Sauerland-Höhenflug: From the Mattenschanze up to the Nordhelle

The starting point is the Meinerzhagen, Nordhelle bus stop, which is located below the Robert-Kolb-Turm on the L 707 near the P5 parking lot. From here, the hiking bus route 252 will take you to Meinerzhagen on Sundays and public holidays and during the hiking season. Get off at the "Fumberg" stop in Meinerzhagen and follow the main road from the bus stop in the direction of Schützenplatz. Fumbergstraße meets Heerstraße just a few meters behind Schützenplatz, directly at the Schallershaus entrance portal.You can enjoy the first beautiful view of the town's landmark right at the entrance portal: 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, the hiker passes a ground monument, which represents part of the historic road from Frankfurt to Amsterdam. Right next to the A 45 highway, nowhere else can you follow the development from ancient cart tracks to today's highways!Another highlight of the stage awaits hikers in Möllsiepen. At Gasthaus Eckern, the Sauerland high-altitude airport has been created by the Nestor educational institute. Wooden planes 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. Here, young hikers can use an Archimedes spiral to draw 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.Hikers experience fascinating and untouched nature as they cross the narrow wooden footbridge through the "Wilde Wiese" moorland area. The nature reserve is part of the Ebbemoore, which has been designated an FFH area due to its rarity. Many rare animal and plant species such as peat moss, cranberry, bog lily and the raised bog fritillary butterfly can be found in these slope and spring moors.The high-altitude route continues steadily uphill through the wild and romantic nature reserve. Below Nordhelle, the path comes across a 250-year-old brand tree. The gnarled copper beech served as a border tree, marking the boundary of the Herscheid Mark.The Sauerland-Höhenflug reaches Nordhelle via a natural path. At 663 m above sea level, it is the highest mountain in the Ebbegebirge. Next to a hiking restaurant is the Robert-Kolb-Turm on the summit, which was erected in 1913 and named after the then head hiking warden of the Sauerland Mountain Association. From here, you have a wonderful view over the Märkischer Kreis. The 130-metre-high WDR broadcasting tower is also located on the Nordhelle.Leave the long-distance hiking trail at Nordhelle and follow the black-marked access path down to the P5 parking lot and the Meinerzhagen, Nordhelle bus stop.