Bison Trail - Rothaarsteig Trail - A Fun Hike Among the Animals

The Rothaarsteig follows numerous nature trails away from agricultural and forestry roads. That’s why weatherproof clothing and sturdy footwear are a must for every hike. After all, we want you to experience the “Path of the Senses” not only “dry” but also “on solid footing.”

In our small hiking shop at https://www.rothaarsteig.de/de/Shop, you’ll also find a selection of Rothaarsteig merchandise to help you prepare for your hike or to take home as a souvenir. We’re also happy to recommend the durable, high-quality outdoor gear from our long-standing partner, the German outdoor equipment manufacturer Tatonka.

Hiking Backpack

With the right hiking backpack, your tour on the Rothaarsteig will be twice as much fun! Hiking backpacks offer excellent comfort thanks to a ventilated carrying system, which ensures that sweat can evaporate immediately. They can be secured with a chest or hip belt, ensuring they stay firmly against your back with every movement. They’re also equipped with a practical holder for hiking poles and often feature a compartment with a hose outlet for a hydration bladder, ensuring you stay hydrated at all times.

Here you’ll find hiking backpacks from the outdoor gear manufacturer Tatonka in various sizes for day hikes and multi-day trips, featuring different ventilated back systems.

Rain Gear

If changeable weather is forecast for your hike on the Rothaarsteig, remember to pack a lightweight rain jacket or a rain poncho. They take up virtually no space in your backpack and also keep out unpleasant wind. Also practical are gaiters, which protect your pant legs from dirt and moisture.

At our partner, the German outdoor gear manufacturer Tatonka, you’ll find high-quality, breathable rain jackets with a minimal pack size, lightweight rain capes, and gaiters for your pant legs to keep them protected from dirt and moisture.

Find Tatonka’s rain jackets for women here

You can find Tatonka’s rain jackets for men here

First-Aid Kit

To ensure you can fully enjoy your hiking trip on the Rothaarsteig, it’s a good idea to pack a first-aid kit in your backpack just in case. After all, nothing is more frustrating than not being able to immediately and properly treat a blister on your foot or minor injuries.

The first-aid kits from the German outdoor gear manufacturer Tatonka are stocked with all the essential supplies for treating injuries and also include an “outdoor cheat sheet” with concise and clear guidelines on how to respond to emergencies in the great outdoors. Find Tatonka’s first-aid kits here!

Food and Beverages

On some sections of the trail, especially between Lahnhof and Dillenburg, there are unfortunately no places to stop for refreshments along the way. Be sure to pack food and drinks, especially for these sections. Having enough drinks is particularly important in the summer.

The stainless-steel bottles, stainless-steel insulated jugs, and stainless-steel lunch boxes from the German outdoor gear manufacturer Tatonka are not only practical but also unbreakable and durable.

Information About the Emergency Signs on the Rothaarsteig

Hiking trails usually run away from towns and settlements, and every hiker has wondered at some point what would happen if an emergency were to occur. How can I be found here? Where am I, anyway? Can emergency services reach me?

But in an emergency, speed is of the essence! That’s why the Rothaarsteig is equipped with so-called rescue signs along its entire length. The green-and-white plaques attached to the signposts feature a number that you must provide when making your emergency call. This allows emergency responders to know exactly where you are, saving valuable time.

Bison and Wildlife on the Rothaarsteig—Behavioral Tips

The risks that bison pose to the average hiker are low and can be reduced to an absolute minimum by adopting appropriate and respectful behavior.

• Walk calmly and unobtrusively past the animals at a safe distance; do not startle them, and do not look them directly in the eyes.


• If the animals approach you, remain calm, do not turn your back on them, and leave the area without panicking, but always keep the animal in sight. If the animals come closer than a distance that makes you feel uncomfortable, shout loudly, whistle, or make yourself heard in some other way.


•  Watch for threatening gestures! If sows “clatter their teeth” or bison lower their heads, they expect you to retreat. Step back!


• If you have a dog with you, keep it under control on a leash. If an animal attacks your dog, let it off the leash! The dog is faster and more agile than you and will definitely find you again!

Note on the Increased Risk of Wildfires

Please be aware that due to the dry conditions, there is currently an increasedrisk of wildfires!

Therefore, please observe the following guidelines:

• Comply with the legal ban on smoking in the forest—it applies in spring, summer, and fall, specifically from March 1 through October 31.


• Observe the ban on open fires in the forest and within 100 meters of the forest.


• Take any glass with you when you leave the forest—the magnifying effect of glass can trigger forest fires.

If it’s (too) late:

• Extinguish small fires as they start if you can do so safely. If necessary, inspect the area carefully.


• Report fires by calling “112.”


• Leave the danger zone by the shortest route.

The forest will thank you!

A visit to the "Wisent-Wildnis am Rothaarsteig" (admission fee applies) is well worth it!

Along the trail, several restaurants and cafes invite you to take a break.

To help you prepare for your hike, we’d be happy to send you our free information packet. Atrothaarsteig.de/prospekte, you can easily select the information you need. Our Rothaarsteig guidebook—which lists accommodations along the trail and provides other useful information—is a great companion for any hike.

In our brochure “Rothaarsteig Trails—All Circular Hiking Trails at a Glance,” you’ll find map excerpts and brief descriptions for all 13 circular hiking trails, as well as a map of the Breitscheid Cave Tour. It also features the other 12 Rothaarsteig Trails, complete with maps, brief descriptions, and the most scenic rest stops along the route. AtRothaarsteig.de/prospekte, you can easily order the booklet to be delivered to your home free of charge or view it online as a PDF or a flipbook. 

We also recommend our Rothaarsteig Trails Hiking Passport. Anyone who has hiked 8 of the 13 trails will receive a hiking certificate and a Rothaarsteig pin, and will be entered into our annual raffle. You can also easily order the hiking pass to be delivered to your home for free atrothaarsteig.de/prospekte or download it directly online. 

You can order the original Rothaarsteig hiking map at a scale of 1:50,000 on waterproof paper—featuring up-to-date trail routes and useful markings such as shelters, parking lots, bus stops, and much more—atrothaarsteig.de/shop for 11.00 euros with free shipping, conveniently delivered right to your door.

From the Bad Berleburg train station, it takes 20 minutes by train to reach the town of Aue-Wingeshausen. From there, it’s about an 800-meter walk to the Westertal parking lot, where the tour begins

Take the L196 bus from the train station to the Kappler Mühle stop in Wingeshausen. From there, it’s only about a 200-meter walk to the Westertal parking lot.

https://www.zws-online.de/fileadmin/contents/2_fahrplaene_liniennetz/2_1_fahrplaene/2_1_3_fahrplantabellen/2_1_3_1_schienenstrecken/443.pdf 

https://www.vws-siegen.de/pdf/L196.pdf

We recommend taking public transportation at the start of your hike and leaving a car at the end point. That way, you won’t have to worry about bus or train schedules during your hike.

Coming from Bad Berleburg or Erndtebrück, take the L553 to the center of Aue, then take the K42 toward Wingeshausen/Jagdhaus; coming from Schmallenberg, take the K42 to the outskirts of Wingeshausen; Alternatively: Wisent-Wildnis parking lot, Weidiger Weg

Car: An der Bracht 50, 57319 Bad Berleburg; Weidiger Weg 100, 57319 Bad Berleburg

Jagdhaus Hiking Parking Lot (at the outskirts of Jagdhaus), 57392 Schmallenberg-Jagdhaus

Westertal Parking Lot at the sports field, Casimirstaler Weg 1, 57319 Bad Berleburg-Wingeshausen.

Parking at Sonnenhof, An der Bracht 50, 57319 Bad Berleburg—plenty of free parking spaces available

Parking at the Wisent Wilderness/Wisent Hut—Weidinger Weg 100, 57319 Bad Berleburg—plenty of free parking spaces available