Solingen: Heath, Hiking and Cycling Trails

Solingen offers three distinct natural landscapes and routes to consider when planning your trip: the protected Ohligser Heide, the 75-kilometre Klingenpfad around the city and the eleven-kilometre Korkenziehertrasse for pedestrians and cyclists. If you are looking for a hotel in Solingen, this distinction can help you decide what you want to focus on during your stay: landscape and nature conservation, a longer hiking route, or a car-free route for cycling and walking? The three options differ not only in length but also in their landscapes and route layouts.

Ohligser Heide: Diverse Habitats

The Ohligser Heide nature reserve is located in Solingen and covers 147.24 hectares. It includes open, species-rich wet and dry heathland, as well as carr and birch bog forests shaped by waterlogging and, in some places, flowing water. The Ohligser Heide is one of the last remaining heath bog areas on the right bank of the Rhine’s heath terrace and is of outstanding importance because of its many plant communities and species of heath bogs, carr forests and nutrient-poor waters that are endangered throughout the state. This means that both the diversity of its habitats and the focus on conservation are central to this natural area.

Klingenpfad: Hiking Route Around Solingen

The Klingenpfad is a 75-kilometre hiking trail around the city of Solingen. It passes through forests and valleys and over hills, as well as by historically significant sites. The combination of landscapes and historic places makes the route more than just a matter of distance: it describes a trail where nature and history meet. The Klingenpfad is divided into nine individual sections, each signposted in both directions. This division gives the long route a clear structure. For you, the distinction between the full trail and its sections is a useful planning consideration.

Korkenziehertrasse: Car-Free and Almost Level

The Korkenziehertrasse is an eleven-kilometre path for pedestrians and cyclists. It runs from the Haan city limits through Gräfrath, Wald and Mitte to Südpark. While the Klingenpfad loops around Solingen, the route runs from a named starting point through several districts to a named destination. It is car-free and almost level. The Korkenziehertrasse and the Bergbahntrasse branch also connect Solingen to the Bergischer Panorama-Radweg. Its regional cycling connection is therefore another factor to consider when assessing this route.

Comparing the Options

To choose, you can compare three profiles: the Ohligser Heide as a protected natural area, the Klingenpfad as a long hiking route with nine sections, and the Korkenziehertrasse as a shorter, car-free route for pedestrians and cyclists. The routes also differ in their layouts: the Klingenpfad loops around Solingen, while the Korkenziehertrasse runs from the Haan city limits to Südpark. This allows you to choose the focus of your trip based on the natural area, route type and course.

Discover more destinations: Oberhausen, Mülheim An Der Ruhr, Dortmund, Bochum, Herne, Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen.

For the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.