Top 20 Natural Monuments around Schmallenberg

Wandering the Rothaarsteig... Day 3: We start in Schanze, and with a lot of luck, we don't get lost. Without a hiking map, we rely solely on Komoot, crossing the 'Roof of the Sauerland' and through the 'Land of a Thousand Hills and Valleys'. We explore the Schanze Forest Reserve primarily on wide forest paths and along deeply carved streams. 'Denkmal Altarstein' (Altarstone Memorial) is an idyllic spot with a stone column where you can relax in its shade. In the shade, you can 'contemplate' all sorts of things... Crazy, isn't it? We respectfully greet the old 'Fat Oak' a little further on. It's a landmark, and in our experience, it keeps us on the right path to continue our ascent of the Rothaarsteig. A charming, playful suspension bridge is a highlight in itself. Bridges connect landscapes. This 'suspension bridge' primarily connects people. It's the weekend, and the attraction is undeniable. Young and old, everyone wants to be quick. The crowd barometer goes into the red, and like a hare, we stampede along a narrow, deserted forest path to the summit of the Saukopf – 750 meters high. Once we reach the top, it looks like the finish line of some mountain stage. Cycling enthusiasts, suffering from excessive dehydration (breakouts in sweat), are nevertheless proud to have climbed the summit in record time. We let the "recreational sports heroes" of the day enjoy their slim figure and meager success. Without disturbing their success story, we leisurely stroll along the edge of the forest to the "Wittgensteiner Panoramaweg." There, we hoped to catch a glimpse of the bison that make their habitat here. Unfortunately, the passing cycling peloton has disturbed the bison's habitat, and they don't respond. Six forest sculptures provide some solace and distraction on our way back to Schanze. To conclude our hike, we meander along the Kyrill Trail. A battlefield of trees felled by the force of Hurricane Kyrill (January 18, 2007) gives us pause for thought. We were lucky in Schanze; we didn't get lost or blown over. And the setting sun on the Rothaar makes our hair turn a little red. You can read about our other experiences in the collection https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/collection/1321198/-hochsauerland-vakantieweek

The largest of the mountain heaths in north-west Germany, which are rare in Europe, is in Niedersfeld. The wide, tree-poor landscape turns into a pink carpet of heather flowers in late summer. The protected area is rightly one of the natural treasures of South Westphalia.

"... The Neue Hagen near Niedersfeld is the largest high heathland in North Rhine-Westphalia. The extraordinary landscape exerts a very special fascination. Heath and high moor are home to rare flora and fauna. The 800 meter high area is on the border to Hesse on the northern slope of the Clemensberg and has been a nature reserve since 1955. Heath sheep graze there, act as "biological lawn mowers" and thus ensure the preservation of the heath. Birds such as the cuckoo, wood grouse and nightjar build their nests. Hobby biologists can even discover arctic and alpine plants in the Neuer Hagen nature reserve. ..." https://www.winterberg.de/poi/nreservation-neuer-hagen/

"... Sheep love to eat fresh greens. That's why you can let them eat wherever there should only be short stalks and low plants in the end. Everything that is young and fresh is eaten. The gentle animals are suitable are therefore ideal as biological lawnmowers. What does that have to do with biodiversity? Meager meadows and heaths are particularly valuable habitats, because many rare animal and plant species live here. But if such landscapes are not maintained regularly, then bushes and trees will grow - and in a few decades there will be nothing left of the meadows and heaths. This is exactly what the sheep do: they eat the young shoots of the bushes and trees and thus prevent them from growing. ..." https://naturdetektive.bfn.de/lexikon/tiere/saeugetiere/schafe-hueter-der-biologische-vielfalt.html

"... The New Hagen near Niedersfeld is the largest high heath in North Rhine-Westphalia. The extraordinary landscape has its own fascination. Heath and raised bog are home to rare flora and fauna. The 800 meter high area is on the border with Hesse on the northern slope of the Clemensberg and has been under nature protection since 1955. Heidschnucken graze there, act as "biological lawnmowers" and thus ensure the preservation of the heather. Birds like cuckoo, capercaillie and goat milkers build their nests. Hobby biologists can even discover arctic and alpine plants in the Neuer Hagen nature reserve. ... " https://www.winterberg.de/poi/naturschutzgebiet-neuer-hagen/

Beautiful Winterberg Hochheide to hike through for young and old. 🥾🥾

Especially when the heather is in bloom, the Bald Asten is a sea of flowers. There is also a hotel up here. At 841.9 meters, it is the third highest mountain in the Rothaargebirge after the Langenberg and Hegekopf and the second highest mountain in North Rhine-Westphalia after the Langenberg. The Lenne and Odeborn springs and a high heath are located on the mountain.

The Wnaderer will find quite imposing sculptures on the forest sculpture trail. The path leads hikers between Bad Berleburg and Schmallenberg for almost 25 km through the beautiful Sauerland.