Even when planning the bike tour, the route promised to be a varied and challenging journey through the Ruhr region. The former railway and industrial paths, which today wind their way through the former coal stronghold like green ribbons, combine history and scenic diversity in a way that is unique in Germany. I am always fascinated by the mixture of technological history, nature-filled sections, and the documented transformation of a region—added to this was the challenge of covering 104 kilometers and around 520 meters of elevation gain in one day, which, for me at least, is still a good challenge. Together with a colleague, I tested how much „systematic self-destruction“ the conurbation allows and was rewarded with industry, natural beauty, and a genuine Ruhr area atmosphere.
The tour began on the morning of August 10, 2025. First, the route led along the Nordbahntrasse, past renaturalized platform areas, over viaducts, and through typical industrial surroundings. Light and the first cyclists characterized the scene, everything bathed in calm morning light—urban, but pleasantly green.
Further along, after the transition to the Glückauf route, the scenery changed to green spaces and wooded areas. The subsequent crossing to the Ruhr Valley route was characterized by open river landscape: cows grazed on the banks, and campsites and pedal boats marked the transition from industrial to recreational location.
From midday onwards, it became warm and summery. The river landscape, weirs, islands, silhouettes of ruins, and ferry landing stages characterized the section through the Ruhr Valley between Witten and Hattingen. In the afternoon, the rising temperature challenged our energy reserves. The final stretch took us back along the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route with a tailwind to the Glückauf Trail and then home via the Nordbahntrasse, an atmospheric end to a long tour.
Current events on the day of the tour
Worldwide, on August 10, 2025 The focus was on a summit meeting between the US and Russia in Alaska, which was intended to produce a new peace plan for Ukraine. The political debate surrounding arms deliveries and a European peace plan was ever-present, compounded by the shock of an earthquake in Turkey. I encountered little of this in the region—but glancing at my cell phone during breaks brought the political controversies right into the countryside.
High-contrast atmosphere
On the way, I was accompanied by the constant hum of everyday life—occasional car noise in the background, birdsong, the clicking of the chain in the tunnel. In the morning, a cool mist hung over the lower sections, and at midday, the air was filled with the smell of barbecue from the campsites. In the longer tunnel sections, the concrete dampened the noise to pure echoes. By the river, the air tasted of dust and summer – energy, history, and deceleration all in one.
History
Development and origin
The Nordbahntrasse was built in 1879 as part of the Rhenish railway line. It connected the expanding industrial cities of the Bergisches Land region, crossed the northern slopes of Wuppertal, and provided the region with an efficient network for transport and growth. The Glückauf railway line was opened in 1884 – it was the gateway to coal mining and industrialization around Sprockhövel and Hattingen.
The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route was created in 2006 as a multifunctional route linking railway lines and riverside paths and combining industrial heritage with local recreation. The conversion to a cycle route was a response to the closure of rail services and the desire to preserve these routes as transport and leisure arteries.
Past, highlights, crises
The Nordbahntrasse underwent extensive renovation starting in 2010. Citizen and association initiatives preserved bridges, tunnels, and the route itself. The transformation from a busy railway line to a quiet, safe transport link has shaped the region. Careful repurposing and numerous monument preservation projects have also ensured the preservation of important structures on the Glückauf-Trasse.
The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route attracted national and international attention thanks to its length and the integration of industrial monuments—it was a prime example of how a river cycle route can create regional identity and recreational value.
Condition of the routes
All sections of the route were extremely well maintained, used by numerous day trippers and cyclists, and characterized by regular upkeep. The paths were marked, bridges and tunnels were in good repair, and even in late summer they were still in lively use.
prospects
The Nordbahntrasse, Glückauf-Trasse, and Ruhr Valley Cycle Route are now symbols of structural change: event venues, tourist attractions, and recreational areas. Information points, art projects, and innovative ideas are constantly being implemented. The Nordbahntrasse network in particular is growing—new connections in the greater Ruhr area are already in the planning stages.
These paths are much more than just bike lanes—they are the timeline of the Ruhr region, lifelines for the city, the surrounding area, and culture. For me, a bike ride is not just an outing, but a little piece of local history and identity in transition.
Informative facts
Overview: Development and opening of the routes
| year | event |
|---|---|
| 1879 | Construction and opening of the Nordbahntrasse |
| 1884 | Opening of the Glückauf Trail |
| 1951 | End of passenger service on the Glückauf line |
| 1989 | End of freight transport on the Glückauf route |
| 1991 | End of passenger transport on the Nordbahntrasse |
| 1999 | Last freight train on the Northern Railway Line |
| 2006 | Opening of the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route |
| 2010 | Start of cycle path conversion of the Nordbahntrasse/Glückauf-Trasse |
| 2014 | Official opening of the Nordbahntrasse as a cycle path (Wuppertal, 14.5 miles) railway line cycling |
| Today's endpoints | Nordbahntrasse: From Wuppertal-Vohwinkel station to Wuppertal-Oberbarmen station, connection to the coal railway at Schee/Silschede railway line cycling |
Architecture & Special Features
- Viaducts made of brick and sandstone, tunnels with some artistic elements
- Numerous information boards and seating areas
- Peaceful river landscapes with islands, ruins, and striking weirs
- Leisure activities: campsites, boat rentals, bike stations
Technical specifications
- Length: Nordbahntrasse (Wuppertal) 23 km, Glückauf-Trasse approx. 10 km, Ruhr Valley Cycle Route approx. 240 km
- Up to 5% gradient, tunnels up to 600 m in length, viaducts up to 30 m in height
- Large-scale asphalting, LED lighting, numerous rest areas and access points
anecdotes
- During World War II, the Schee Tunnel (Nordbahntrasse) served as a secret production facility (U-relocation „Kauz“)
- In the 1970s, rail buses still ran until the shift change.
- The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route has been named „River Cycle Route of the Year“ several times.
For me, these railway cycle paths in the Ruhr region are a real highlight—unpretentious, varied, and steeped in history. The transition from city to nature, coal mine tower to reed bay, and industry to picnic spot tells of the power of a region to constantly reinvent itself. After a tour like this, you're left not only with sweat and souvenir photos, but also with a new sense of home.
I eagerly await upcoming expansions. Which old ways will become modern again, which stories will be brought to light? How do others experience the region—and how does change contribute to quality of life and identity in the Ruhr area?
Click here for the Komoot tour: https://www.komoot.com/de-de/tour/2550578835
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