The Mullerthal Trail is what attracted me to visit Luxembourg. While Luxembourg City has charm and character I wanted to immerse myself in nature. However when I was researching on which bits to hike even for a moderate hiker, it was not always clear on which parts to tackle of the network of trails the Mullerthal region offers. I also didn’t know where to base myself. So after tedious research and the experience of having visited and hiked a good chunk of one of the main routes of this famous trail, I feel I am in a position to guide you properly how to hike Mullerthal trail.
This guide is aimed at those who want a more relaxed approach to the Mullerthal Trail and we will actually be focusing on the more popular of the 3 main routes and that is Mullerthal Route 2. This will also assume that you have at least 2 days dedicated to just hiking. Also note that there are way too many routes and is impossible to navigate all on your holiday but I will be listing the main attractions on the route and I feel that my way is I visited the vast majority of the highlights without going through all 12 hours of hiking on the route. Here is how I did it!
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Where To Stay To Hike the Mullerthal Trail
This was quite the headache, but I feel I made the best choice possible. I wanted to stay in a village where it has good bus access and place to go eat in the evening. I was also looking for hostels to save up but luckily this village is big enough that has some hotels dotted around. This is the village of Echternach!
If you look at the map and the 3 main routes Echternach has 2 of the main routes passing right through it. There are direct free buses from Luxembourg City to Echternach and takes around 50 minutes. There are also supermarkets on the cheaper side to stock up for your hike and day ahead.
Now one of the major headaches that you may have is to figure out how and when you are going to stop on your hike? This is what was worrying me as I didn’t know how long I wanted to hike and if I will manage especially because I did this in the winter. Would I have to hiked all the way back to reach my accommodation? The answer is no. There are quite a few villages along the hike that has buses back to Echternach. This was the winner on why I stayed here.
Furthermore the official Mullerthal website, lists Echternach as how to hike Mullerthal trail with one accomodation. In that article it lists them off in stages. In this post I am going to focus on the 3rd stage (per the official Mullerthal website I linked) as this is what I did during my 2 days there. I would have liked to do more but the conditions weren’t exactly favourable with all the mud there was on the trail. Nevertheless it was still an amazing time.
Hiking The Mullerthal Trail – Day 1
The first day I started a bit late as I had to stay overnight in Luxembourg City as my flight got in late. But I hopped on a bus and started hiking Mullerthal Trail Route 2 around 10am. The route is well signed everywhere and you will see the square with a squiggly red M to guide you along the way. I think the exit from Echternach is actually the steepest section of the hike and if it is your start like me it can only get better. I have definitely hiked steeper inclines than the entirety of this trip like the one I did in Hungary when I hiked to the Danube Bend Lookout. With that in mind I powered through the first bit as I slowly admired the overview of Echternach behind me and immersed myself in nature.
Highlight 1 – Gorges Du Loup
The famous rock formations were already taking shape in front of me and the scenery and greenery of the forest but little did I know that it will get much better. The stretch of stairs zigzaging along the cliffs was a highlight and you can pose for some pictures here. This is your starter for a much more enjoyable and breathtaking views coming up soon enough
Highlight 2 – Hohllay Cave
This cave is a bit surreal and it is really picturesque. It has multiple entrances and exits and it is best described by picture below. It was a fun stop and taking some pictures. Not far off there is also an amphitheater where some shows used to take place. It really felt a weird place for an amphitheater but nevertheless it is there.
Highlight 3 – Berdorf Village
This is a stop which you can pause your hike altogether and catch a bus back to Echternach if you so wish. It was also a welcome sight as right before entering the village there was a water tap where I was able to clean my boots and refill on my water supply. Furthermore walking deeper into the village along the main roads and signs, right before catching the country roads again there is a supermarket which you can buy a snack.
Highlight 4 – Berdorf – Mullerthal
This stretch of the hike is more easy going and doesn’t involve a lot of uphill climbs. There are also not much to look out for in terms of notable landmarks but it is just a continued extension of nature. I really enjoyed the day and here are some more generic highlights of the day as a whole.
So that wrapped up my first day, I headed back to Echternach as it was getting darkish as it was around 3:30pm and the next bus was at 4:15pm. Overall I spent around 4 hours but I took it very slowly and stopped a lot. So if I started earlier and was actually in Echternach to start off I think I would have persisted and continued on to Consdorf where I instead started on my second day.
Hiking the Mullerthal Trail – Day 2
It was day 2 and I was feeling the effects of my first day but nevertheless another day in nature awaits. I decided to not complete the Mullerthal Trail M2 the day before but in the morning I scanned quickly the trail map on AllTrails and I decided to enter the trail this time at Consdorf walk a bit further to see one of the main highlights on the trail before doubling back and finishing in Mullerthal village again and seeing the nearby most famous waterfall on the Mullerthal network. So here is what I did
Starting Point – Consdorf
I took Bus 271 which runs from Echternach to Consdorf. I got off at an earlier stage which is a couple of minutes walk from one of the entry points to get back on the main trail. More mud greeted me but nevertheless it was peaceful and quiet. The route was flat out all the way through and I turned left instead of right towards Mullerthal. This was to explore some more narrow passages between the iconic limestone cliffs.
The bus stop I stopped at is called Post, CONSDORF. From there I walked 2 mins towards the bend and there are signs to an unmarked road on google maps but it is a passage to the Mullerthal trail. You might see signs for route C5, follow that you will soon rejoin the famous M2 trail. It is this path here from Google Street views.
Highlight 5 – Rittergang
This is the narrowest passage I encountered and it was really mystical. You will need to climb some steps to get to its entrance but it is worth it. You will need to squeeze but not that much. It is worth saying I am a bit claustrophobic but I didn’t feel that way while navigating these passages so not to worry. After I finished navigating I traversed it back to go the other way towards Mullerthal instead.
Highlight 6 – Goldfralay
When doubling back to go back to Mullerthal, one of the more iconic rock formations is Goldfralay. You somehow walk in a maze of limestone cliffs, turning right and left and then theres a path and stairs to climb on top and an amazing view awaits. There is only one bench up top however and other people were already occupying it. I didn’t spend much time but it is a good spot for lunch admiring these weird rock formations and relax.
Highlight 7 – Schiessentümpel Waterfall
Finally, this is the most famous waterfall/point in general on the Mullerthal trail and with good reason. One of the reasons it is a bit of a change in scenery from all those rocky cliffs and you see a stream of water galloping down under an arched bridge. You can go down and get real close or admire it from the road from the pavement. It is by far the point where I encountered the most people across the 2 days. From here it is just a short stretch to Mullerthal.
Detour To Lacrochette
It was still time in the day and I decided to catch the bus to Lacrochette. It is on the Mullerthal network but one of the extra added trails. It isn’t included in the 3 main loops. I decided to go here because it was a direct bus from Mullerthal and the same bus back to Echternach my base. Also there was a cool castle with a great view over the village so that made my mind up. Alas, the castle was closed and the 20 minute climb was in vain. There are some nice views though so it was a great way to end the hike.
I arrived back in Echternach around 4:30 pm where I explored a bit more of the village and discovered that 5 minute walk away and I would be in Germany, a fact which was quite oblivious to me before going on this trip.
What to Bring and Wear on the Mullerthal Trail
You don’t need anything fancy to hike the Mullerthal Trail, but being slightly prepared will make a big difference.
A MUST have is comfortable and sturdy hiking shoes with good grip. If you’re visiting in a dry season you’ll be fine with regular trainers but good hiking shoes to navigate the mud and slippery sections are a life saver. A bonus is to have waterproof shoes some sections there are small streams trickling down and you can just walk through them instead of hopping between rocks.
Wear light, breathable clothes. You’ll be moving a lot and some parts feel more like squeezing through rocks than a casual walk, so you don’t want anything too heavy. If you’re going early or late in the day, bring a light jacket as it can get cooler in the forest.
Bring at least 1–1.5 litres of water per person. There aren’t many places to buy drinks once you’re properly on the trail, and some sections take longer than expected. Snacks are a good idea too. Even something simple like a sandwich or protein bar goes a long way, especially if you’re doing multiple sections in one day. I always stocked up with some light snacks and some bread to keep me going before I departed Echternach.
Finally, AllTrails app on your phone is the go to navigation system for the Mullerthal trail. Although signs and markings are everywhere, you can never be too sure and it was the way for me to spot any other entry paths and shortcuts during my hike.
Conclusion – How to Hike Mullerthal Trail? Which Sections Do I Choose?
There is simply not one concrete correct answer on how to hike Mullerthal Trail. In my post and my route I simply tried visiting the main attractions without tiring myself out and taking a more relaxed approach. If you are confident in your ability and do the routes in the summer than hiking the entirety of one of the main routes (M1,2,3) is definitely possible but if not then you can easily split the route into 2 days. If you only have time for one day then I would suggest combining the 2 sections I did and then catching the bus back from Consdorf. My route was spontaneous on this trip and I decided where I walk at that moment in time.
I will definitely recommend anyone to take on these trails in Luxembourg, they are truly iconic and unique. To explore more of Luxembourg, the capital city is definitely worth a visit and you can read how to spend one day in Luxembourg City next!
