recommended route
Ruhr Valley Cycle Route
The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route offers 230 kilometres of adventure for every taste. Varied landscape and culture from the Sauerland to the Ruhr region
One of the most varied and versatile rivers in Germany invites you to discover an entire region with its riverside paths. No other river in Germany combines culture and nature in such a small area. Over the 230 kilometres from its source near Winterberg to its mouth on the Rhine near Duisburg, the Ruhr connects the unspoilt landscape of the Sauerland with the exciting and eventful Ruhr metropolis.
Author’s recommendation
The RuhrtalRadweg passport is available at every tourist information office along the route, the addresses can be found in the 2016 tour guide and on the respective stamp field of the town. You also have the option of having the field stamped there.
Track types
Safety information
Here you can find information on current diversions and danger spots:
Accessibility: The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route is barrier-friendly and for the most part also barrier-free. We recommend that inexperienced cyclists start in Olsberg. Please also note our route information
Tips and suggestions
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Signposting: Uniform signposting with place and kilometre information and your own logo accompanies you from the source to the mouth.
The RuhrtalRadweg stage towns from the source to the mouth:
Winterberg - Olsberg - Meschede - Bestwig - Arnsberg - Wickede - Ense - Fröndenberg - Iserlohn - Menden - Schwerte - Holzwickede - Hagen - Dortmund - Herdecke - Wetter - Witten - Bochum - Hattingen - Essen - Mülheim an der Ruhr - Oberhausen - Duisburg
Path characteristics:
approx. 50 % separately guided cycle paths, away from roads
approx. 30 % forest service roads and inner-city side roads
approx. 15 % on main roads with cycling facilities
Path characteristics:
- Predominantly river-accompanying cycle path, largely car-free on separately managed cycle paths and service roads.
- Sections at risk of flooding are signposted with a flood bypass.
- The landscape changes from the densely wooded low mountain range landscape to the riverine cultural landscape in the Sauerland to the industrial cultural landscape of the Ruhr metropolis.
- Town crossings provide attractive sightseeing and supply opportunities.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
You can reach Winterberg(Westf) quickly and comfortably. There is an hourly connection from Hagen and every 2 hours from Kassel. You can travel between Dortmund and Winterberg in 104 minutes. This connection is available six times per working day or twelve times at the weekend.
Directions
Winterberg, Ruhrquelle or railway station:
From the north: A7 Hamburg-Hannover - A2 Bielefeld - A33 Paderborn - exit Wünnenberg, direction Brilon > Olsberg > Winterberg
From the south: A5 Frankfurt-Giessen - exit Marburg, direction Allendorf > Winterberg
From the west: A44 Dortmund-Kassel - exit Kreuz Werl, direction A46 Arnsberg > Meschede > Bestwig > Olsberg > Winterberg
From the east: A44 Kassel-Dortmund - exit Zierenberg, direction B251 Korbach > Medebach > Winterberg
Parking
Free parking is available both at Winterberg station and at the Ruhrquelle.
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Book recommendations for this region:
Recommended maps for this region:
Localization
The most beautiful bike rides in Sauerland
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
- 28 Waypoints
- 28 Waypoints
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Route
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Gradient
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Questions and answers
Ratings and reviews
Photos from others