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North Rhine-Westphalia

Pioneer Basin 3 (Former Gravel Pit)

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Places to see

Lakes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Pioneer Basin 3 (Former Gravel Pit)

Highlight • Lake

Pioneer Basin 3 (Former Gravel Pit)

Recommended by 262 hikers out of 275

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Wahner Heide

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Location: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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Best Hikes to Pioneer Basin 3 (Former Gravel Pit)

4.7

(29)

103

hikers

1. Pioneer Basin 3 (Former Gravel Pit) – Wahner Heide Nature Reserve loop from Grengel

13.8km

03:31

50m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.5

(32)

156

hikers

2. Giesbach Stream – Pioneer Basin 3 (Former Gravel Pit) loop from Eil

5.39km

01:24

30m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

3.8

(8)

hikers

3. Wahner Heide Nature Reserve – Königsforst Forest Trails loop from Rath

9.48km

02:27

60m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Sabine 🦁

March 27, 2021

Pool 3 is a former gravel pit that has been filled with water and is now part of a nature conservation project. Sea cans grow here and rare dragonfly species find a favorable habitat there.

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Mica the white Puschel

June 3, 2018

In Basin III, the gravel pit operator encountered solid Devonian rock after just a few meters, and groundwater quickly filled the basin on the edge of the motorway. It was exploited until 1986 and then the area was left to its own devices.

Flora Fauna:
In Pioneer Basin 3, the Seekanne community, which naturally inhabits nutrient-rich backwaters and colors most of the lake with its rich yellow flowers in July, is at least fragmentarily developed.
It provides a habitat for the small garnet eye, a species of dragonfly that specializes in floating leaf vegetation.

Species of bugs living underwater in small bodies of water with distinctive vegetation include the water scorpion, various backswimmer species and the stick bug.
Water striders are bugs that look for lost prey on the surface of the water.
The little grebe (Tachybates ruficollis) and the water rail (Rallus aquaticus), two endangered water bird species in this country, breed in the reed beds in several ponds. The reed warbler only appears sporadically and not every year. The gray heron (Ardea cinerea) is a frequent feeding guest at all ponds on the Wahner Heide, and bred for the first time in a pond in 2003 (source: wahnerheide.net)

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Birgit Bossbach

April 25, 2021

Pioneer Basin 3 was created artificially, but now offers a resting place for migratory birds. Entering the banks is prohibited.

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Franz

January 30, 2019

On the north side, on the side of the disused tracks, you have a nice view. If you are lucky, you can watch the gray heron fishing.

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Stefan Michaelis

May 25, 2023

Here is a viewpoint of the artificial pool. A bench was built on sleepers on the old railway line. A nice place to stay.

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HeideLuchs

July 2, 2023

Like water lilies, the sea jug (Nymphoides) can cover large areas of water. In June and July it forms a carpet of yellow flowers. It was the same here in 2008 t1p.de/30djv. But in 2023 there will be no sign of that.

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Gerhard H.

June 17, 2023

This small loop around the lake is ideal for briefly leaving the A3 motorway to stretch your feet. This small lake is right next to the Königsforst exit.

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Patricia W.

August 27, 2023

Nice view of the lake with a bench

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PeterH65 (a.k.a. "Waldorf")

May 13, 2025

On the "Eilerberg Tour," you'll come across the gravel pit known as "Pioneer Training Pool 3," which was closed in 1986. Here floats the solution to the mystery of what is known as the sea canary: a gentian relative that blooms bright yellow in July and forms a dense carpet of floating leaves on the pit's pond, reminiscent at first glance of water lilies.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 100 m

Weather

Today

Friday 14 November

17°C

13°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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Location: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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Pioneer Basin 3 (Former Gravel Pit)

1. Pioneer Basin 3 (Former Gravel Pit) – Wahner Heide Nature Reserve loop from Grengel

2. Giesbach Stream – Pioneer Basin 3 (Former Gravel Pit) loop from Eil

3. Wahner Heide Nature Reserve – Königsforst Forest Trails loop from Rath

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