Ruhrpott Cross 2.0 — Trail fun from Duisburg to Dortmund

This tour is the perfect proof that the times of heavy industry and coal dust in the pot are long gone. What has remained are interesting buildings as witnesses of industrial culture and beautiful cities (and small towns), which today are more than ever worth a visit.With the mountain bike you can enjoy all this away from the main traffic routes. This tour takes you from Duisburg past cool mountain bike spots, through remote moorland, in the idyllic old town of Kettwig and back through the Duisburg Six-Lakes plate directly to the Rhine, its shores (including local restaurants) you finally chill out invites.46 kilometers with crisp climbs, beautiful views, fast descents and many small highlights. A very challenging but very varied and entertaining fun right through the pot.

This tour starts in one of the most beautiful cities the Ruhrgebiet has to offer: in Essen Kettwig. And there it goes directly with one of the most beautiful trails that the Ruhrgebiet has to offer. After a crisp climb, you'll be instantly spiced up with a splash of adrenaline when you take the fast-paced downhill ride to the Ruhr.Next, you take course on the Baldeneysee, or on its northern shore, which once was not only good for the Krupps (here is the well-known Villa Hill), but will also put a smile on your face. However, not because of a pompous property, but because of the numerous trails that meander across the Krupp forest.After so much action, you have earned a little breather along the lake. In Heisingen you can treat yourself to a little refreshment, so that you have enough power for the last part of the round, which has some tasty climbs for you, before the final descent spits you out onto the "Panorama Radweg", which takes you right back leads to Kettwig.

Today, the Ruhr area shows its hilly side. This short tour is an ups and downs - that makes them very varied and collects despite manageable distance neat altitude. It starts on a small parking lot on the edge of the Baldeneysee. Between Velbert and Nierenhof follow the original route of the Ruhrpottcross and take some cool descents.In Nierenhof is halftime. How about a break and a snack? Because the same goes on - the next departure wants to be earned with a nice increase. Back through Niederbonsfeld and past Kupferdreh you can look forward to some flowy trails before you land again at Baldeneysee.

The tour, which connects Velbert-Nierenhof with Hattingen, measures just under 15 kilometers. Despite a short distance you will get your money's worth, because we lead you to the edge of the Elfringhauser Switzerland down to the Wodantal - known for its beautiful mountain bike trails.Let's start with a moderate ascent to Schulenberg to Hattingen, where you drive briefly through the Schulenberg tunnel over the old coal railway. This is a former mining railway line, which today is a beautifully situated bike path. After the tunnel it goes immediately into the area. Still a bit up on the Schulenberg and the trail fun can begin.As I said: Elfringhauser Switzerland is a small paradise for bikers. Here you can let off steam, there are enough trails. But we want to keep it short and sweet. That's why we limit ourselves to two beautiful descents, before you roll for a while through the valley of the Deilbach, which accompanies you to the starting point of the tour.

In Hattingen this tour starts first on the "Glückauftrasse", an old railway line, which has found a great, new use today as an idyllic bike path and on the way there is always something to learn about the mining of days gone by.In Sprockhövel you can strengthen yourself again in the old train station, before you continue in the direction of Bochum, where you brush the Kemnader lake, to follow in the course of the Ruhr and their old towpath, whose original course can still be seen in some places. On this towpath formerly ran the draft animals, the small cargo ships had to pull upstream. You have it much easier today with the bike.Passing the Hattinger Ruhrschleuse and the hydroelectric power plant belonging to the Birschel grain mill (which, incidentally, was renewed and today again supplies power to the grid), you come back to Hattingen and have the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful old towns in the Ruhr area before the end of the tour visit. Let them work on you, treat yourself to a delicious refreshment and be happy that you are back in less than a kilometer at the starting point of the tour.

Today you go on a discovery tour in mining. That probably belongs to a Ruhrpott Cross. And the Muttental is made for it, because here probably the first coal of the potts was mined. Numerous relics from this time you will happen today. If you are more interested, stop here and there quietly - various information boards quench your thirst for knowledge. The Nachtigall colliery offers a really deep insight into the exciting history of the Ruhr area. Here you can even play a hand in an adventure tour and get a feel for what it meant then to bring the coveted coal to light.Not to mention the coal - this tour has a lot to offer. Because of course, the beautiful Muttental, the main venue of today's tour, has nothing to do with industrial noise and coal dust. But on the contrary. Here you can also experience what the Ruhrgebiet has to offer today. And these are beautiful trails, green forests, beautiful tranquility and these rolling hills with their varied up and down, making the pot such a great area for mountain bikers. Our culinary tips: The old train station at the starting point of the tour offers itself for a delicious organic retreat. Alternatively, you can visit one of the restaurants or snack bars in Wetter / Wengern half way.

Trails, Trails, Trails! On this tour you are guaranteed not bored. Hohenstein, Kohlensiepen, Hartenberg - all names that are a local name for really nice Enduro tours. The highlight of the route is the section from the Harkortberg in Wetter to the Hohensyburg near Dortmund, which you drive along a ridge, which always offers you a great view of the Ruhr, the Harkort and the Hengsteysee. Green Ruhr area of ​​the very finest.So many trails will challenge you a bit. Typical Ruhrgebiet it is always crisp uphill followed by a nice descent. Simply flat straight ahead - no indication. So much variety but just fun, which is all the better, since you've earned it yourself. The reward comes at the end: A beautiful, long-drawn descent brings you back to Witten. And there are plenty of opportunities for you to refresh or refresh yourself.

The Ruhrpott Cross ends at the Dortmund main station and this is exactly where the last stage of our version takes you. So if you want to complete the Ruhrpott Cross completely and discover the quite interesting route through the city, just follow our route.But we also thought of all those who may not feel like driving through the city. The end of the tour is actually quite urban, even if with the signal Iduna Park, the venue of BVB, and the main train station some highlights waiting for you. If you want to save yourself and spend more time in the countryside, the km 7.67 (just before crossing the Kirchhörder road) is the signal for you to turn right. Here round trip back and forth of the tour, so you can easily delete the Dortmund City part and follow the narrow trails back to Syburg.

The Ruhrpott Cross is intended as a two-day tour and takes you from Duisburg to Dortmund. And that about as many trails as possible. Get to know the pot from its most beautiful side and let yourself be surprised how beautiful green it is here.This is the overall history of the Ruhrpott Cross - if you want to drive the tour as in the original. Alternatively, we have created eight individual tours that you can put together as you like to "build" a personal Ruhrpott Cross. Then this route can at least serve as a guide.