Three deeply incised red sandstone gorges leave their mark on this hiking tour in the NaturWanderPark delux.

The starting point of this circular hike is also one of its highlights. It is located on the banks of the Enz, between Sinspelt and Mettendorf: at the "Roter Puhl". Here, the Enz River has cut the beech-covered slope in an arc at an impressive height, and the rocks of the middle Buntsandstein are visible in bright orange-red colors. These deposits in river and delta areas on the edge of the Trier-Bitburg Triassic Bay are about 220 million years old.

What has existed for such a long time will certainly not run away from you. So get in the right mood for the tour ahead of you and realize that you are walking through an ancient riparian area, which today marks the transition between the Islek and Gutland and makes it visible in the landscape. At that time, a desert climate prevailed in the Eifel, characterized by great aridity and rare but all the more heavy rainfall.

Fascinating walls and cascades of red sandstone

Three deeply cut red sandstone gorges await you. No one would suspect that these natural spectacles are hidden in the wooded slopes of the Ringsbach Valley. The hike above the southern, largest gorge offers fascinating views of the walls and cascades of red sandstone that tower up here. Sections with Jurassic Park-like ferns and blackberry bushes alternate with field and meadow passages with beautiful distant views of the far-reaching Enz Valley. Evidence of former clay mining can be found in the "Tongruben" nature reserve, now a habitat for endangered birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects. Lie down in the grass for a while and listen to the busy chirping, buzzing, humming and chirping - it's balm for the soul!

The path back towards the Enz surprises with beautiful views of the valley created by it. A detour to the Lascheider Chapel is worthwhile. It was built by a citizen of Mettendorf as thanks for his return from the Second World War. When you get back to the starting point "Roter Puhl", take some time and settle down to watch the rare kingfisher, which has its hunting grounds here and nests in the sandstone wall.

The gorge trail is one of the premium hiking trails in the NaturWanderPark delux. You should estimate about 3 ½ hours for the 16.5 km trail. The trail is well suited for warmer days, as it leads through a lot of canyon forest. The difficulty level of the family-friendly tour is rated medium. Refreshments are available in Mettendorf and Sinspelt.