RuT2 near Mandern between Ruwer and Burkelsbach

This themed trail near Mandern tells exciting stories about the topic "grassland is more than grass" and was created as part of the Ruwer water project.

This 7.1 km hike near Mandern leads us between the Ruwer and Burkelsbach rivers and introduces us to the wetlands surrounding the streams in the middle Ruwer Valley. These meadows are difficult to manage and therefore of little interest to agriculture. However, they are home to a unique array of rare plants and animals. Extensive management and maintaining open areas will help ensure their survival.

From our starting point at the parking lot by the sewage treatment plant, our path leads us directly along meadows that are particularly colorful and biodiverse. In March, some meadows in the Ruwer floodplain between Mandern and Hentern offer a botanical rarity to admire: yellow daffodils. This rare and protected plant species thrives only where there is little or no fertilization.
We continue past the barbecue hut and discover spruce plantations directly in the stream valley. Because managing the wet meadows was very labor-intensive and therefore of little interest to agriculture, they were often planted with conifers. However, these dense stands of conifers in the stream valley act as barriers for many animal species, such as butterflies and birds, restricting their habitat. Therefore, spruce plantations have already been removed from areas of the watercourse project. 

The path continues along the Ruwer River, and here we can see that riparian buffer strips have already been created in Mandern to preserve the habitat for animals and plants. Dragonflies and marsh marigolds have been given a new home. We turn right, reach the viewpoint after about 2.2 km, and enjoy a beautiful view into the Keller Mulde valley. We continue along the K71 road towards the barbecue area between Mandern and Waldweiler. We cross the Burkelsbach stream. Narrow culverts under the paths along the stream are insurmountable obstacles for fish and small animals – especially when hiking upstream. These narrow culverts have been removed, so the stream once again has a continuous bed of stones, gravel, and sand, allowing aquatic life free passage.

We reach the village of Mandern and walk along the church back to our starting point.

Parking lot at the sewage treatment plant

From the A1: Take the Reinsfeld exit towards Kell am See, follow the B407 to the Mandern junction, in Mandern turn left at the church towards Zerf, at the edge of town turn right towards the sewage treatment plant and barbecue hut.

From Trier: via Zerf towards Mandern, in Mandern turn left towards the sewage treatment plant.

Sturdy footwear and comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.

The yellow daffodil blooms here in March. In Germany, it is found in only a very few locations in the Hunsrück and Eifel regions. Its population in the Ruwer Valley is therefore particularly worthy of protection.