Wolfgarten, Modenhübel, Vogelsang loop

This trail combines many sights and features typical of the Eifel. Because it descends twice into the Urft valley, it is fairly long and requires some stamina.

This trail is similar to trail #9 of the 2014 edition of the Rother Wanderführer Eifel. According to the Rother Wanderführer, the trailhead is at the Parking 'Am Stich'. This Parking place is no longer available, and some signs have been posted insinuating that the trails starting from here are closed for a length of about 200 meter. The suggested deviations are incomplete and the entire situations appears to be utterly confusing. Our inquiry with some locals revealed that the issue is with some weird neighbour, who also posted all kinds of irrational pamphlets and abuse along his adjacent plot. The trails can be safely hiked and the signs ignored.

We therefore suggest to park where we indicated our trail head, and get not deterred by some out-of-mind individual.

The trail first descends from the Kermeter Forest to the town of Gemünd, then crosses the river Urft. Waypoint 11 is at a Natural Monument - a nice cluster of trees, though too early for a rest. Shortly after, the trail enters the national park and the first ascends leads up to the Modenhübel. Not really a summit, it provides nice views across the Urft valley, to Gemünd and the Vogelsang Camp.

From the Modenhübel, descend into the Morsbach valley, passing another viewpoint at the Kickley. Further down the valley, you meet a boardwalk and ascend to the entrance of Vogelsang.

Our trail avoids the visit to the Vogelsang with the busses and tourists. However, if this is your first time to Vogelsang, you may as well follow the main road to the center of Vogelsang - previously a Nazi camp- which has now a visitor's centre, exhibitions and activities that document and try to deal with and overcome this dark part of history. There also is a restaurant.

Our path circumvents most of the camp, but also includes a short excursion through the 'peace camp' - an initiative of the Red Cross giving voice to young people from across the world.

Eventually, the trail leads to the Victor-Neels-bridge - arguably the most beautiful suspension bridge in the Eifel. From here follow the bank of the Urft Dam. A final ascent takes you back to Wolfgarten and the parking lot.

From here, we also decided to climb the fire tower, for its famous views. We followed the signboards 'Eifelblick', which lead the visitor on a long way around the village. For our return we elected to again ignore the 'closed' signs and took the more direct and much shorter path past the weird neighbor.