We got away to explore Gerolstein Germany and see some of its geological history. It was a cold rainy weekend, typical of December, and it was nice to get out and explore. Here’s where we went and what we saw. Also, don’t miss out on a great airbnb stay as your home base for adventure!
Dreimühlen Wasserfall Hike
The Dreimühlen waterfall or 3 mill water fall is a really cool geological anomaly in the Gerolstein region. There are a couple things to note. There is a parking area just to the south east and it is €1 per hour. You do have a short walk to the water fall. There are 2 paths to the falls. One is the bike path and it takes you to the top of the waterfall and the other takes you along the creek and it is a bit more muddy and rugged.
The waterfall is really cool. It reminded me of the waterfalls in Plitvice waterfalls in Croatia. These waterfalls actually are made in similar ways. They are a result of a lot of minerals in the water and over time the minerals are released as they hit the moss. The type of formation is called travertine or tufa. The info poster said the waterfall grows a few centimeters every year. This is connected to the volcanic activity of the Eifel and Gerolstein region!
The Arensberg Volcano Hike
The Arensberg Volcano was a wonderful hike and really cool to see the inside of the old volcano. There’s another parking area near the start of the hike but it’s small so be ready during busy areas. The hike is relatively easy because you go up a road but it is all up hill so be ready!
The entrance into the old mine and volcano was through a tunnel. It was exciting to come out the other side and you’re pretty deep into the old mine. The walls are pretty high and be careful because we saw 2 rock slides while we were inside so watch out for falling rocks! There is a picnic table and an info sign explaining some of the history and geology of the area. Have fun while you explore!
Conclusion
Gerolstein is a really wonderful area and you should go! You can hike and bike the entire area and all these areas we went to you don’t need to drive. As with many of the German country side, there’s tons of hiking and biking trails. Take advantage of it! The waterfall was a cool geological sight which I love to see it. The volcano was a lot of fun and they really dug deep so it was interesting to see the towering cliffs and all the remains of older days. Go have fun and let me know how your trekking goes!
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