Sauersteig Sauerland

The tributaries of the Ruhr area have often carved deep ravines, including the Elpe, which flows into the Ostwig. On a stretch of about 10 km, you will hike along the Elpe Trail, directly along the river between Ostwig and Elpe. When you hike up the steep gorges near Ostwig, you will reach a lookout tower on the Steinberg that offers a splendid view of the mountain ranges of the Ruhr area.

The tour continues into the high valley near Gevelinghausen, alternating between the Elpe Trail and the panorama, forest, and cultural paths, later hiking over the Ruhr area along the Valme. In Ostwig, the Sauerland Forest Path, the Bestwig Panorama Path, and the Olsberg Kneipp Path intersect. The loop offers only a small portion of these beautiful trails.

The starting point of the Elpe Trail is marked by a gate in the village of Ostwig. The Elpe Trail is paved in the village above the Elpe and runs past historic houses in the village center. From the parking lot at the shooting hall, you stroll through the center of Ostwig. After leaving the village, a short detour to the Alexander Mine is recommended before following the single trail to the Steinberg Tower.

Continuing on forest paths over the Losenberg into the Gevelinghausen high valley. After visiting the old mill and the Gevelinghausen castle, we leave the town in a southerly direction, where we cross the Elpe at the Antonius hut about a kilometer later and follow the Elpe Trail again.

In the last third of the route, the path merges into the Bestwig Panorama Path to the slope of the Valmetal, which finally reveals a view of the Ruhr Valley at Bestwig.

In Ostwig, you can park for free and without limit near the starting point, at the hiking parking lot, the shooting hall, and the cemetery.