It takes just two hours to drive from Düren to Trier - if you head south on the A1 motorway. In that case, the distance is only 163 kilometres. But if you get on your bike and switch to trail mode, it's better to take five days. Firstly, because the ancient volcanic landscape with its basalt peaks, Stone Age cult sites, Moab-like cliffs and gorges offers plenty to marvel at. And secondly, because the paths here never take the direct route. The way it constantly goes up and down here, the paths also like to veer to the right and left. As a result, a 40-kilometre route can easily turn into a day's hike.
If you choose the most exciting trail route from Düren to Trier, you will end up with 284 kilometres in your legs. In addition, you will have accumulated 7114 metres in altitude suitable for a transalpine route, as the river valleys have carved deep into the slate mountains here. You have to make friends with 20 per cent gradients along the way. But the best thing about this route is that it takes you through the most remote areas. As crowded as the Volcanic Eifel is, the other regions of the mountains are just as quiet. Refreshment stops are few and far between, so you need to take food and drink with you. On the other hand, you can usually leave your map in your rucksack, as the paths are signposted in an exemplary manner. But downloading the GPS data is of course an even better idea.
You will find the GPS data in the download area below.
The 5-day MTB tour through the Eifel
A total of 284 km / 7114 m elevation gain / 5 stages
Suggested stage:
1st Düren-Roetgen
2. Roetgen-Kronenburg
3. Kronenburg-Waxweiler
4. Waxweiler-Bollendorf
5. Bollendorf-Trier
From Kreuzau/Bahnhof (south of Düren) along the Rur in a southerly direction. In Düren/Kreuzau (railway station) on main hiking trail 5 (HWW 5). In Obermaubach on the HWW 10b to Hürtgen. There change to HWW 5a heading north (Wehebach dam). At Schevenhütte, turn onto the HWW 10a in the direction of Roetgen. At Mulartshütte, head south on the HWW 6 via Simmerath into the Rur valley. From there, follow the Rur valley on the HWW 11 to Monschau. In Monschau, change to HWW 12 and follow this via Hellenthal (Olef dam) to Reifferscheid. From Reifferscheid, stay on the HWW 5 in a southerly direction (via Prüm, Schönecken, Waxweiler, Bitburg reservoir, Bettingen). From Bettingen: leave the HWW 5 and cross over to Enzen (road). There, follow hiking trail G via Schankweiler up to the Ferschweiler plateau. At the top, turn into the Jakobsweg and via the Viking castle and the Fraubillenkreuz to Bollendorf in the Sauertal. From Bollendorf, follow the HWW 6 to Trier (via Echternach and Ralingen). Return to Düren by train from Trier via Euskirchen.
Maps
For an optimal overview, it is best to get the overview map of the main hiking trails in addition to the GPS data. This is available at www.eifel.info
Hürtgenwald Mountain Bike Park
The second day of this tour takes you close to the forests of Simonskall. It might be worth making a detour to the Hürtgenwald mountain bike park. Here, several clubs under the direction of Nordeifel Gravity e. V. have created four downhill trails, which can also be reached in an energy-saving way using a shuttle bus.
Opening times: April-October from 10 am to 6 pm (lunch break!). The day ticket costs 25 euros. Full face helmet compulsory! Info: www.mtb-park-huertgenwald.de
NÜRBURGRING-TRAIL
In the Vulkaneifel, in the south of the low mountain range, a total of 750 kilometres of tours for mountain bikers have been signposted under the umbrella of the "Trailpark Vulkaneifel". These include the trail route along the legendary Nordschleife, the Green Hell, as the world's most dangerous motor racing circuit is also known.
As a biker, you can of course tick off the topic of peace and solitude here. On the 26-kilometre trail circuit along the asphalt race track, engine noise, exhaust fumes and dicey cornering manoeuvres by racing drivers are constant companions. But that is precisely what makes this extraordinary trail circuit so appealing. There are no technical obstacles to be expected. Info: www.nuerburgring.de
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