18 - Geoweg

In Search of the Landscape's History

From tropical seas, coral reefs, and primeval forests to ore mines and modern landscapes—the Geotrail tells the story of 400 million years of Earth’s history. Stretching about 19 kilometers, the hike winds through one of the most diverse regions of the Northern Eifel, between Stolberg and Roetgen, where the Earth’s history is clearly visible in the landscape.

Six stations explain the formation of the rocks, the emergence of the first life on land, and how humans later utilized the land. A fascinating hike for anyone who wants to experience landscape and cultural history up close—where time, rock, and culture converge, and every stone tells a piece of the past.

The hike is marked with the number 18 . The route is signposted from Stolberg to Roetgen. If you’d like to hike the same route in the opposite direction, follow the signs for the Alter Kirchweg (No. 08) and explore its historical themed stations along the way.

Highlights of the Route

• Stolberg Castle on ancient Carboniferous rock
• Fossil finds and limestone quarries on the Hammerberg
• Traces of ore mining
• Claystones from tropical seas and fossilized plant remains
• Quartzite cliffs and the dam at the Dreilägerbach Reservoir

This route was developed as part of the LEADER-funded project “Quality Initiative for Hiking in Roetgen and Stolberg” with support from the European Union (EAFRD) and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.