Roman Tower on Sophienhöhe – View towards Jülich loop from Hambach

Hiking trails & Routes

Kreis Düren

Niederzier

Roman Tower on Sophienhöhe – View towards Jülich loop from Hambach

Moderate

4.6

(370)

1,040

hikers

Roman Tower on Sophienhöhe – View towards Jülich loop from Hambach

02:58

10.7km

200m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 6, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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2.16 km

View of Forschungszentrum Jülich and Weisweiler Power Plant

Highlight • Viewpoint

The view is really great, even if today was unfortunately not inviting for a break

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2.94 km

Old Summit Cross of Sophienhöhe

Highlight • Monument

During a period of reclamation, this point on the artificial mountain "Sophienhöhe" (a spoil heap from an open-cast mine) was the highest point, and a summit cross was erected here in 1981. The cross still exists, but since the mountain has continued to grow due to further lignite mining and the corresponding landfills, it is no longer the highest point on the site.

Now follows a text in memory of Pope Francis, who died today (Easter Monday 2024).

In the meditation on the Stations of the Cross with the Holy Father – on Good Friday 2024 in the Roman Colosseum – Pope Francis invited us to allow ourselves to be gazed upon by Jesus on the cross:
"We walk our usual paths, and you come to us. Your eyes look into our hearts. (...) Jesus is your name, and truly, "God saves" through you. The God of Abraham who calls, the God of Isaac who cares, the God of Jacob who blesses, the God of Israel who liberates: in your gaze, Lord, ... lies a whole revelation. In your steps as we leave the city, we see our departure to a new land. You came to change the world: for us, that means changing direction, seeing the good you left behind, and letting the memory of your gaze continue in our hearts. (Pope Francis)

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3.94 km

Roman Tower on Sophienhöhe

Highlight • Viewpoint

In good visibility great panorama!

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5.78 km

Reptile Meadow

Highlight • Forest

The forestry recultivation of the Sophienhöhe began as early as 1988, and has long since become a local recreation area. Around 90% of the area is wooded and managed, with many small clearings and several small ponds scattered throughout.

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5.87 km

Obstweg Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

On the way to the highest point, the “Fruit Trail” is also walked, which lives up to its name: numerous apple trees line the edge of the path.

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7.59 km

View towards Jülich

Highlight • Viewpoint

The several million trees that were planted and are now growing on Sophienhöhe, a waste dump from the open-cast mine, often block the view of the surrounding landscape. Here, one of the few clearings in the forest opens up a view toward Jülich.

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7.78 km

View of Stetternich and Jülich

Highlight • Viewpoint

The now tall trees that were planted on the "Sophienhöhe" spoil heap as part of the recultivation project block hikers' clear views of the surrounding landscape on almost all trails. A few clearings allow a visual axis, allowing one to let their gaze wander into the distance.

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9.23 km

Birkenallee Picnic Area

Highlight • Rest Area

Nice place to take a little break. Newly built in 2020, the table and benches offer space for several people.

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10.7 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.6 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

9.22 km

1.10 km

347 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Thursday 22 October

14°C

8°C

98 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 37.0 km/h

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Comments

August 18, 2023,NRW: Sophienhöhe – Aussichtspunkt Runde von Stetternich

A surprisingly beautiful round on the Sophienhöhe. Well-done reclamation with sections of the same structure and many different tree species. Good for a little hike.
Strangely, excursion buses drive up there 🤔

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August 17, 2024,Zum Römerturm auf die „Sophienhöhe“ 🥾

Today we went on a lovely hike from Stetternich to Sophienhöhe! 🥾

From the hiking car park (located on an old Roman road VIA) we head into the dense forest and after a short, steep climb we continue along the Obstweg to the Jülicher Kopf (memorial stone).

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January 15, 2022,Eifel - Sophienhöhe im Nebel

The starting point of today's hike was the Sophienhöhe car park in Niederzier-Hambach. The Sophienhöhe was created with the overburden from the neighboring Hambach opencast lignite mine. In 1978 the first cubic meters from the opencast mine were heaped up. Today, the Sophienhöhe rises 200 meters above the landscape of the Jülicher Börde. It is now completely forested and is …

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April 21, 2023,Sophienhöhe...... endlich mal geschafft 😍

Prompted by Jürgen and Hedwig, I made my way to Sophienhöhe today 👍(I wasn't there yet)....... I know that it's called 🤭🤣
It was great..... Blue sky, wonderful how everything is green and blooming. 😍 After a steep but great path, the area up there was fantastic. Summit cross, mammoth forest, huge sand dunes, Roman tower..... Oh that was nice …

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