Successful annual meeting of the Sauerland-Höhenflug

Successful annual meeting of the Sauerland-Höhenflug

Those responsible look back on an eventful year & plan the future

The annual meeting of the Sauerland-Höhenflug long-distance hiking trail and its member municipalities has now taken place on the premises of the music education center in Bad Fredeburg. Representatives of the participating towns, municipalities and districts, cooperation partners and other stakeholders in the region came together in hybrid form to look back on the developments of the popular long-distance hiking trail and set the course for the coming years.

Challenges in terms of hiking trail quality

A central topic of the meeting was the quality assurance of the long-distance hiking trail. The Sauerland-Höhenflug has been one of the region's tourist highlights for years and is popular with hikers due to its breathtaking panoramas, varied route and natural trail surface. However, maintaining the trails remains one of the biggest challenges.

"Our work focuses on restoring the natural trail surface, the high proportion of paths and maintaining the infrastructure. Extreme weather events in recent years in particular have left clear traces, which is why we will try to future-proof the trail with all the current challenges as part of an intended funding project," explained Detlef Lins, Managing Director of the Sauerland Rothaargebirge Nature Park. The meeting participants agreed that long-term and sustainable planning is crucial in order to continue to position the Sauerland-Höhenflug as a quality hiking trail.

Projects for the future: trekking sites, blogger cooperation & quality assurance

In addition to maintaining the trails, we also looked to the future. Exciting projects, some of which have already been implemented, have been implemented to increase the attractiveness of the trail in the coming years:

- Expansion of trekking sites: In order to meet the increasing demand for overnight accommodation close to nature, trekking pitches have been installed in sections of the Sauerland-Höhenflug. These sites offer hikers the opportunity to spend the night surrounded by nature and enjoy a very special outdoor experience.

- Media relations 2025: Another photo shoot to supplement the image portfolio and a blogger collaboration are planned for the coming year. The aim is to showcase the unique beauty of the Sauerland-Höhenflug even more on digital platforms and social media, thereby appealing to new target groups.

- Quality assurance: In addition to the planned relocation of smaller sections for quality assurance, the installed information and panorama boards are also to be successively renewed and/or upgraded. The popular hiking pass is also to be reintroduced in a new edition.

"Outdoor trends are developing dynamically and we want to present the Sauerland-Höhenflug as a modern, attractive destination. The trending topic of trekking sites and cooperation with bloggers are important steps to inspire both existing and new target groups," says Sabine Risse, Hiking Manager at Sauerland Tourism.

Stable financial basis secures future projects

Another positive outcome of the meeting: the participating districts and local authorities pledged their continued financial support. This forms a solid basis for the implementation of new projects and the long-term work of the Sauerland-Höhenflug Nature Park. The meeting participants emphasized that the success of the Sauerland-Höhenflug is only possible through close cooperation between all stakeholders. "Our common goal is to strengthen and further develop the Sauerland-Höhenflug as one of the region's top hiking products. I would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment and willingness to work together," concluded Detlef Lins. With a combination of hiking close to nature, modern infrastructure and innovative projects, the hiking trail will continue to play a central role in marketing the region to tourists in the future.

Contact for the press:
Rouven Soyka, Sauerland-Tourismus e. V.
Johannes-Hummel-Weg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg
Tel.: 02974-969830, e-mail: presse@sauerland.com