From the starting point at the Mendig Lava Dome, the Basalt Volcanic Loop first leads uphill towards Obermendig, past the Catholic parish church of St. Genovefa, and then downhill past the Obermendig Schützenhalle.

From there, the route continues along farm tracks, first uphill again and then downhill again through part of the Kottenheim orchards. You pass the Kottenheim XXL bench, with a fantastic view over meadows and fields, all the way to the municipality of Kottenheim. The route leads past the Catholic parish church of St. Nicholas, a small supermarket with a bakery and the cemetery back out of the village.

The route now continues along farm tracks through the idyllic Thürer Wiesen, a unique natural area where a herd of Carpathian water buffalo lives and makes an important contribution to nature and landscape conservation.

At Fraukirch, a small pilgrimage site that is well worth a visit, the route takes a sharp left turn and follows the local farm tracks towards the village of Kruft, the lowest point of the route.

The "Ludwig Caratiola" toy museum and the artist's studio are located in the former Catholic kindergarten right next to the parish office in Kruft and are only accessible by appointment.

After passing through Kruft, the route continues - now ascending again - parallel to the A 61 and the K 53. Passing the impressive Museumslay and the entrance to the Mendig lava cellars as well as the sports field and a caravan site, the route returns to the starting point at the Mendig Lava Dome.