In winter, the peaks of the volcanic mountains of the Eifel, a region in the west of Rhineland-Palatinate, don their white caps and the freshly fallen snow glitters in the sunlight in the forest. When the snow is good, the cross-country ski trails are marked out on the Ernstberg near Hinterweiler and the downhill slope on the Mäuseberg near Daun is lit up in the evenings.
At the heart of the ‘Schneifel’ or ‘Snowy Eifel’, the ‘Schwarzer Mann’ region in Gondenbrett near Prüm is perfect for skiing and tobogganing. There is also a 450-metre natural downhill sledging run in the ‘Schwarzer Mann’ winter sports region. It is then just a comfortable lift ride back up the slope before the next lightning-fast descent. The 100-metre mini sledge run for children is not as steep. The ‘Weißer Stein’ toboggan run near Hellenthal is 350 metres long and has a lift. There are toboggan hire stations at both sites. The ‘Wolfsschlucht’ winter sports region near Prüm has no toboggan run, but there is an area set up specially for sledging next to the ski hut. A tobogganing slope has also been prepared on the ‘Mäuseberg’ near Daun. All the regions share the current weather conditions on their websites and provide information on whether there is enough snow for tobogganing.
Winter landscapes are perfect for sledging, Eifel
At 816 metres, the Erbeskopf in the Hunsrück region is the highest skiing mountain in Rhineland-Palatinate. There are snow cannons along the slopes to boost the snowfall if required when the temperatures are below zero and keep the three Alpine downhill slopes, the toboggan run and the forest cross-country skiing trail in shape. You can hire skis or snowboards and all the equipment, and there is even a skiing and snowboarding school so you can hone your technique for turning and cruising into the valley.
You can also ski, snowboard and toboggan on the slopes of the Dollbergen near Neuhütten. Cross-country skiers can choose between two marked Dollberg trails, one of five and one of eight kilometres. Around the Hermeskeil ski region, the local ski club at an altitude of 600 metres maintains the ‘Schöne Aussicht’ cross-country trail with a 10-kilometre red route and a six-kilometre green route, plus the three-kilometre Adrian circuit and the seven-kilometre Adrian Forstelbach trail.
A skier in a dreamy winter landscape on Erbeskopf, Hunsrück
The nine-kilometre Kahlheid trail runs between the Erbeskopf and Idarkopf around the third-highest elevation in Rhineland-Palatinate, the 766-metre Kahlheid in the skiing region near Morbach. It starts at the ‘O.K-Hütte’ near Morbach. The village and ski region of Kell am See sit at an altitude of 530 metres. There are three circuits of between four and a half and eight kilometres from which cross-country skiers can enjoy the forest and the views over the reservoir.
Two skiers stop for a break on Erbeskopf, Hunsrück
Winter sports fans on a cross-country trail in Bad Marienberg, Westerwald
In good snow conditions, there are four marked cross-country skiing routes in the spa resort of Bad Marienberg. The three and a half-kilometre ‘Am Fernsehturm’ trail is of medium difficulty and mostly popular for its sweeping views over the Westerwald forest. The ‘Wildpark-Loipe’ is 500 metres longer and excellent for families. Loops 3 and 4 connect to the network of trails in neighbouring Nisterberg. The Westerwald trail stretches some 35 kilometres from Bad Marienberg over the Fuchskaute, the highest mountain in the Westerwald at 657 metres. There is also a 200-metre toboggan run that starts just near the Wildpark Hotel.
