Naturfreundeweg

From the parking lot, head east, past a wayside shrine on the right and along the field. The path makes a few turns and after about 5 minutes leads to a crossroads. Turn left here onto the Naturfreundeweg. Continue straight ahead at a milestone (here the path from the large parking lot at Maria Laach Monastery joins from the left). Initially directly along the edge of the forest. Shortly afterwards, the forest recedes slightly to the right. Continue for another 100 meters and then turn right (signpost Teufelskanzel).

Shortly afterwards in the forest, pass a junction of the N-path to the left (towards Lorenzfelsen) and straight ahead uphill towards Jägereiche. Pass a first fork to the right and (shortly before the height) a second fork, then you reach the Jägereiche. Continue straight ahead across the crossing path (not the path that turns diagonally to the right) on the N-path, which a few hundred meters later bends first to the left and shortly afterwards slightly to the right. You are now on the Höhenrundweg and occasionally have beautiful views of Lake Laach through the trees.

Now continue along the high-altitude circular trail for about 15 minutes, past a cross and a turn-off to the Lorenzfelsen rock. You come to a refuge at a crossroads. Two paths branch off to the left, take the one on the right. Slightly downhill, a little later at a fork in the path, stay left and continue downhill. The path then bends to the left, where 2 paths turn off downhill. Here the Vulkaneifelweg (V) joins the N path from the right. Stay on the N path and follow the path in the direction of the "Vulkan Waldfrieden" restaurant. Cross the road in front of the restaurant (walking time 1 hour). Pass the restaurant on the right and take the N path (signpost "Lydiaturm"). Walk behind the restaurant and after a few steps you will reach the observation tower. The 132 steps up to the platform are worthwhile, as you have a view over Lake Laach and into the hinterland to Wassenach and Burgbrohl.

Stepping out of the tower again, take a few steps to the left and then to the right on the N path, downhill towards the road. Before the road, turn right onto the path that leads from the road into the forest. After 5 minutes, turn left at a fork in the path and continue on the N path (do not turn right up the slope). A few minutes later you come back to the road, which bends to the left here. Cross the road and follow it only a few meters to the right until the N-path turns left (there is a large tree in the middle of the path). Behind the tree, take the path to the right up the slope. Pass the first barrier and continue up the ridge until you reach a second barrier at the edge of the forest after about 10 minutes of ascent.

From the Vierdümpelhöhe, as this place is called, you have a wide view - albeit of a landscape that is no longer untouched: straight ahead are four wind turbines, to the left a radio tower and - already quite close - the A 61, to the right the Olbrück ruins. From the barrier (or to the left as seen from the outward route), take the N path slightly downhill into the forest again. A little later, the view of the lake opens up again. The path forks here and you take the branch that climbs slightly to the right of the Wegstein. A few hairpin bends later, the path forks again and continues upwards to the right, staying on the same level. Shortly afterwards you reach the edge of the forest again.

Continue along the edge of the forest for 30 meters and turn left into the forest (N path) at the next barrier leading into the field. 10 meters later, turn right at a fork (N-path and also the Laacher Kopf circular trail). Shortly afterwards you reach a refuge. Follow the N path to the left towards the lake. Continue down the N path until you reach a crossroads (main hiking trail of the Eifelverein, Jakobsweg, closed wedge sign). Turn left downhill and shortly afterwards you will reach the Maria Laach monastery.

If you want to go to the monastery, turn left. Go past the tavern and the hotel, through an underpass and you will reach the monastery parking lot. If you need to get to the Erntekreuz hiking parking lot, follow the directions above (directions).

You can also turn right at the cemetery onto the main hiking trail (stone nature trail). However, the rest of the path is then unmarked and navigation is somewhat difficult. After 5 minutes you reach the district road to Bell. Go up the K70 to the right. After a few 100 meters, where the field ends on the left and the pasture begins on the right, turn left at a 90-degree angle from the road into the forest. There is no real path here. Just go through the narrow strip of forest and up the field on the other side for a few meters, then you reach a crossroads and turn left.

Shortly afterwards, the path bends slightly to the right and you will see a church tower in front of you. Turn left here towards the forest and then turn right downhill by the oak trees and left again along the field. At the corner of the field you come to a bridleway, which you follow to the right. Continue along the edge of the forest to the end of the path, take a few steps uphill to the left and turn right again in the direction you came from. You pass an old cross framed by 2 oak trees and shortly afterwards you come to a small ridge in the forest at a milestone. Turn left here and descend along the ridge. Further down you come to the Naturfreundeweg trail again. A few steps to the right to a wayside shrine. Turn left, cross the narrow field and turn right at the next grove back to the parking lot.

Consideration and correct behavior in the nature reserve:

Natural landscapes such as Lake Laach offer a very special experience. Whether on foot or by bike - on beautiful days, nature lovers flock to beautiful places like Lake Laach. Unfortunately, this is often not without consequences. Sport and recreational use can affect sensitive habitats and also be a disturbance factor for many animal species. Consideration for nature is therefore becoming increasingly important - not least in order to preserve the experience value of the landscape for everyone. In order to counteract unnecessary noise and protect hikers and walkers, recreationists are requested to use only the designated parking spaces.