Einruhr: Rursee, Nature and History

The town’s history and the Heilstein spring are also distinctive points of interest. You can choose your destination based on the activities that interest you and plan your trip accordingly.

Cruise across the Obersee

The two-hour cruise around the Obersee starts in Einruhr, travels via Rurberg and the Obersee to the Urft Dam, and then returns. A shorter, one-hour trip operates as a shuttle service: from Einruhr to Rurberg, or from Rurberg to the Urft Dam and back. You can combine this shuttle with the National Park hiking trail. The boats operate seasonally, so check the timetable before your trip.

The Obersee boats are accessible in Einruhr, and the landing stage is close to public parking. From April to October, rangers from the National Park Administration accompany the Rursee boat trips on the first and third Monday of each month. It is also advisable to check the current timetable for these trips. Seasonal services offer different durations and routes, while the landing stage in Einruhr provides a starting point for exploring the lakeside.

Views and trails around Einruhr

The “Wolfshügel” Eifel viewpoint lies above Einruhr at an elevation of 360 metres. From here, the distant view stretches across the village and the Obersee to the Buhlert woodland. You can also see the Rur Bridge, built in the 19th century and regarded as the first stone bridge over the Rur. The Eifelsteig trail passes directly by Wolfshügel.

Another view opens up from the “Schöne Aussicht” Eifel viewpoint in Simmerath-Einruhr. At an elevation of 440 metres, it offers a panorama of the Rur valley and the village of Dedenborn. The Seifenauel Loop, route number 46, passes directly by this viewpoint. The viewpoints therefore differ both in elevation and in the sights they overlook. The second stage of the Wildnis-Trail follows narrow paths along the steep slopes of the Obersee; the route offers a sense of natural tranquillity. Check current trail conditions before setting out on a hike.

The Heilstein spring and local history

Behind the Heilsteinhaus, you can drink water from a well fed by the Heilstein spring. In Roman times, a road ran from Konzen via Kesternich to Einruhr and this spring. The village’s history goes back further: Einruhr is believed to have originated with the Pleushütte ironworks, founded around 1470 and formerly known as Rurhütte. This historical context refers to a different stage of the village’s development than the landscape seen today.

After Pleushütte was flooded during the second expansion phase of the Rurtalsperre dam project in the 1950s, Einruhr took on its present-day appearance. The National Park information point in Einruhr, located in the Heilsteinhaus, has maps and information materials; free Wi-Fi and a public toilet are also available. The information point is a starting place for exploring the adjoining Eifel National Park on foot, by bicycle or by boat. Operating details may vary seasonally.

A break and swimming options

The Einruhr hiking rest station in the Heilsteinhaus offers a place to relax and picnic after a hike or bike ride. Next to the station is a water garden where you can cool your feet after a hike. The Einruhr natural swimming pool invites you to take a swim. You can also rent pedal boats or rowing boats there; check availability for this seasonal option before your trip. So, in addition to boat trips on the Obersee, Einruhr offers ways to take a break by the water.

Discover more destinations: Woffelsbach, Kesternich, Steckenborn, Dedenborn

Return to the main travel overview: Simmerath.