The best running trails in Hochpochtener Wald

A true paradise stretches out on the edge of the village of Ulmen on a plateau beneath the Steimelskopf, where a volcano once erupted with a tremendous bang, forming a deep crater with a maar lake, which now serves as a renowned bird sanctuary. The exact age of the Jungferweiher lake cannot be determined, but its morphological shape suggests it is several hundred thousand years old. In early modern times, the Lords of Ulmen used the lake as a fishpond for carp breeding, until it gradually silted up over time, and the residents of Ulmen harvested peat from the former maar for heating purposes. However, in 1942, the decision was made to flood the area again by damming the Ulmener Bach to secure the drinking water supply for the Cochem-Zell district. Today, the Jungferweiher lake, located at an altitude of 428 meters above sea level, covers an area of approximately 170,000 square meters with a depth of 0.8 meters. The pond, along with the Ulmener Maar, is protected for its rare flora and fauna. Many endangered species, such as the snipe and the meadow pipit, breed in the reed-rich banks, while ospreys have been observed hunting. Migratory birds such as cranes, teals, and great grey shrikes roost in the meadows near the Ulmener Jungferweiher every year. Therefore, a walk along the approximately 3-kilometer loop is a must, especially during the migration periods in spring and autumn. At the bird observatory on the western bank, you can observe the birds in their natural habitat. Nowadays, a wide variety of fish species thrive in the shallow waters of the Ulmener Weiher, which can be fished from a fishing pier on the southern bank. Swimming and other water sports are prohibited, however. Fishing permits are issued by the local municipal administration in Ulmen. Since 2023, the Ulmener Maar Tunnel has connected the Jungferweiher underground to the Ulmener Maar. A visit to the 126-metre-long tunnel is highly recommended!

1 million years of geology. Worth putting your bike aside for a moment.

Historic chapel and stamping point for Camino hikers.

A beautiful country road leads over the hills here before descending into the valley towards Cochem.

A large wooden bench with a slide will be set up at the Eifelblicke Höchstberg rest area. The views are even more beautiful from there.

Here at the Jungfernweiher in Ulmen you can go for a lovely walk. The Ulmener Stollen connects the Ulmener Maar with the Jungfernweiher.

The Volcanic Eifel is always worth a short vacation.

A true paradise stretches out on the edge of the village of Ulmen on a plateau below the Steimelskopf, where a volcano once erupted with a huge detonation and formed a deep crater with a maar lake, which today functions as a well-known bird sanctuary. The exact age of the Jungferweiher cannot be determined, but due to its morphological shape it is assumed to be several hundred thousand years old. In the early modern period, the lords of the castle of Ulmen used the lake as a fishing water for carp farming, until it silted up over time and the residents of Ulmen mined the former maar peat for heating purposes. In 1942, however, it was decided to flood the area again and dam up the Ulmener Bach to secure the drinking water supply for the Cochem-Zell district. Today, the Jungferweiher, located at an altitude of 428 meters above sea level, is around 170,000 square meters in size and has a depth of 0.8 meters. The pond is protected together with the Ulmener Maar due to its rare flora and fauna. Numerous endangered species such as snipe and meadow pipit breed in the reed-rich shore areas, while ospreys have already been observed hunting. Migratory birds such as cranes, teals and great grey shrikes rest every year on the meadows at the Ulmener Jungferweiher. Therefore, a hike on the approximately 3-kilometer-long circular path is a must, especially during the migration periods in spring and autumn. At the bird observation station on the western bank, you can observe the birds particularly well in their natural environment. The shallow waters of the Ulmener Weiher are now once again home to a large variety of fish species, which can be fished from a fishing jetty on the south bank. Swimming and other water sports are prohibited, however. Fishing licenses are issued by the municipal administration in Ulmen. Since 2023, the Ulmener Maar tunnel has connected the Jungferweiher with the Ulmener Maar underground. A visit to the 126-meter-long tunnel is worthwhile! Source: https://www.eifel.info/a-jungferweiher There is a barrier-free and therefore wheelchair-accessible circular path around the Jungferweiher.