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Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Euskirchen

Schleiden

Bird Watching Tour - Nationalpark Eifel

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Euskirchen

Schleiden

Bird Watching Tour - Nationalpark Eifel

Moderate

4.7

(2261)

7,574

hikers

Bird Watching Tour - Nationalpark Eifel

03:41

12.7km

330m

Hiking

This tour offers fascinating views over the lake landscape and the Dreiborn plateau. The tour owes its name to the bird watching station directly on the Urftsee. From there, various bird species can be observed in peace and quiet. 🦅🦆🦢

The hike can be ideally combined with a visit to the Eifel National Park Center with the "Wilderness Dreams" experience exhibition. 🍃

Public transport tip:
You can easily get to the start and end point of this tour by bus and train.
🚌 From Cologne/Bonn by train to Kall and from there with line SB 82 to Vogelsang IP Forum.
🚌 From Aachen with line SB 63 to Simmerath, from there the bus continues as line 63 to Vogelsang IP Forum.

by Nationalpark Eifel

Last updated: October 2, 2024

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Nationalpark Eifel

Naturpark Hohes Venn-Eifel

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

229 m

Interactive exhibition "Wilderness(t)räume"

Highlight • Rest Area

✨ Be amazed, discover and try things out 🐾🍃
The visitor center of the Forum Vogelsang IP - in the middle of the Eifel National Park - is home to the "Wilderness Dreams" experience exhibition, a barrier-free, family-friendly and interactive experience for young and old!

👉 With modern productions in an appealing atmosphere, stations to try out and play, tactile models and animal specimens to touch, plant scents to sniff, radio plays and animal noises to listen to.

In the exhibition you will gain many new perspectives that will sharpen your view of nature. 🔎🐞

The content is available in German, English, French and Dutch as well as in easy language, sign language and audio description. A tactile guidance system shows the way through seven themed areas that can also be easily accessed with a wheelchair or stroller. The “Travel for All” certificate confirms that we have implemented accessibility in all areas. 👂🖐👨‍🦯

What else is there to see?
- The historic site of the former Nazi “Ordensburg” Vogelsang
- The permanent exhibition “Destination: Master Race. Nazi Ordensburgs” between fascination and crime
- Tourist information with shop

Break tip:
Panorama restaurant Vogelsang IP 🍰🥘🥗

If you have any questions about the exhibition or bookings: 02444/91574-0 or info@nationalparkzentrum-eifel.de

nationalpark-eifel.de/de/infohaeuser-und-einrichtungen/nationalpark-zentrum-eifel

Public transport tip: The Eifel National Park Center is easy to reach by bus.
🚉 🚌 From Cologne/Bonn take the train to Kall and from there take the SB 82 line to Vogelsang IP Forum.
🚌 From Aachen take the SB 63 line to Simmerath. From there the bus continues as line 63 to Vogelsang IP Forum.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

1.36 km

Victor-Neels Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

The bridge, named after the last Belgian commander, Victor Neels, fits very well into the landscape. At the end you can expect a 16 percent gradient up to Vogelsang.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.75 km

Birdwatching station and view of Ordensburg Vogelsang and Urftsee

Highlight • Viewpoint

Beautiful rest area with a view of the Ordensburg and over the Urftsee, a great place to watch birds.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.30 km

Kermeterstollen Valve House

Highlight • Structure

The Kermeter tunnel was built at the beginning of the 20th century and directs the water from the Urftsee into the power station near Heimbach-Hasenfeld, where electricity is still generated from hydropower today. Here you can see the above-ground valve house, which dates back to 1905, but has since been replaced by a modern valve.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6.69 km

Urft Dam

Highlight • Monument

When the dam was built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Urftsee was the largest reservoir in Europe. The reservoir lies entirely within the Eifel National Park, where nature is allowed to run free in many places. There is a place to stop for refreshments right next to the dam. A special feature for Germany is that the Rursee is located right at the foot of the dam.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7.10 km

View of the Urft Dam and the Urftsee

Highlight • Viewpoint

Here, in addition to a great view, there is a really good snack and you can take the boat back to Rurberg.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

8.72 km

View of Ordensburg Vogelsang from the Dreiborn Plateau

Highlight • Viewpoint

A rewarding view of the Ordensburg.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

12.7 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.24 km

1.90 km

1.70 km

755 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.02 km

2.97 km

2.43 km

1.39 km

432 m

309 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (520 m)

Lowest point (300 m)

Weather

Wednesday 8 July

25°C

13°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 19, 2024,Von der "Ordens"Burg Vogelsang IP Forum zur Urftalsperre und zurück

Today's Eifel hike took me from the former Nazi "Ordensburg" Vogelsang along the Urft reservoir to the dam and then back across the plateau. A beautiful route, unfortunately again with the not so beautiful German past. But all the better as this former Nazi cadre training center is now being used. Also highly recommended is the abandoned village of Wollseifen, …

Showing Translation

July 24, 2024,Bird Watching Runde - Nationalpark Eifel

The tour was a little strenuous for me as a 76-year-old man, especially the long climb after the Urft dam up to Wollseifen! But with around 21 degrees C, the weather was perfect for hiking! The path from Vogelsang down to the lake and then to the dam is "long", around 7.5 km always along the water! I found the …

Showing Translation

September 17, 2024,Wandeling ..Bird Watching Tour- Nationaalpark de Eifel.

A beautiful walk in the Eifel National Park..from Vogelsang Schleiden ...A tough hike 16% descent ...the calves didn't like it that much..then fortunately there is a whole flat part. To then climb 12% again pfff.fortunately it wasn't warm..and this walk is so worth it 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️😄

Showing Translation

May 12, 2024,Eifelsteig Vogelsang 🥾

A great circular hike in the beautiful Eifel 🌳
The starting point was the former NS Ordensburg Vogelsang. It is considered one of the greatest legacies of National Socialism. After the Second World War, it was first a British, then a Belgian military training area. Since 2006, a new place has been developing: Vogelsang IP as an "international place" for …

Showing Translation

May 23, 2026,Photohike Vogelsang IP • Nordeifel • Spätfrühling • Morgenlicht & Nebel

The whole story and more pictures can be found here:
photohikers.de/post/und-das-gelb-bleibt-stumm-photohike-vogelsang-ip

Showing Translation

April 7, 2022,Nationalpark Eifel 》NS -Burg Vogelsang》Victor-Neels Hängebrücke》Urftstaumauer

Despite the storm and hurricane warning, we made our way to the Eifel National Park and we have not regretted it.
It was a very nice hike with beautiful sights, even if one or the other sight made you think.🥾🚶‍♀️

Showing Translation

October 3, 2023,Urfttalsperre Umrundung (ILC NRW #4)

The Urfttalsperre is almost next door to the Rursee. Originally I wanted to cover the 12km at running pace, but I quickly put this endeavor aside at the beginning due to the steep climbs up to the Dreiborn plateau 🥴 In the end, I had to run at least 4.5 km to the starting point of the circuit at the …

Showing Translation

September 1, 2024,Bird Watching Runde - Nationalpark Eifel

Beautiful tour, half of it is very rocky, so sturdy shoes are recommended. Plan a little more time for Vogelsang itself, as it is a historically interesting site. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time for it.

Showing Translation

September 20, 2021

This tour offers fascinating views over the lake landscape and the Dreiborn plateau. The tour owes its name to the bird watching station directly on the Urftsee. From there, various bird species can be observed in peace and quiet. 🦅🦆🦢
﻿
The hike can be ideally combined with a visit to the Eifel National

Translated by Google •

April 20, 2025

The tour is okay, but wasn't a highlight for us. The interactive exhibition and the historical context make it special.
﻿
Otherwise, you have to like hikes with steep climbs and then downhill again (or vice versa). The scenery is great, but a bit boring after a while. It's definitely great for cyclists

Translated by Google •

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Bird Watching Tour - Nationalpark Eifel

Interactive exhibition "Wilderness(t)räume"

Victor-Neels Bridge

Birdwatching station and view of Ordensburg Vogelsang and Urftsee

Kermeterstollen Valve House

Urft Dam

View of the Urft Dam and the Urftsee

View of Ordensburg Vogelsang from the Dreiborn Plateau

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