Camping in the wilderness – in the nature park Hohes Venn-Eifel this is possible legally. Several secluded nature campsites invite trekking enthusiasts to set out with backpack and tent and explore the amazing nature of the Eifel on a hike lasting several days.
Camping in the great outdoors is not allowed in Germany. This makes the small, secluded campsites within the High Fens-Eifel Nature Park in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate even more interesting. Just two tents can be accommodated at each camp site. The trekking sites can only be reached on foot and overnight stays must be booked in advance – this guarantees an undisturbed nature experience in complete seclusion.
The nature campsites are each equipped with a wooden platform for the tents, an integrated table with benches so you can cook and eat comfortably, and a compost toilet.
The nature park Hohes Venn-Eifel: location & landscape
The Hohes Venn-Eifel Nature Park is located in the very west of Germany and extends into Belgium. In the north, Langerwehe and Eupen form the border of the nature park, in the south it is bordered by Bad Münstereifel, Prüm and Sankt Vith. In total, the 2,760 square kilometer nature park is divided into six areas: The Rur-Eifel, the Western High Eifel, the Kalkeifel, the Ourtal, the Vennvorland and the Hohe Venn.
Perfect companion for your trekking tour
Our trekking backpacks are the perfect companions for your trekking tours. Whether with large front opening, adjustable back system or ultra-light model.
And the best: All our trekking backpack carrying systems relieve your spine. This allows you to wear your backpack on tour even over longer distances without any problems.
The landscape that awaits you here is extremely diverse. Europe’s largest high moor in the High Fens, 15 lakes and reservoirs, forested mountain heights and deeply cut valleys and caves are waiting to be explored. The biodiversity of plants and animals is also amazing. Not only the dipper with its characteristic white breast you can observe here, also the rare violet copper, which already fluttered through the Eifel in the ice age, has found a home again in the daffodil meadows of the nature park.
Also interesting: Wild camping allowed – Making your camp in the middle of nature
Well-developed hiking trails for trekking
The Eifel, from Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia to Trier in Rhineland-Palatinate, offers the right hike for every fitness level on certified premium hiking trails such as the Eifelsteig and high-quality circular trails.
The trails through the High Fens are particularly exciting. Here, wooden footbridges lead directly across the moor. Such a moor and heath landscape as here you will find otherwise only substantially further in the north or in higher altitudes. The cold climate and the high humidity with increased precipitation have created a unique flora and fauna.
However, some of the trails may only be accessed as part of a guided tour for conservation reasons – an opportunity that is highly recommended!
Trekking sites are connected to some of the trails in the nature park, so you can plan a hike of several days. However, the exact locations of the sites are not public in order to protect their quiet location.
You can find an overview of the network of trails in the High Fens-Eifel Nature Park as well as a practical route planner at Eifel Tourismus.
Booking a trekking site – this is how it works
As already mentioned, the exact locations of the nature campsites are not public – you will receive the GPS data and exact directions only after you have booked an overnight stay. The booking is done via trekking-eifel.de. Here you will find all the necessary information for your route planning and you can get personal advice. A total of 18 campsites are spread throughout the nature park.
The overnight stay costs 10 Euro per tent and night.
Attention: The capacity for overnight stays is limited. It is best to plan your trekking tour early and make your booking request with sufficient advance notice.
Spending the night in the “star park”
By the way, a special extra when spending the night at such a nature campsite is the night sky. When you look out of your tent at night, you can even see the Milky Way. There is very little light pollution in the region. This makes it particularly dark and you can observe the starry sky as well as in only a few other places in Germany. This has also been recognized by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). In 2019, the Eifel National Park has received the distinction of being an “International Star Park”. So spending the night on your trekking tour will be an unforgettable experience – provided, of course, that the weather plays along and it is starry.
