Nürburgring Nordschleife Access Roads to Adenau Foresttrack — Eifel Volcanic Highland Circuit
Volcanic lakes, Roman roads, and real forest quiet.
The Eifel region of western Germany — a low volcanic highland straddling the Belgian border — is not the first place most overlanders think of, but it deserves a second look. The forest road network between Adenau, the Nürburgring town, and Gerolstein threads past circular maar lakes formed by ancient phreatomagmatic eruptions, including the Pulvermaar and Weinfelder Maar. Unpaved Wirtschaftswege (agricultural and forestry tracks) cross the Hohe Eifel plateau, some of them old Roman military roads still visible as raised embankments. The circuit west from Adenau toward the Belgian border runs through the high plateau above Blankenheim — open moorland and spruce forest, quiet even in summer.
This is not technical 4WD territory; a high-clearance crossover or lightly modified AWD campervan handles most of it dry, though deep forest tracks after rain turn to greasy clay that will beach an unprepared two-wheel-drive. Germany’s forestry law restricts driving on designated Wirtschaftswege to authorised users — some tracks are open to the public, others are not, and local forest authority (Forstamt) signs must be respected. No permits required for road-legal vehicles on open tracks. Cell service is spotty in the deeper valleys. Best run April through October. This is a quiet, underappreciated overland circuit — no crowds, good wild camping in Belgium just across the border, and cold Eifel air that makes cooking over a fire actually worthwhile.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 68 mi / 110 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2260 ft |
| Best season | April-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance AWD or 4WD |
| Nearest town | Adenau, Rhineland-Palatinate |
| Land manager | Landesforsten Rheinland-Pfalz (State Forest Authority) |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Landesforsten RLP – Forest Authority Vulkaneifel Nature Park |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Defender 90 or Jeep Wrangler handle this route without modifications?
Yes — a stock high-clearance 4WD handles the Eifel forest tracks fine. Lifted or skid-plated rigs are unnecessary; the moderate difficulty here is about soft forest floors, rutted gravel, and wet conditions rather than rock obstacles. All-terrain tires are a solid advantage over standard road rubber.
Are the forest tracks accessible in early spring or late autumn outside the April–October window?
Technically passable but not advised — Landesforsten Rheinland-Pfalz routinely closes specific Waldwege (forest tracks) during Waldschutz (forest protection) periods, especially after storms or during logging operations, and winter mud can render soft sections impassable. Check closures directly at wald-rlp.de before planning a shoulder-season run.
Do you need a permit to drive the forest tracks, and is there a fee?
No general overland permit is required, but motorized access on Waldwege is legally restricted in Germany — public forest roads marked with vehicle prohibition signs are off-limits, full stop. Vulkaneifel Nature Park regulations also apply within park boundaries, so stick to tracks that are visibly open and unsigned as closed; fines are real.
What's the hardest section of this route and what makes it technical?
The densely forested tracks descending toward Adenau on the eastern end are the most demanding — deep ruts from forestry equipment, exposed tree roots, and minimal drainage make them genuinely boggy after rain. Nothing requires a winch in dry conditions, but mud in spring or after heavy rainfall turns these into a slow, careful crawl where momentum management matters.
Where can you actually camp overnight, and how far between fuel stops?
Dispersed camping in German state forests is generally not legal — you'll need to use designated Stellplätze or campgrounds; the Vulkaneifel area has several small sites near the maar lakes like Gemündener Maar and Weinfelder Maar. For fuel, Adenau is your main anchor town and the route doesn't stray far enough to stress a 300 km range, but top off in Adenau before heading into the forest sections since stations go sparse quickly.
Trail track
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