As well as being a hiking enthusiast, I also enjoy a bit of maths. So, after completing each hike, I give it a “rating” out of 100, based on carefully-chosen criteria such as quality of footpaths, panoramic views, sites of historical interest, excitement, tranquility and many, many more…
But don’t worry: I won’t bore you with the nerdy stuff*. Instead I will simply present – in reverse order – the five hikes in 2025 that I scored the highest. As expected, the Mullerthal and Eislek dominate, but what DID surprise me is that three of the five are simply “local hiking trails” with no heavy marketing campaigns or quality certification.
Honorable mentions to the fabulous Traumschleife Palmberg and Circuit du Lac trails, which didn’t quite make the list this time. Curious to see what DID make it? Read on.
(* but if you’re interested, drop me a message and I’d be happy to share more about the Luxembourg Outdoors “Trail Scale” 🙂 )
#5 Eislek Pad Boulaide – 80/100
12km – Challenging
Our top-ranking “Eislek Pad” of the year, this one surprised us in every aspect! From the multimedia history exhibition at the starting point, across the magnificent Ardennes scenery, up the daunting Houfels rock and stunning views across the Lac de la Haute Sûre, this is a trail with absolutely everything. More info here.
#4 BS4 Bourscheid – 83/100
10km – Challenging
If viewpoints are your thing, then this trail takes you to arguably the granddaddy of them all in Luxembourg – the superb Gringlee, perched 200 metres above a picture-perfect horseshoe bend in the Sauer river. And what’s that looming in the distance? It’s Luxembourg’s biggest and fairy tale-est castle, the Château de Bourscheid. This one is tough, but well worth the effort.
Start at Michelau Gare instead of the official trailhead, for better public transport and parking options. More info here.
#3 Nat’Our Route 5 Vianden – 88/100
13km – Challenging
The Nat’Our trails along the Luxembourg / Germany border are all superb, so it’s no surprise to see one in my top five. This trail scored highly due to its stunning views over TWO castles (Vianden and Falkenstein) and the heart-in-your-mouth descent of the Lätgesbierg ridge. It’s simply superb – just don’t attempt it in icy weather! More info here.
#2 B1 Beaufort – 91/100
11km – Intermediate
So, what do you want from a hike in Luxembourg anyway?
A medieval castle? Check. Serene, pristine woodland? Check. Stunning viewpoints? Check. Gushing mountain streams with waterfalls and wildlife galore? Check. Secret reminders of WWII? Check. A pinch of adventure? Check. Check. Check. Check.
Since I walk the Beaufort B1 regularly, it will probably appear in this list every single year, as – quite simply – there aren’t many better trails in the entire country. More info here.
In fact, I didn’t think there were ANY better trails in the country, until I tried…
#1 E1 Echternach – 94/100
14km – Intermediate
Take the same spectacular Mullerthal scenery as the B1, but throw in even better viewpoints, the incredible “Gorge du Loup“, countless tiny caves ripe for exploration and the 2000-year old culture and history of Echternach. There’s even a stream that flows uphill (no, really, there is…).
The result? Quite possibly the most perfect hike in Luxembourg. More info here.
(Minor quibble: this trail knows that it is beautiful and sections of it will be jam-packed with hikers in the busy seasons. But that’s a small price to pay for the very best scenery in Luxembourg.)
Is there any trail in Luxembourg that can top the E1? Let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to check it out in 2026!
Luxembourg Outdoors 