Traumschleife Der Hochwälder: reservoir, reeds and quiet forest paths

The Traumschleife Der Hochwälder leads through fields, stream valleys and sun-drenched mixed forest – 9.3 km full of quiet moments.

Some tours stay with you for weeks. The Traumschleife Der Hochwälder is one of them. Not because of spectacular peaks or gorges – but because of that quiet, almost meditative alternation of open land and forest, of light and shadow, that unfolds over 9.3 km.

Start: gravel path, wide view, first hunting stand

The trail begins – I set off shortly after midday – with a wide gravel path that winds through open fields. To the right, a hunting stand at the forest edge; to the left, deciduous woodland, and behind it a wide valley. The light is still high, the sky a vivid blue. After a few hundred metres the route switches to a sun-drenched meadow path running directly along a strip of trees – long shadows, lush green grass, not a soul in sight. That’s exactly how a good tour should start.

Open fields, freshly mown meadows, forest clearings

The middle section of the loop is defined by this constant alternation: wide meadow landscape under an open sky, then again a narrow path winding its way between ferns, wild herbs and old wooden posts. Where sunlight was just hitting a freshly mown field, you suddenly find yourself beneath the canopy of an old mixed forest through which the light falls only filtered. This contrast is what makes the tour.

At a forest clearing, a narrow wooden boardwalk appears, leading from the shade across into the brightness of a wildflower meadow – a detail I won’t forget for a long time. Transitions like these from dark to light are hard to photograph, but easy to feel.

The reservoir: mirror-like water, reeds in backlight

The centrepiece of the second half of the tour is the reservoir. The trail starts and ends at the tourist information centre right on the Stausee Losheim – knowing that, you can also park there easily. When you emerge from the forest section and meet the lake again, the effect is enormous: mirror-like water in front of lush green mixed forest, blue sky, absolute silence except for a light breeze. I stood here for a while and just looked.

Just before that, still among the reeds on the bank, warm side light falls on the stems and bathes everything in a soft golden tone – that is the image that symbolises the tour for me. Anyone who has a tripod with them should get it out here.

A small insider tip: the Traumschleife Der Hochwälder runs parallel to the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig for part of its route – anyone who feels like it after the loop can spontaneously tack on a short extension without having to navigate much at all.

Practical info at a glance

• Distance: 9.3 km, circular route
• Elevation change: Only around 110 metres (min. 324 m, max. 434 m) – pleasantly moderate, hardly any demanding ascents
• Starting point: Tourist information centre at the Stausee Losheim am See (Saarland), car parks available directly on site
• Getting there: By car via the B268 towards Losheim am See; by bus R1 from Merzig Bahnhof to Losheim Bahnhof, then approx. 20 min. walk to the start
• Refreshments: There are several restaurants and cafés at the reservoir – the Seegarten is well suited for a break after the tour
• Best time of year: Walkable year-round; summer ideal for lush greenery and reed photos, autumn for colours in the mixed forest
• Equipment: Sturdy hiking boots recommended – individual trail sections can be slippery when wet; bring drinking water, no spring along the way
• Rating: The Deutsches Wanderinstitut has rated the tour with 77 experience points – a quality mark that genuinely holds up here

Who is the tour worth it for?

For everyone who has no desire for mass crowds, but still appreciates well-marked trails. Families with older children get their money’s worth here just as much as photographers looking for quiet nature subjects. The elevation change is manageable, the route logic straightforward – you can walk at ease and take in the surroundings instead of constantly watching the navigation. The tour is located in the Saarland, in the area of the Saarschleifenland, and anyone who doesn’t yet know the Hunsrück as a hiking destination will find an excellent introduction here.