Rothaarsteig from Küstelberg to Kahler Asten

Rothaarsteig / Open Data Hub Touren / Rothaarsteig from Küstelberg to Kahler Asten
On this stage of the Rothaarsteig, you hike from Küstelberg past the source of the Ruhr, through the winter sports resort of Winterberg, up to the roof of the Sauerland - the Kahler Asten.




Pfad bei Wagenschmier auf dem Rothaarsteig




Kahler Asten




Sonnenuntergang in der Heidelandschaft auf dem Kahler Asten




Steg auf dem Rothaarsteig bei Küstelberg




Pfad ins Helletal in Winterberg




Rothaarsteig im Helletal in Winterberg




Heidelandschaft am Rothaarsteig

Tour starting point:

Medebach-Küstelberg

Tour destination point:

Kahler Asten

Properties:

  • Summit
  • Refreshment stop
  • Suitable for winter
  • Signage
  • Tour with dog
  • Quality Trail Wanderbares Deutschland
  • free of charge / accessible at any time

Additional Information

Further information about the Rothaarsteig can be found at www.rothaarsteig.de or by calling the free service hotline on +49 2974 / 499 4163, where we will be happy to advise you personally on your tour planning.

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Category

regionaler Wanderweg

Length

14.7 km

Duration

4:10 h

Elevation ascent

471 m

Elevation descent

295 m

Lowest point

621 m

Highest point

838 m

Condition

Difficulty

Recommended seasons

J F M A M J J A S O N D

From Küstelberg, the Rothaarsteig trail heads west and passes the former Wagenschmier quarry, which you cross on a narrow path.

The trail then reaches the source of the Ruhr, which gives its name to the Ruhrgebiet, Germany's largest conurbation. The last section of this stage takes you right into the heart of the winter sports resort of Winterberg. Shortly before reaching the town center, the Rothaarsteig descends into the Helletal, an alpine-like gorge with a rainforest atmosphere in the middle of the Rothaargebirge mountains. A piece of landscape full of bizarre beauty in the middle of Winterberg. On the outskirts of Winterberg, the route continues past the town's landmark, the St. Georg ski jump, towards the Kahler Asten (842 m).

The Kahler Asten is the most famous mountain on the Rothaarsteig and even has its own weather station. Due to the open heathland, you can enjoy a 360-degree perspective high up: On a clear day, you can see the Brocken (1,141m) in the Harz Mountains, the Großer Feldberg (881m) in the Taunus Mountains and the Wasserkuppe (950m) in the Rhön Mountains.

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Information

Directions

Küstelberg - Ruhrquelle - Helletal - Winterberg - Kappe Adventure Mountain - Kahler Asten

Equipment

The Rothaarsteig leads along numerous natural paths away from agricultural and forestry roads. Weatherproof clothing and sturdy shoes are therefore a must for every hike. We want you to experience the "Path of the Senses" not only "dry" but also with "good" feet.

In our small hiking store at www.rothaarsteig.de/shop you will also find a selection of Rothaarsteig articles to prepare for your tour or as a souvenir. We are also happy to recommend the durable and high-quality outdoor equipment from our long-standing partner, the outdoor outfitter Tatonka.

Hiking rucksack
With a suitable hiking rucksack, your tour on the Rothaarsteig is twice as much fun! Thanks to their ventilated carrying system, hiking rucksacks are very comfortable to wear, as this ensures that sweat can evaporate immediately. They can be fastened with a waist or hip belt and thus sit firmly on your back with every movement. They are also equipped with a practical holder for hiking poles and often have a compartment with a tube outlet for a hydration bladder, so that hydration is ensured at all times.
Here you can find hiking rucksacks from outdoor outfitter Tatonka in various sizes for day hikes and multi-day tours and with different ventilated back systems.

First aid kit
To ensure that you can enjoy your hiking tour on the Rothaarsteig without any restrictions, a first aid kit should be in your rucksack to be on the safe side. After all, nothing is more annoying than not being able to immediately treat a blister on your foot or minor injuries properly. The first aid kits from Tatonka are filled with all the important materials for the initial treatment of injuries and also contain an "outdoor cheat sheet" with a concise and clear guide to the correct behaviour in case of emergencies in the great outdoors. You can find Tatonka's first aid kits here!

Food and drink
On some stages, especially between Lahnhof and Dillenburg, there are unfortunately no refreshment stops along the way. Remember to pack food and drink, especially here.Especially in summer, it is important to stay hydrated.
The stainless steel bottles, stainless steel insulated jugs and stainless steel lunch boxes from the German outdoor equipment manufacturer Tatonka are not only practical, but also unbreakable and durable.

Safty guidelines

Information about the rescue signs on the Rothaarsteig
Most hiking trails run away from villages and settlements and everyone who hikes has certainly thought about what would happen if an emergency were to occur. How can I be found here? Where am I anyway? Can the emergency services reach me?

In an emergency, things have to happen quickly! That's why the Rothaarsteig is equipped with so-called rescue signs throughout. The green and white plaques attached to the posts of the signposts have a number that you must give when making an emergency call. This way, the emergency services know exactly where you are and valuable time can be saved.

Note on the increased risk of forest fires
Please bear in mind that there is currently an increased risk of forest fires due to the drought! Please note the following information:

  • Observe the legal ban on smoking in the forest - it applies in spring, summer and fall, more precisely: from March 1 to October 31.
  • Observe the ban on open fires in the forest and within 100 meters of the forest.
  • Take glass out of the forest - the burning glass effect can cause forest fires.

When it is (too) late:

  • Extinguish small incipient fires if you can do so safely. Check the area carefully if necessary.
  • Report fires via "112".
  • Leave the danger zone by the shortest route.

The forest will thank you!

Author Tip

  • Ruhr spring
  • Helletal
  • St.-Georg-Schanze
  • Kahler Asten

Refreshment stops:

Restaurants:


Literture

To help you prepare for your hike, we will be happy to send you our free information pack. At www.rothaarst eig.de/prospekte you can easily select the information you need. A good companion for every tour is our brochure "Rothaarsteig Wegweiser" with the hosts along the trail and other useful information.

Maps

You can order the original Rothaarsteig hiking map on a scale of 1:50000 on waterproof paper, with up-to-date route guidance and useful markings, such as shelters, parking lots, bus stops and much more at www.rothaarsteig.de/wanderkarte for 11.00 euros free shipping to your home.

Public transiot

  • You can reach Küstelberg from Winterberg on the R48 bus line (journey time approx. 12 minutes)
  • Winterberg can be reached by train
  • The Kahler Asten is served by a call bus (Tel. (0800)3504031 registration at least 30 minutes before departure).
  • The S40 line stops at the "foot" of the Kahler Asten, at the Winterberg Nordhang stopFurther information can be found at www.bahn.de.

We recommend that you use public transport at the start of your tour and park a car at the end point. This way you don't have to follow the bus/train timetable on your hike.


Parking

  • There is a free parking lot for hikers in Küstelberg
  • There are paid parking spaces available on the Kahler Asten
  • At the "foot" of the Kaher Asten you can park free of charge in the Nordhang parking lot