Narrow rock crevices you have to squeeze through sideways, wooden staircases that disappear deep into the forest and viewpoints over green valleys: the Mullerthal Trail is anything but an ordinary walk. This 112-kilometre trail winds right through the Müllerthal, better known as Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland. Dense forest, babbling streams and towering sandstone rocks take turns the whole way. One minute it feels like you’re lost in a natural maze, the next you pop out at a wide-open view or a sleepy little village.
The best part? You don’t have to hike the whole thing to see the highlights. Thanks to Luxembourg’s free buses, hopping between trailheads is easy, so the Mullerthal Trail works brilliantly for day hikes or a long weekend. Sebastiaan set off with our toddler, who spent most of the trail riding comfortably in a child carrier. It worked a treat and turned into the perfect father and son trip. I stayed home this time with our daughter, but thanks to a phone bursting with photos and videos, I still got to experience every rock crevice in detail.
In this guide, we share our favourite stages and stops, the best sights along the way, tips for hiking with kids and everything you need to know to head out well prepared.
What is the Mullerthal Trail?
If you think you need the Alps for dramatic hiking, you probably haven’t been to the Müllerthal yet. This region in eastern Luxembourg is known as Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland, famous for its jagged rock formations, narrow gorges, streams and thick forests. We’ve been twice now: first with the whole family, and the second time Sebastiaan hiked a big chunk of the Mullerthal Trail with our three-year-old son.
Discover the 10 most beautiful places in the Müllerthal →
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The full trail is 112 kilometres long and made up of three main loops. It carries the “Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe” label from the European Ramblers’ Association, an honour only a handful of routes in Europe can claim. You can link the loops together for a multi-day hiking holiday, but each one also works on its own. That makes the trail just as good for seasoned hikers as for families, beginners and anyone with only a day or two to spare. We didn’t hike the full route either, we simply picked the sections that appealed to us most.
The scenery keeps changing as you go. One moment you’re following a stream through the woods, the next you’re walking between towering rock walls or squeezing through a slot. Then you wander into a village for a drink or a bite, or stumble upon a medieval castle. That variety is what makes the Mullerthal Trail, and really the whole region, so much fun: you don’t need to be a long-distance hiker to have an unforgettable walk here.
Mullerthal Trail Map
The map below shows the three main loops. Routes 1 and 2 both start in Echternach, while Route 3 begins in the village of Mullerthal. You don’t actually need a GPX file: the whole trail is already marked on mapy.com. Download the map of the region for offline use and you’ll have your route at hand even without signal. Prefer a GPX for your watch? You can download one for free from the official website.
Hiking the Mullerthal Trail with children
When we told people Sebastiaan was going to hike the Mullerthal Trail with our three-year-old, a few of them asked whether that was really doable with such a little one. Our answer: absolutely. You might not want to walk 112 kilometres with a toddler, but because the trail is split into three separate loops, you can simply pick the best bits. That’s what makes it such a good fit for a family holiday.
Sebastiaan and our son usually walked about half a loop a day. Enough to really see something of the trail, with plenty of time left for a playground, an ice cream or a drink on a terrace. A full loop of almost 40 kilometres in one day isn’t a realistic plan with a toddler, and it doesn’t need to be.
Our son spent most of the time in a child carrier. No need to spend a fortune on one, by the way: we picked ours up at a charity shop. A pushchair, on the other hand, you can forget about. The paths are mostly unpaved and you’ll regularly run into steps, tree roots and narrow rock crevices.
With the carrier, Sebastiaan could get through almost everywhere. That doesn’t mean our son spent the whole day on his back, though. He loved walking some stretches himself, especially the parts of Route 2 where he could climb and scramble. In a few narrow crevices his knees would have bumped the rock if he’d stayed in the carrier, so he simply walked those bits. A bit of a shame when he’d just dozed off, but never a real problem.
Here’s a tip you won’t read in many places: a toddler in a child carrier loves to chat, and all of it happens right next to your ear. Sweet, but after a few hours it gets quite intense. Sebastiaan saw this coming and packed a pair of kids’ headphones with audio stories on his phone. That way our son had something to listen to, and Sebastiaan could enjoy the quiet of the forest every now and then.
The adventurous sections were the most fun to let him walk. He loved clambering between the rocks and making his way down the steps. Around Berdorf and on parts of Route 2, it sometimes felt like hiking through a giant natural playground.
Another huge help is Luxembourg’s free public transport. You never have to walk back to your car, and you can make each hike exactly as long as suits your family. Everyone tired? Just hop on the bus. There are also plenty of villages along the way with a café terrace or a great playground, which kept the days relaxed, with no rushing and no long slogs.
You’ll also pass plenty of adventure playgrounds. The one at Martbusch in Berdorf is a winner if you’re walking Route 2, and the big playground by the lake in Echternach was our favourite way to end a hiking day. The playground at Heringer Millen in Waldbillig is another good stop, and its water play area was a big hit with our toddler on hot summer days. We also loved the Kugelbahnen, wooden marble runs you’ll find in both Berdorf and Waldbillig. You follow your marble through bends, funnels and obstacles. Simple, but our toddler had a blast.
Not everything went smoothly. On the very first day our son took a tumble and ended up with a bleeding finger. Sebastiaan rinsed it with water and a little restaurant nearby helped out with a plaster. Not the cheerful kids’ plaster he’s used to at home, but it did the job. Ever since, a few colourful kids’ plasters have been part of our standard kit whenever we head out with the children.
So, would we recommend the Mullerthal Trail to families with young kids? Absolutely. Pick a few great sections instead of the full route, bring a child carrier and leave plenty of time for breaks. You’ll quickly find that this trail isn’t just for keen hikers, but just as much for families looking for an adventurous day out in nature.
The three routes of the Mullerthal Trail: which one is best?
The Mullerthal Trail is made up of three main loops: Route 1, Route 2 and Route 3. Together they form the full 112-kilometre trail, but each loop works perfectly well on its own. That makes the trail flexible: whether you have one day, a long weekend or almost a week, there’s always a hike that fits.
We didn’t walk every stage, but we did explore a good part of all three loops, which gave us a clear feel for the differences. One route mainly follows forests and quiet stream valleys, another is famous for its spectacular rock formations and narrow gorges. Each loop is worth it, but for us there was one clear winner: Route 2. It combines the most impressive rocks, the best-known sights and the most adventurous paths.
| Route | Distance | Walking time | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route 1: forests and stream valleys | 36.7 km | approx. 10.5 hours | moderate |
| Route 2: rocks and gorges | 39.7 km | approx. 13 hours | difficult |
| Route 3: castles and forests | 37.7 km | approx. 11 hours | difficult |
| ExtraTours A to E | 9 to 31 km | 3 to 9 hours | moderate to difficult |
Below, we walk you through the three routes one by one.
Route 1: forests and peaceful stream valleys
At just under 37 kilometres, Route 1 is the shortest of the three loops. It runs between Echternach and Rosport and stays almost entirely in the forest, along streams and through quiet valleys. You’ll see fewer big rock formations here than on Route 2. Instead, this loop is all about nature and peace and quiet.
We walked the stretch from Herborn to Echternach, a good example of how easy it is to break the trail into chunks. With free public transport you don’t have to walk back to your starting point, so you can choose exactly the distance that suits you. We took the bus from our hotel in Echternach to Herborn.
What struck us most was how quiet this route is. You walk almost entirely on forest paths and barely cross a road. The trails are easy going and never technical, so Route 1 is also a good pick for less experienced hikers or if you just fancy a relaxed walk. We even got lucky with a deer crossing the path right in front of us.
One of our favourite moments was the viewpoint just before Echternach. From here you look out over the lake and the historic town, a lovely spot to end the hike, perhaps with a picnic before you stroll into the centre.
Route 2: rocks, narrow passages and adventure
If you only hike one route on the Mullerthal Trail, make it Route 2. This loop is by far the most spectacular of the three. You walk past towering rock formations, squeeze through narrow crevices and descend wooden staircases ever deeper into the forest. That mix of variety and drama is what makes Route 2 so special.
Sebastiaan walked this route as two half loops, though it didn’t quite go to plan. The first day was hot, and he’d underestimated the distance with a toddler on his back. He took the bus for the last stretch and walked that final bit on another day. Around Berdorf it sometimes feels like an adventure park built by nature, with narrow passages, dark rock tunnels and winding forest paths everywhere you look. Our toddler’s eyes were out on stalks, and this was easily his favourite part of the whole trail.
The trail’s most famous sight is also where Routes 2 and 3 meet: the Schiessentümpel. The distinctive stone bridge above a small waterfall has become the icon of the Müllerthal. Bear in mind it can get pretty busy here in summer.
Officially, Route 2 is graded as difficult, mainly because of all the ups and downs. It’s never technical: you regularly climb or descend steps and some crevices are pretty narrow. But don’t underestimate the combination of stairs, heat and a child on your back. Bring a torch too, as some of the gorges and tunnels are seriously dark. With a child carrier the route is perfectly doable, although Sebastiaan found the longer climbs quite a slog. In a few tight spots he let our toddler walk, simply because his knees would otherwise have scraped the rock.
Is a full loop too much for one day and want to shorten Route 2? Then we’d recommend the section from Altrier to Echternach via Waldbillig, or the 4.2-kilometre B2 trail near Berdorf.
Route 3: castles, forests and quiet villages
Route 3 combines lovely forest walks with a few cultural highlights. The almost 38-kilometre loop starts in the village of Mullerthal and runs past Beaufort, a small village best known for its two castles. Along the way you follow quiet forest paths, streams and green valleys. The landscape feels a little more open here than on other parts of the trail, and you regularly pass through small villages.
On our first trip to Luxembourg, we also spent a day in Beaufort. While I explored the castles with our daughter, Sebastiaan took our son, still a baby back then, for a walk in the surrounding woods. Afterwards we met up again in Beaufort, which has several terraces and restaurants. We also spent an afternoon cooling off at the outdoor pool, Aqua Park Beaufort.
The two castles of Beaufort are without doubt the biggest draw on this route. You can visit both the impressive medieval ruins and the Renaissance castle. If you have time to spare, it’s well worth combining a castle visit with a walk along Route 3, so you get both the nature of the Müllerthal and a slice of the region’s history.
Extra routes
There’s more to the Mullerthal Trail than its three main loops. Across the region you’ll also find five ExtraTours, labelled A to E. They range from 9 to 31 kilometres. ExtraTour C, at just over 9 kilometres, is the shortest and fits nicely into half a day. Looking for something even shorter? The local hiking routes are a great alternative, such as the 4.2-kilometre B2 near Berdorf.
We didn’t walk the ExtraTours ourselves, as we wanted to spend all our time on the main trail. Still, they make a great addition if you’re staying longer or have already seen the best-known parts of the Mullerthal Trail. You’ll find an overview of all ExtraTours, with distances and starting points, on the official website.
How many days do you need?
How much time you need depends entirely on what you want to see. Keen hikers can walk the full Mullerthal Trail in about five to six days. Less time? No problem at all. Because the trail is made up of three separate loops, it’s easy to plan one or more day hikes.
We spent several days in the region and chose to combine different parts of the trail, which worked really well. Thanks to the free buses you never have to walk back to your starting point, so you can explore a different section every day. Even a long weekend gives you a good feel for the trail.
Our tip: make extra time for Berdorf
If there’s one place we keep coming back to, it’s Berdorf. In fact, after walking part of Route 2 here, we came back for another half day to explore more of the area. We’d already spent plenty of time here on our first visit too, and we didn’t regret it for a second.
Around Berdorf there are far more trails than just the official Mullerthal Trail. You’ll find narrow crevices, dark passages, towering rock walls and wooden staircases disappearing into the forest. Some sections feel almost like a natural maze. On our first visit we simply went exploring on our own, and the second time we walked the well-known and very photogenic 4.2-kilometre B2 trail.
Berdorf is brilliant with kids too. Our toddler happily clambered over rocks and steps, walked through the narrow passages himself and afterwards discovered a huge adventure playground at Camping Martbusch. Got half a day left after the Mullerthal Trail? We’d spend it in Berdorf without a second thought.
The most beautiful sights along the Mullerthal Trail
The Mullerthal Trail leads you through some of Luxembourg’s finest scenery and keeps throwing special spots your way. Sometimes it’s an impressive rock formation, sometimes a historic sight or a viewpoint. These are the places that, for us, make the trail extra special.
Discover the 10 most beautiful places and 10 most impressive rock formations in the Müllerthal →
#1 Schiessentümpel
Chances are you’ve seen this spot before if you’ve ever looked up Luxembourg online. The Schiessentümpel is the best-known sight in the region. The combination of the small waterfall and the distinctive stone bridge makes it one of the most photographed places in the country. It gets pretty busy in summer, so expect to share the bridge with plenty of other visitors.
#2 Rock formations around Berdorf
If we had to name one favourite spot, it would be the rock formations around Berdorf. Everywhere you look there are narrow crevices, dark passages and winding little paths between the rocks. The easiest way to see the best of it is the 4.2-kilometre B2 trail, which is very doable with kids. Our toddler walked large parts of it himself.
#3 Wolfsschlucht
The Wolfsschlucht is one of the most spectacular passages on the Mullerthal Trail. The gorge is narrow and the rock walls tower high above you. In places the gap is so tight that a big backpack barely fits through. Carrying a child in a carrier? Let them walk this bit themselves.
#4 Hohllay
Close to Berdorf lies the Hohllay, also known as Huel Lee. This enormous cave was created centuries ago by people carving out millstones. Its high sandstone walls make it an impressive place to look around. The cave sits right on several hiking routes, which makes it a popular and fairly busy stop.
#5 Beaufort Castle
Walking Route 3? Then a stop in Beaufort is almost a given. The village has two castles: a medieval ruin and a Renaissance castle. The ruin in particular is great fun with kids, with stairs and towers to climb. Combine your visit with a stretch of Route 3 through the surrounding woods and you get culture and nature in one day.
#6 Echternach
For many hikers, Echternach is the start or finish of the Mullerthal Trail, and Sebastiaan stayed here too. But it’s also a lovely little town in its own right. The historic centre is full of terraces and restaurants, and on the edge of town you’ll find a big recreational lake with a playground and Roman remains. We found it a great place to wander around or grab a bite after a hike. Travelling with kids? The big playground by the lake is a nice bonus.
#7 Raiberhiel
Of all the places along the way, Raiberhiel was perhaps the most adventurous. A series of metal ladders, together forming one long staircase, takes you down into a dark rock crevice. On our first visit we’d already climbed down here with our son as a little one in the baby carrier. At the bottom it’s so dark that a torch is pretty much essential. Of course we’d forgotten ours again on the second visit, but luckily a phone torch saved the day. Then comes a narrow passage where you even have to duck and crawl for a bit. Our toddler thought this was probably the best bit of the whole hike.
“Halfway through I had to carry on on my hands and knees, phone torch in one hand. Our son loved it and just crawled on ahead of me.”
Sebastiaan
Where to stay along the Mullerthal Trail
Because the Mullerthal Trail consists of three separate loops, you don’t need to sleep somewhere new every night. We chose one fixed base, and that worked really well. Thanks to the free buses you can easily reach different trailheads without having to walk back to your accommodation.
For us, Echternach was the perfect base. Not only is it a cosy town with lots of restaurants and terraces, Routes 1 and 2 also meet here. That makes it easy to reach a different part of the trail every day. After a day of hiking, we loved strolling through the historic centre and grabbing dinner. Our favourite was Restaurant Aal Eechternoach, with a nice terrace and plenty of vegetarian options. For kids, the big playground by the lake is another plus.
On an earlier holiday we also stayed in Berdorf, with our campervan at Camping Martbusch. It’s much smaller than Echternach, but it sits right in the middle of the hiking area, which makes it a great choice too. Especially if you plan to spend extra time among the spectacular rocks of Route 2 and around Berdorf.
The village of Waldbillig is another popular base. Just like Echternach, two of the three main loops cross here, so you can start several routes straight from your door. It’s quieter than Echternach and you’re right in the middle of nature.
Next time, we’d choose Echternach again. The mix of a lively centre, good restaurants, free buses and its central location makes it the most convenient base for exploring the trail. Just outside town we stayed at the lovely Hôtel Bel-Air, right on the trail and with a wellness area, and in the heart of Echternach at Hotel Le Petit Poète.
One heads-up if you’re travelling with a toddler: when Sebastiaan stayed in the centre, a brass band was playing on the square in the evening, until quite late. Fun to watch, less fun when you’re trying to get a little one to sleep. If a quiet night matters, you’re better off just outside the centre.
Practical information for the Mullerthal Trail
#1 How hard is the Mullerthal Trail?
Don’t let the total distance of 112 kilometres put you off. You don’t have to hike the whole trail, you can simply pick individual stages. On top of that, most paths are easy going and never technically difficult. You will, however, regularly face climbs, steps and narrow rock crevices. Route 2 in particular is tough going because of all the stairs, so a reasonable level of fitness helps. Sebastiaan walked large parts with our toddler in the carrier. It went well, although on that first hot day he learned not to underestimate half a loop with a child on your back:
“With a toddler on your back, you feel every step in your legs. But when he wants to climb out at the top and scramble between the rocks himself, you forget all about it.”
Sebastiaan
#2 How good is the signposting?
The signposting is perhaps the best we’ve ever come across on a hike. Almost every junction clearly shows which way to go, and the whole route is marked with the trail’s distinctive M. Sebastiaan never once had to wonder whether he was still on track. A GPX file or hiking app is really only useful as a back-up or for planning. If you do use an app, mapy.com is our favourite. Besides the trail, it shows every staircase, gorge, cave and viewpoint.
#3 Is public transport free?
One of the biggest perks of hiking in Luxembourg is that public transport is free. Many bus stops are right on or close to the Mullerthal Trail, so you can easily cut a hike short, finish somewhere else or head back to your accommodation. We used the buses several times and found them one of the trail’s biggest bonuses. That said, they don’t run very often, even in high season: every half hour in the morning and evening, and once an hour the rest of the day. So download the free Mobiliteit.lu app before you go. It’s the official journey planner for Luxembourg’s public transport and shows the next departures from the stop you’re standing at.
#4 What is the best time to hike the Mullerthal Trail?
You can hike the Mullerthal Trail all year round, but April to October is the most popular period. We walked it in the middle of summer. The forests were in full leaf, everything was lush and green, and the shade made even the hot days bearable. In the summer holidays, expect more visitors at hotspots like the Schiessentümpel.
#5 Can you get food and drinks along the way?
The trail regularly passes through villages where you can grab something to eat or drink. Echternach, Berdorf and Beaufort in particular have several restaurants, terraces and cafés. Still, it’s wise to always carry enough water and some food, especially on longer stretches where you won’t pass a café every hour. We brought a packed lunch and plenty of water, and enjoyed picnicking along the way.
Our visit to the Mullerthal Trail took place at the invitation of Visit Luxembourg.
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