- Family-friendly
- Circular Trail
A trail with 10 mindfulness stations winds through the unique landscape of the Niedersfeld Hochheide. These stations help hikers relax, open themselves up to the wonders of nature, and find themselves.
Hochheide Niedersfeld parking lot
Hochheide Niedersfeld parking lot
Der Goldene Pfad brings you back to the heart of nature. Here, “Doctor Nature” is at work once you’ve hiked, experienced, and internalized the ten stations of the Golden Path.
This roughly five-kilometer loop trail winds through the Niedersfeld Hochheide, which lies at the foot of the Langenberg.
Encountering nature often feels like a journey into one’s own inner self. To experience this, you need to take the time to engage with the landscape mindfully. To make it easier for you to focus on yourself and nature, the stations are designed to minimize disruption to the landscape and nature as much as possible
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Each station has its own theme, introduced by the station’s name. A variety of visual and verbal prompts encourage visitors to engage in an interactive relationship with the landscape.
The Landschaftstherapeutischer Pfad opened in June 2015 and has been delighting landscape enthusiasts and hikers ever since.
You begin at the Starting Point. Here, you leave your everyday life behind. Ten stations invite you to take your time and discover the magic of simple worlds of experience.Der Goldene Pfad was designed according to landscape therapy principles and promotes mental and physical well-being. Feel the atmosphere of the space and get in the right frame of mind for the journey.From the starting point, the first station is just a few steps away. The “Landscape Balcony” offers a view of the Hoher Hagen, the Bastenberg, and the Sternrodt.A few hundred meters further on, at the second station, “See the Heath, Understand the Heath,” you’ll find yourself in the middle of the Hochheide, surrounded by juniper bushes, blueberries, crowberries, scattered heather plants, and a carpet of heather, grasses, and mosses. (Station Two)You’ll recognize the“Musica natura” station from a distance by the musical clefs along the path. At this monument, you can hear sounds such as gusts of wind rustling through the spruce trees at the forest’s edge and across the Heid, birdsong, and—in summer—the buzzing of bees. (Station Three)Station Four explores the “meaning of it all.” It’s located in a sheltered spot marked by an ancient spruce tree and a cross. This is a place for reflection.From the sign by the trail, your gaze falls upon the unique pine trees— tossed about and wildly shaped by storms and heavy snow loads. (Station Five)In the next section, the trail leads through a denser, shady spruce forest. These trees create their own soothing forest magic along the Kulissenweg. ( StationSix)A narrow, marked side path leads to a meditation spot in the forest. ( Station Seven)In a hollow on the southeastern edge of the heath lies the Hoppecke Spring —surrounded by a spring stone and a footbridge that begins behind the stream. (Station Eight)Station Nine is located on an elevated spot with a sweeping view over the Hochheide and the adjacent forests.Thethemes are “Air and Conscious Breathing.”Station ten is currently located slightly below the summit of Clemensberg. Here you’ll find a mast with a wind chime. (Currently out of service)From here, the trail leads back to the parking lot.The ten stations:Starting PointStation 1 – Landscape BalconyStation 2—See the Heid, Experience the HeidStation 3 – Musica naturaStation 4 – Place of ReflectionStation 5 – Ragged and Wildly Shaped PinesStation 6 - Scenic TrailStation 7 - Meditation AreaStation 8 - Hoppecke SpringStation 9 - Air and Conscious BreathingStation 10 – Wind Harp (currently out of service)
You can reach the Goldener Pfad by following the "Hochheide" signs. You will find this in the center of Niedersfeld, directly on the B480. The driveway to Hochheide is right in the center of the village.
Detailed information on how to get to Winterberg - whether by car, train or bus - can be found here.