If you are looking for a location for a fun micro-adventure or a great weekend getaway, you immediately think of Germany. Close by, reliable, good infrastructure. When I first started cycling, I always heard only about the Ardennes and Limburg. Never even mentioned Germany. Strange, actually, because just across the border in the Eifel or in the Teutoburg Forest You have a lot of great climbs and routes. But even further out, it’s still a treat. Cycling in the Sauerland is a great option in that respect. There’s a ski area, so just like in ‘real’ mountains, it can be quite cold there in the winter. In spring, summer, and autumn, there are plenty of opportunities for a fun trip. I did some research and found many challenging routes.
Text: Sander Kolsloot
Locks everywhere
If you are going to cycle in Sauerland Then you will notice a few things. The area is hilly, which makes it a great place to go hiking. Due to these hills, there are also several valleys and in those valleys you will find several dams. At those dams, you wouldn’t expect it, you will also find a dam, a barrier. Often you can ride over these dams by bike and that’s nice for Instagram, but it’s also just great to see and do. Among other things at the Hennesee, the Sorpesee and a little south of it the beautiful Biggesee with the Biggetalsdam. The region has a lot of natural beauty anyway. In that respect, a must-see!
Basecamp
There are several places in the region suitable as a base camp. Eslohe is a nice village with plenty of opportunities to explore the region. Winterberg is also popular, but that’s a bit further east. There you have more options for driving a more relaxed route. A spot on the Hennesee, near Meschede might be ideal. In the morning you can head into the mountains and in the summer after a refreshing swim in this reservoir! Take that into account.
Route through the entire region
To explore the region at once, the route over the Rhein-Weser-Turm is the best way to see beautiful places. You drive from a starting point outside Olpe, a medium-sized town, in a beautiful curve to Eslohe on the north side, then end with a steep climb. A few things that make this route special:
- The climb of the Rhein-Weser-Turm is really recommended. With really nice turns, a climb of about 6 kilometers with a gentle gradient, this makes it an ideal climb for practically everyone. On top of that, you can enjoy a beautiful view and a nice snack and drink at the restaurant. That is a must-try!
- In the 1990s I was on holiday in this region. The town of Eslohe remained with me because of one thing: the ice cream parlor Dolomiti. Back then they already had spaghetti ice cream and still do today! That alone is worth a slight detour from the route.
- After Eslohe you will encounter several separate train vehicles along the path. The exact background is still unknown to me, but it gives a nice picture of the atmosphere! You will come across, among other things, a locomotive and a loose wagon.
At the end of the ride, you'll have made a beautiful round around the national park, right through the Hochsauerlandkreis!
Gravel paradise
That you can race on beautiful bikes in this region becomes quite clear quite quickly. You can make a beautiful route through the forests and over the hills, covering all the elevation (and depth) points of the Sauerland in 50 kilometers. This seven-valley tour is highly recommended. You start from Winterberg and head straight through the forests towards the Orketal. There are some very beautiful geological excavations there. Furthermore, you have the beautiful church in Medelon where you have to stop for a moment. Then you reach the peak halfway through. The view from Opolt is simply breathtaking. In the end, you end this ride with a long ascending route towards Winterberg. To be honest, I counted six valleys. The German count is probably different.
Good info
Of website for bicycles in the Sauerland (Bike-Arena) offers a lot of good information about the region. The emphasis is on ‘Genussradfahrer’, but there is also plenty of clear information for the ‘race cyclist’, gravel biker and other cycling enthusiasts. From routes to weather reports and even when you can best cycle this route. That’s really great!
Would you like to go on a cycling holiday to the Sauerland sometime? Then take a look at the offer from Amateur cyclist. With Dutch guidance, a good hotel and beautiful routes. A good tip in our opinion. Do you have any tips of your own? Let us know in the comments.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.