Ralf Spilles: A hiker conquers the borders of North Rhine-Westphalia!

Ralf Spilles: A hiker conquers the borders of North Rhine-Westphalia!

Ralf Spilles, 66 years old and from Kreuzau, started on foot on February 16, 2025, the 111st stage of his impressive circumnavigation of North Rhine-Westphalia. The starting signal for this ambitious project was found in Aachen in 2017, with the aim of reaching the city of the emperors. Overall, his hike comprises a distance of 1662 kilometers, and Spilles is convinced that he is the only hiker who is devoted to such an undertaking in this form. In his last stage he received support from the Aachen carnival presenter Sabine Heinrich, who accompanied him in a television series.

hiking is more than just a hobby; It is a family tradition. His father, who worked for RWE in the field, gave him the love of nature and hiking. Spilles is currently hiking between 50 and 60 kilometers per week and has already explored numerous hiking trails in the Eifel, including the Eifelsteig, Siegsteig, Ahrsteig and parts of the Jakobsweg. These hikes are supported by the use of Instagram, where he shares his experiences with over 1230 followers.

hiking experience and planning

Spilles has set himself strict guidelines for his project. He plans his stages meticulously and never goes more than two sections in advance. His next stage leads from Effelsberg to Rupperath. In a remarkable step, Spilles first moved to the district of Euskirchen on February 4, 2024, which has a total limit of 309.27 kilometers. The outside border of North Rhine-Westphalia is 160.36 kilometers. This region is particularly known for its carefully checked hiking trails, which are marked throughout and do justice to hikers from different skills. This includes certified premium hiking trails such as the Eifelsteig as well as numerous circular hiking trails that nature lovers and adventurers can inspire equally, so eifel.info . Spilles has already covered two thirds of the entire route. In a conversation about his experiences and the special stories that have the hiking trails ready, he emphasizes the importance of a good hiking trail. He also shares this insight into a podcast that revolves around hiking in the Eifel and NRW, as we eifelpodcast.de

a life for nature

The passion of the hiker was not always his job. Spilles was born in Düren and had a career in the media industry before working as a supervisor in a retirement home. He has been a pensioner since 2023, but remains active and is volunteered. He documents the experiences that he collects during his hikes in planned seven books, of which the first volume has already been published.

His hikes are not only physical challenges, but also a journey through the rich nature and history of the Rhineland. The Eifel National Park and other nature parks not only offer peace, but also breathtaking views of sights such as the Rursee, Maare and the devil gorge. Ralf Spilles is not only a hiker, but also an ambassador for the beauty and variety of hiking trails in the Eifel and beyond.