Gorge and bridge trail (T)

At the entrance to the Kurpark Winterberg in the area of the hiking information portal, directly on the Rothaarsteig, hikers will find the overview map and the entrance to the gorge and bridge trail.The themed trail signs will guide you along the circular route. Close to the town, below Bahnhofstraße, the trail begins far above the valley floor and you can only guess what awaits you in this romantic valley under the dense canopies of leaves. Leaving the first steps behind you, you cross the first bridge. Small waterfalls and rushing water along the path then lead you right into the valley and left over the bridge. The trail then continues down into the valley for about 122 meters. Here you will find deciduous woodland with maple, beech, birch, alder and many shrubs and further down is a coniferous forest with large spruce trees. You descend to Lake Constance, a natural and fishing lake, and hike around it on the right to the eastern shore. There you will find the second exit portal from the direction of Elkeringhausen with a rest area and parking lot. Continue around Lake Constance along the fishing spots and start the return leg of the circular route here. Walk along the Helle stream over the next bridge, up 61 steps and serpentines to the fork in the path, where the path continues to the left - you are welcome to take a detour to the right into the cul-de-sac to the next bridge. Here you will see numerous water channels that have carved deep into the rock. Enjoy this breathtaking nature on the rest bench in the immediate vicinity of the stream - and leave the valley in serpentines and arrive at the spa park below the playground. From here, it is only a few minutes' walk to the starting point.Path scout/Copyright: Winterberg Tourist Office, Peter Korn