- 15:25 h
- 207 m
- 874 m
- 26 m
- 693 m
- 667 m
- 230.24 km
- Start: Winterberg
- Destination: Duisburg-Ruhrort
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.
Good to know
Best to visit
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.
Tour information
Cultural Interesting
Stop at an Inn
Directions & Parking facilities
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
Free parking is available both at Winterberg station and at the Ruhrquelle.
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.
Additional information
Author
Sauerland-Radwelt e. V.
Organization
Sauerland-Tourismus e.V.
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
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.
Safety guidelines
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
Map
... Bruckmann's cycle guide by Mathias Eickhoff. It describes the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route divided into 16 daily stages on 192 pages with lots of helpful information and insider tips. Including a map part on a scale of 1:75,000, the cycling guide is available for only 14.95 euros.
... the cycle travel guide "RuhrtalRadweg" by Mathias Eickhoff, because it combines the advantages of a richly illustrated book with the practical tips of a tour and travel guide. The book is the "all-round carefree package" for every cycling holiday on the Ruhr. Coupled with many atmospheric pictures of the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route, the cycle guide is available for 19.95 euros.
