Rhein-Herne Canal Cycle Path

The cycle path on the Rhine-Herne Canal is part of the "Route of Industrial Culture". This section is the “Emscher Park Cycle Path”, which is part of a 230-kilometer circular route, the “Main Culture Canal”. You can linger on these paths for a while and there is a lot to see around the canal. The ships, of course. But also the industry around it or the interesting lock systems that you cross over and over again by bike.

The paths here are easy to drive on, but for the most part not asphalted. Still feasible with a racing bike (although the seven kilogram racing file with 23 tires is probably not the ideal vehicle). Of course, this route is quite popular. If you like to have free travel, it is advisable to start early.

The canal cycle path, the Emscherpark cycle path and the "shortcut" in between (not recommended anyway, as it would lead to a staircase) are not passable around the A43 due to long-term construction sites. The official recommendation via Forellenstrasse/Rottstrasse (autobahn.de/die-autobahn/verkehrsmeldungen/detail/a43-radweg-unter-der-bruecke-ueber-den-rhein-herne-kanal-in-herne-sperrt ) and the obvious alternative route via Hochlarmarkstrasse are definitely unsuitable for tours with children and are no fun even for old hands. At the moment (March 2024) I would completely advise against a tour along the Rhine-Herne Canal on the section that crosses the A43.

Very nice to drive, even in summer because trees provide a lot of shade.
Sometimes you have to leave the path to change the canal side, but these are mostly only short distances over the bridges. Most of the time, obstacles such as port areas or power plant areas have to be avoided.