Sauerland-Höhenflug: From Meinerzhagen to Valbert

The stage on the Sauerland-Höhenflug from the Meinerzhagen entry point starts at the Schallershaus entry portal. The entrance portal is easily accessible via the A 45 highway, Meinerzhagen exit. There are plenty of parking spaces at the entry portal as well as extensive information boards where hikers can find out about the course of the Sauerland-Höhenflug. Directly at the entrance portal, you can enjoy the first beautiful view of the town's landmark: the Meinhardus Mattenschanzen. Since 1982, the current ski jump has been a training and competition site for various ski associations, with a distance record of 68.6 m.The Sauerland-Höhenflug leads through meadows and forests, always with a view of the ski jump, to the Wasserschloß Badinghagen, which is hidden deep in the forest and offers a romantic sight with its ditches and ponds, but is not open to the public. After Badinghagen, the trail climbs steeply along a narrow path, then runs idyllically through meadows and forests on the ridge. The Höhenflug passes the village of Kropplenberg and after another 2 kilometers reaches the village of Hellsiepen, which consists of just two houses. Now the elevation gain increases again, but the climb is rewarded with a magnificent view over the Sauerland! Take a seat on a bench and enjoy the panoramic view!At Buntelichte, you will pass a ground monument that represents part of the historic road from Frankfurt to Amsterdam. Right next to the A 45 highway, nowhere else can you trace the development from ancient cart tracks to today's highways!Another highlight of the stage awaits you in Möllsiepen. At Gasthaus Eckern, the Sauerland high-altitude airport has been created by the Nestor educational institute. Wooden airplanes in different colors and shapes whirl through the air and make you experience "height" in a whole new way. Enjoy the view over the high-altitude airport and the Listertal valley while taking a break on a comfortable forest sofa. Below Möllsiepen, the hiking trail briefly follows the K 4, but then turns into a beautiful meadow path through a nature reserve in the Liesetal valley. Near Österfeld, the Höhenflug crosses the country road coming from Valbert.On the way towards Hösinghausen, there are always beautiful views back over the Liesetal with the course of the Sauerland-Höhenflug towards Möllsiepen. Shortly after Hösinghausen is the Quellental hiking parking lot. Try using an Archimedes spiral to pump water from the Hösinghausen stream and let the water flow back through various channels made of natural stones. A Sauerland bench also invites you to take a break. Narrow paths, lush fern vegetation and the nearby Ochsenmoor take hikers back to earlier times in the history of the earth. The high-altitude route continues up to the Koppenkopf, where there is a refuge and a memorial stone. Shortly before this, the access path to Valbert turns right. This is where the first stage of the Sauerland-Höhenflug ends. The 1 km long access path quickly brings you to the center of Valbert.