
BLB-Tourismus GmbH
Update: April 13, 2023
Difficulty
difficult
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
536 m
Lowest point
362 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 6.47%Dirt road 10.90%Forested/wild trail 29.90%Path 7.26%Road 1.55%Unknown 43.88%
Asphalt
1.3 km
Dirt road
2.3 km
Forested/wild trail
6.2 km
Path
1.5 km
Road
0.3 km
Unknown
9.1 km
Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Gästehaus Schwarzenauer Mühle
Gästehaus Schwarzenauer Mühle
Railway-Café in the Via-Adrina Center

Tips and hints

Tourist information Bad Berleburg

Goetheplatz 3
57319 Bad Berleburg
Tel. +49 2751 9363-3
Fax +49 2751 9363-43
info@blb-tourismus.de
www.blb-tourismus.de

Start

WanderPortal hikers’ portal on the Ederbrücke bridge in Arfeld. (387 m)
Coordinates:
DD
51.014234, 8.427568
DMS
51°00'51.2"N 8°25'39.2"E
UTM
32U 459845 5651563
w3w 
///lily.cautioned.prepare
Show on Map

Destination

WanderPortal hikers’ portal on the Ederbrücke bridge in Arfeld.

Turn-by-turn directions

Start the hike at the car park next to the bridge over the river Eder. Cross the bridge before making a steep ascent. After one kilometre, a viewing platform offers a view over the entire hiking area. The “Café Hainbach” is a good place to stop for a rest along the way. When you walk around the basin of the Mühlbachtal valley, you may meet a herd of rare red Wittgenstein highland cattle. After a long descent with views, including onto the Arfeld bend of the river Eder, cross the L 903 road. Continue walking along the edge of a steep bank of the Eder and through untouched deciduous forest. After a long descent with more views, you reach the former railway track, and follow the path that runs parallel to it. You reach the “Schwarzenauer Mühle” restaurant, with a self-service garden café. In 1708, Alexander Mack baptised himself and other fellow believers in the river Eder very close to the Schwarzenauer Schloss palace, and with this symbolic act founded a pietistic religion. A long, steep ascent follows to the town of Hüttental. A second platform offers interesting views. You then reach Arfeld with the important decanal church, which is now also a cyclists’ and hikers’ church. Next to the church is the “Alte Schmiede” (“Old Forge”) museum. An ascent takes you to the “Wittgensteiner Schieferpfad” (“Wittgenstein slate path”) premium trail. Walk along the river Eder back to the starting point.

Public transport

Information from ZWS (Zweckverband Personennahverkehr Westfalen-Süd) Tel. 01803/50 40 30

Regional Bus R33 Timetable

By road

From Bad Berleburg to Dotzlar via the L553 or L718. From there, you go to Arfeld over the Eder bridge. Turn off to the left. The car park is on the left.

Parking

Free parking is available.

 

 

Coordinates

DD
51.014234, 8.427568
DMS
51°00'51.2"N 8°25'39.2"E
UTM
32U 459845 5651563
w3w 
///lily.cautioned.prepare
Show on Map
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Book recommendation by the author

Author’s map recommendations

Hiking map WaldReich Wittgenstein, 1: 25,000, Zweckverband Region Wittgenstein, 2nd edition 2008, ISBN 3-00-010140-3, 9,50 €

Book recommendations for this region:

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Recommended maps for this region:

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Equipment

The circular tour demands a certain level of fitness and surefootedness in places; sturdy shoes are recommended.

Questions and answers

Question from Tobias Adam · March 02, 2022 · Community
Was bedeutet der Zustand geschlossen? Sind die Wege aktuell unpassierbar? Viele Grüße Tobias
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Answered by uwe grotensohn · March 02, 2022 · Community
Hallo Tobias, da es eine allgemein zugängliche, öffentliche Route ist, kann ich mir nur folgendes vorstellen: Entweder ist die Eder über die Ufer getreten, die Wege aufgrund der Witterungsverhältnisse unpassierbar oder Holzfäll- und Rückearbeiten mit schwerem Gerät. Das die Einkehrmöglichkeiten entlang der Strecke geschlossen sind ist eher nicht gemeint. Telefonier doch einfach mal mit dem zuständigen Tourismusverband. Die Antwort kannst du ja für alle einstellen. Liebe Grüße Uwe
9 more replies

Rating

4.6
(14)
Jörg Wagner 
July 31, 2022 · Community
When did you do this route? July 31, 2022
M P
July 24, 2022 · Community
Diverse Wegpassagen recht zugewuchert. Einige Bereiche mit toten Bäumen und Steppe. Sonst eher 4 Sterne. Manche Pfadpassage etwas too much, wenn ohne besonderes Highlight das Passagenende nur unwesentlich vom Beginn abweicht. Definitiv top: viele Aus- und Weitblicke.
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When did you do this route? July 24, 2022
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Photos from others

+ 34

Status
Open
Reviews
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
20.7 km
Duration
7:00 h
Ascent
550 m
Descent
550 m
Highest point
536 m
Lowest point
362 m
Circular route Scenic Cultural/historical interest Refreshment stops available

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