In the fall of 1978, the first overburden from the Hambach open-cast mine was dumped on the adjacent farmland to the north, on a greenfield site, so to speak. Since then, around 1.1 billion cubic meters of sand, gravel and clay have been placed there. Forestry recultivation began just a few weeks after dumping began, also in 1978. As a result, individual areas with walking and hiking trails were repeatedly opened to the public.

Today, the Sophienhöhe presents itself as a respectable mountain, towering 200 meters above the flat Bördeland landscape and thus visible from afar.

After more than three decades, the network of trails has grown to almost 100 kilometers. The Sophienhöhe has been a popular excursion destination for many years. The young forests have grown beyond the initial planting stage. Numerous animals and plants have colonized the Sophienhöhe, and careful forest management promotes the development of near-natural flora and fauna.

A herd of wild horses has been grazing the Sophienhöhe since June 2024, making a sustainable contribution to increasing biodiversity and maintaining the landscape. Since its establishment, the herd has grown and foals have already been born on Sophienhöhe three times.