The Rothaar Mountains is especially popular in winter. Most of the visitors come from the nearby "Ruhrpott". But many Dutch visitors also come to the region.
In addition to some very attractive ski areas, cross-country skiers will find various trails.
getting there
Alpine skiing
Below are some of the largest and most snow-sure ski areas in the Sauerland and Rothaar Mountains. The list does not claim to be complete.
Ski areas around Winterberg
- Winterberg ski lift carousel - All around Winterberg and the Kahler Asten is the "Skiliftkarusell", the largest ski area in the Rothaargebirge. The area has a total of 17 km of slopes (easy: 8 km, medium: 8 km, difficult: 1.0 km). Most of the downhill routes can even snowed become. In addition to 11 tow lifts, 9 chairlifts bring alpine skiers back up. Panorama map. Further information: www.skiliftkarussell.de
- Postwiese ski area near Neuastenberg - the area has 15 runs that are 8 km long (easy: 4.5 km, medium: 2.5 km, difficult: 1.0 km). 8 T-bar lifts open up the 30 hectare area. Some slopes can be covered with snow. Panorama map. Current weather: Webcam with valley view at the lift. Further information www.postwiese.de
- Sahnehang winter sports park near Altastenberg am Kahlen Asten: The small ski area has a 700 m long, blue slope that particularly attracts families. This slope with an altitude of 56 meters is accessed via a drag lift. By the way, people have been skiing here since 1920. Further information www.sahnehang.de
- Altastenberg ski carousel - The area, located between 600 and 800 m high, has a total of 7 tow lifts. You can ski 9 km of slopes (easy: 3.3 km, medium: 2.5 km, difficult: 2.2 km). for more information see www.ski-altastenberg.de
- Ruhrquelle ski area - The small ski area with 2 drag lifts and a toboggan slope is near Winterberg. There are a total of 1.1 km of slopes (easy: 0.8 km, medium: 0.35 km). For more information, see the page of the Ski area.
- Eschenberg ski area - The ski area, which is between 600 and 700 m high, has 4 tow lifts. Location: directly on the B 480 about 7 km north of Winterberg (info).
- Langewiese ski area - The smaller area has three drag lifts with a total of 1.7 km of slopes ((easy: 0.3 km, medium: 1.0 km, difficult: 0.4 km). For more information, see www.hoehenhang.de
- Schlossberg lifts near Küstelberg - A long drag lift, which is between 680 and 790 m high, opens up a 400 m and a 700 m long descent. There are also two small practice lifts. Ski rental at the Schlossberghütte: Tel .: 02981-3414 The lifts can be found on the road to Medebach just under 1 km southeast of Küstelberg (info).
Ettelsberg ski area near Willingen
- see article Ettelsberg or Willingen
Lifts & ski areas all around Schmallenberg
- Ski area Schanze: Schanze is a small hamlet (60 inhabitants) located approx. 7 km east of Schmallenberg in the Rothaar Mountains. There is a relatively snow-sure 500 m long ski lift that is between 640 and 720 m high. The slope is partially snow-covered. Location of the mountain station with access to the slopes: 51 ° 7 '50 "N.8 ° 22 ′ 6 ″ E, for more information see Schanze ski area.
- Schmallenberger Höhenlift: The 900 m long lift is between 460 and 630 m high. the facility has a 1000 m long runway, which offers two variants in the upper section. Location of the valley station with parking lot: 51 ° 8 ′ 12 ″ N.8 ° 18 ′ 3 ″ E further information: www.hoehenlift.de.
Bödefeld-Hunau ski area
The area, which is between 610 and 810 m high, has a total of 3 larger tow lifts, which open up a total of 2.8 km of slopes. The longest descent with an altitude of 200 meters is 1500 m long. There is also a baby lift and two toboggan lifts (each 250 m long). Overview map of the ski area
- Snow phone: 02977 - 1212
- Directions from the Ruhr area: Autobahn A46 to Meschede, then about 15 km on country roads to Bödefeld. The Sikgebiet (signposted as "Hunau-Lift") is about 3 km above the village on the northern slope of the Hunaukamm. Location: 51 ° 13 '24 "N.8 ° 23 '17 "E
- Info:Ski area side
Hohe Lied ski area
The smaller ski area is located on the road from Westernbödefeld to Bad Fredeburg between 500 and 680 m altitude. There is a 750 m long double drag lift with a height difference of around 180 m. Very wide slopes of 100o m in length are available for alpinists. There is a ski rental at the valley station. Location of the valley station: 51 ° 14 '8 "N.8 ° 21 '28 "E. Further information: www.skigebiet-hohe-lied.de
Homberg-Ziegenhelle ski area
- The "Snow World Züschen" lies on a high plateau above Züschen. There are 4 drag lifts, 2 smaller practice lifts and a toboggan lift (rail system with seats). The area has 4 km of slopes (easy: 2.3 km, medium: 1.7 km). Three slopes can be covered with snow. The longest slope measures 1450 m, and the 630 - 740 m high ski area is snow-sure thanks to its northern slopes. There are groomed trails for cross-country skiers. These lead inter alia. to the 816 m high Ziegenhelle (observation tower). There are various huts in the ski area for refreshments.
- Location and directions: B 236 Winterberg - Battenberg (Eder). Follow the signs from Züschen. Location valley station & parking lot: 51 ° 8 '24 "N.8 ° 32 '14 "E
- further information: see page of Snow World Züschen
"Fort Fun - Winter World"
- The ski and toboggan area is part of the well-known leisure park in the Sauerland. There is a drag lift and a chairlift. The area, which is between 560 and 740 m high, has slopes with lengths between 850 and 1,200 meters (levels of difficulty easy (blue) to difficult (black). There are also two toboggan slopes that are 850 meters and 1,800 meters long.
- Location and directions: Take the A 46 autobahn from the Ruhr area to the end near Bestwig. Then the signage to the amusement park Fort Fun until after 51 ° 18 ′ 40 ″ N.8 ° 26 '17 "E consequences.
- further information: www.fortfun-winterwelt.de
Ski sports center Sternrodt
The ski area can be found south of Bruchhausen, that too Olsberg belongs. The area is between 590 and 780 m high. There is a 1,100 m long double T-bar lift that opens up a 1,300 m long slope on the north slope. There is also a baby lift. Location of the parking lot at the valley station: 51 ° 17 ′ 12 ″ N.8 ° 32 '32 "E.. Further information: www.sternrodt-skilift.de
Single lifts
Ski lifts in Usseln at Willingen
- Kahler Pön ski lift: Length: 750 m, altitude: 640 - 760 m, moderately difficult to difficult 700 m long descent on a north-west slope with guaranteed snow, location of the valley station: 51 ° 16 ′ 21 ″ N.8 ° 39 ′ 29 ″ E, further information: www.skispass-willingen-usseln.com
- Emmet ski lift: Two rope lifts with a length of 150 and 250 m respectively, altitude: 650 - 690 m; Practice slope for beginners with snow-making equipment, location of the valley station 51 ° 16 '24 "N.8 ° 39 '13 "E (located in the extension of Sportstraße), further information: www.skilift-emmet.de
- Büller Höhe ski lift: Length: 200 m, altitude: 650 - 690 m
Other
- Fahlenscheid ski lift: Two drag lifts near by Olpe with a height difference of up to 100 meters. Free parking.
A complete and very precise overview of all lifts in the Rothaargebirge and Sauerland can be found on Michael Finke's website as a PDF file downloaded.
Nordic skiing
An overview of the cross-country skiing areas in the Sauerland and Rothaargebige including current snow reports can be found here: http://www.nordicsport-arena.de/de/index.php.
In the "Snow Park" of the Westfeld cross-country skiing center there are 4 - 6 km of trails if there is not enough snow artificially snowed. The following list does not claim to be complete.
The longest trail in the area is the 52 km long Rothaarsteig trail. The course can be seen on this map http://www.pistes-nordiques.org/. The trail runs as follows (with good snow conditions):
- from the Rhein-Weser tower over
- "Hotel Jagdhaus Wiese", see Schmallenberg
- Jump,
- Albrechtsplatz,
- Boredom,
- and Lenneplätze
- to Altastenberg.
- From Altastenberg you can continue the journey in the Hunauspur to the television tower on the Hunau and on to the Rimberg.
There are various entry opportunities in the Rothaarsteig trail. The Siuerlänner Skiloap discharged (http://www.skiloap.de/).
Winterberg region cross-country ski trail network
There are 30 trails with a total length of over 150 km in the region Winterberg. Cross-country skiers can also use the chairlifts of the ski lift carousel with a single ticket.
current trail information:
- Snow report for the Winterberg region www.winterberg.de.
- Snow report for the Altastenberg region www.altastenberg.de
- Altastenberg trail map
- Züschen trail map
Cross-country trails in the Schmallenberg area
In the "Snow Park" of the Westfeld cross-country skiing center, 4 - 6 km of Lopien are artificially snowed when there is not enough snow. In the Schmallenberg region, 80 km of trails are groomed if the snow conditions allow. Further information:
- Cross-country skiing center Hochsauerland Westfeld-Ohlenbach - Trail fee: € 3 per day. The snow-covered trails in the "Snow Park" cost € 5 per day.
- Westfeld trail map
- Hunauspur trail map
DSV Nordic Active Center Girkhausen
The trails are located in the area of the main ridge of the Rothaargebirge approx. 10 km southwest of Winterberg. From the parking lot at Albrechtsplatz (junction of the B 480 / B 238) a feeder trail leads to the circular courses.
The area itself above Girkhausen is between 650 and 700 m high. A total of approx. 20 km of trails are groomed over 5 circuits (Lopienplan as PDF file). For more information see www.skiclub-girkhausen.de.
Cross-country skiing center Rhein-Weser-Turm
- Cross-country skiing center Rhein-Weser-Turm - This is where the Rothaarsteig trail begins, which at 52 km is the longest in the mountains.
- Side of the Rhein-Weser Tower
Schanze cross-country ski area
The center is located on the main ridge of the Rothaargebirge west of Schmallenberg. 38 km of trails are groomed at an altitude of 720 - 780 m. There is a connection to the Rothaarsteig trail (course?), Which at 52 km is the longest trail in the mountains. A ski rental can be found at the mountain station of theSki lifts in Schanze.
Cross-country trails around Willingen
Attractive cross-country trails are also groomed in the Upland near Willingen and in the vicinity of the Willingen ski jump. For more information see Cross-country ski run overview Willingen and Upland
Cross-country trails around Medebach
Cross-country trails of various difficulty start in Medebach and in the Küstelberg district.
Cross-country trails around Brilon
Around the district of Petersborn there is a branched network of trails around 25 km in length. Brilon-Petersborn trail map
Cross-country trails around Hallenberg
e.g .: Heiskopf trail 3.1 km, Hasselback trail 4.1 km, Ziegenhell trail 8.7 km,
Sledding
- Toboggan lifts in the Hunau-Bödefeld ski area - Here there are two toboggan lifts with a 250 m long toboggan run.
- Toboggan lift in the Postwiesen ski area there is a 400 m long natural toboggan run near Winterberg. A special toboggan lift takes you uphill. Instead of a bracket, sledges are mounted on the rope. You pull your own toboggan uphill. The toboggan run is even open if the weather permits snowed. For more information see www.postwiese.de.
- Toboggan lift in the Homberg-ziegenhelle ski area - The "toboggan lift" consists of a rail system with cable-guided carriages. Each car has space for 4 people. There is one next to the toboggan run Snow tubing track. In "snow tubing" you slide down a toboggan run made of snow on a large, air-filled tire (Info).
- in the Sternrodt ski center At Olsberg-Bruchhausen there is a summer toboggan run on rails, which is also in operation in winter. The 800 m long track with 2-person sled allows speeds of up to 45 km / h. for more information see www.erlebnisberg-sternrodt.de
- The 700 m long summer toboggan run in Winterberg is also in operation in the cold season. The sheet metal track has a heating system. Info: www.sommerrodelbahn-winterberg.de
climate
The altitudes of the Rothaargebirge between 700 m and 800 m have a very good snow guarantee. Here you can sometimes find enough snow for winter sports until March.
literature
Unfortunately, no information on a paper winter sports map for the entire Rothaar Mountains could be found up to now (01/2010). Since even the catalog of the German National Library does not contain a winter sports map or trail map for the Rothaar Mountains, there seems to be no such map.
