Discover Elpe: Nature Conservation, Hiking Trails and Village Life

Elpe is shaped by a protected low mountain valley. Hiking trails start in the village center, where fountains and a church can be found. If you are planning a stay, you can get to know the village through its landscape, specific routes and local attractions.

Landscape and Nature Conservation

The “Upper Elpe Valley” nature reserve lies right next to the village. It protects an unspoiled, open and largely intact low mountain valley. The reserve includes the near-natural upper reaches of the Elpe with riverside woodland, a spring-fed stream, and wet and nutrient-poor grassland. This brings open valley areas together with stretches of water and different types of grassland.

North of Elpe, the “Elpe and Bremecke Valleys” nature reserve encompasses a roughly 2 km stretch of the Elpe floodplain. The two protected areas have different landscape features: the Upper Elpe Valley focuses on the valley, its upper reaches and grassland areas, while a section of the floodplain is protected in the north.

Hiking Trails and Routes

The Elpe E1 Panorama Circular Trail starts in the village center and climbs uphill along the Hirtenweg. It is marked with the E1 trail symbol and also passes through the “Krauseholz with Chapel” area. This moderately difficult circular hike is around 10 km long and offers views of Elpe. The circular route, distance and difficulty give you specific points of reference for planning your hike.

The also-marked Elpe E3 follows a different route: it heads towards Altenfeld, passes the hang-gliding site and continues to the waterfall, then returns to the village via the “auf'm Kipp” area. If you are choosing between the two trails, the E1 offers a named circular route with a stated distance and difficulty; the E3 is defined by the stops along the way.

The Plästerlegge lies along a hike that starts in Elpe. The waterfall is a natural spectacle, especially in winter and spring. This means that, in addition to the routes described, you can also take this seasonal highlight into account when planning your hike.

Numerous hiking trails run for around 160 km through the surrounding area and offer views of the landscape. The Elpe Kneipp pool invites you to enjoy Kneipp water therapy. Other local amenities include numerous benches for resting, a barbecue area and idyllic horse-drawn carriage rides.

Attractions and Air Sports

The Laurentius Fountain and the Roman Catholic St. Lucia Church are in the village center. The fountain was inaugurated on August 10, 2007. The church’s geometrically ornamented windows were made by Vincenz Pieper in 1955 and consist of antique glass and lead. A visit to the village center can therefore also include a look at a specific work from the postwar period.

Air sports are also part of Elpe’s history: in 1977, Elmar Müller’s father opened the “West German Hang Gliding School” here. Today, the Papillon Paragliding Sauerland paragliding school in Elpe offers large, obstacle-free takeoff and practice slopes with unobstructed wind access from all directions. Beginner courses run throughout the season.

Getting There and Planning

A bus service runs from Olsberg via Siedlinghausen to Elpe. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable for your travel date before setting off. For the rest of your planning, you can choose from the different highlights: the moderately difficult E1 circular route, the E3 route, the nature reserves or the attractions in the village center.

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