Nature Reserve Guide
Berkelaue, a nature reserve in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, encompasses sections along the Berkel river, characterized by its largely natural riverbed and extensive floodplain areas. This landscape features wet meadows, remnants of floodplain forests, and species-rich riverbanks, with the river often meandering naturally. The diverse terrain and well-developed pathways provide a suitable environment for several sports like touring cycling, hiking, jogging, road cycling, and more. Its ecological significance and varied natural features make Berkelaue a notable area for outdoor pursuits.
143
Routes
4.5
(818)
Average rating
3677
People visited

4.6
(30)
132
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(48)
184
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(32)
117
riders
58.8km
03:31
100m
100m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(43)
151
riders
32.9km
02:05
60m
60m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(8)
36
hikers
6.52km
01:40
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(7)
30
hikers
5.84km
01:29
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(59)
80
hikers
3.96km
01:00
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(5)
21
hikers
6.76km
01:42
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.4
(5)
46
runners
5.35km
00:33
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
47
runners
9.04km
00:56
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

21
runners
4.99km
00:31
10m
10m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
14
runners
7.66km
00:48
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(7)
26
riders
47.8km
02:03
110m
110m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(2)
26
riders
41.4km
01:51
80m
80m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

27
riders
90.1km
03:44
360m
360m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

3.8
(6)
25
riders
26.8km
01:04
60m
50m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.7
(70)
41
riders
43.8km
02:49
110m
110m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.6
(10)
16
riders
47.0km
03:03
140m
140m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
11
riders
47.8km
02:58
130m
130m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.0
(2)
4
riders
35.9km
02:07
100m
100m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.3
(4)
26
riders
38.3km
02:09
100m
100m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
46.8km
02:50
130m
130m
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.2
(5)
14
riders
33.5km
01:59
100m
100m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(2)
12
riders
26.8km
01:28
80m
80m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Berkelaue is a nature reserve in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, characterized by the largely natural riverbed of the Berkel and extensive floodplain areas. It features wet meadows, remnants of floodplain forests, and oxbow lakes, providing a habitat for various endangered species. The reserve focuses on preserving and restoring the ecological functionality of the Berkel and its floodplains.
Berkelaue offers a variety of outdoor activities including Touring cycling, Hiking, Jogging, Road cycling, Mountain biking, and Gravel biking. There are more than 100 routes available, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from over 3,000 visitors.
Popular touring cycling routes include the 'History, architecture and animals loop from Gescher via Reken' covering approximately 32 miles (52 km), and the 'Sausage Collectors Statue, Gescher – Almsick Shelter loop from Gescher' at about 23 miles (36 km). Both are rated as moderate difficulty. More options are available in the Cycling in Berkelaue guide.
Yes, Berkelaue features several easy hiking trails. Examples include the 'Berkelauen – Ponds in the Berkel Valley loop from Gescher,' which is about 4 miles (6.5 km) long, and the 'Ponds in the Berkel Valley – Berkelauen loop from Gescher,' approximately 3.6 miles (5.8 km). These routes are well-rated by visitors. Further easy options can be found in the Easy hikes in Berkelaue guide.
Berkelaue offers several jogging routes, such as the 'Beeke's Milk Hut loop from Gescher,' which is about 3.3 miles (5.4 km) and moderate difficulty. Another option is the 'Old Oak Tree loop from Gescher,' approximately 5.6 miles (9 km) long. For more choices, consult the Running Trails in Berkelaue guide.
Road cyclists can explore routes like the 'Velen Castle – Velen Castle loop from Gescher,' a moderate route of about 26 miles (42 km). Another option is the 'Bittners Hüüsken Shelter – Alfers Mill loop from Gescher,' an easy route around 17 miles (27 km). More routes are detailed in the Road Cycling Routes in Berkelaue guide.
Yes, Berkelaue has mountain biking trails, including moderate routes like the 'Forest Singletrack Trail – Singletrack Connector loop from Gescher,' which is about 27 miles (44 km). A more difficult option is the 'Altena’s Rest Hut – Trail to Lünsberg loop from Gescher,' approximately 30 miles (48 km). The MTB Trails in Berkelaue guide provides additional information.
Gravel biking routes in Berkelaue include the 'Varlar Castle – Three Lindens on Coesfelder Berg loop from Gescher,' a moderate route of about 31 miles (50 km). An easier option is the 'Berkel Riverside Trail – Berkel Lake, Vreden loop from Stadtlohn,' approximately 14 miles (23 km). More routes are available in the Gravel biking in Berkelaue guide.
The Berkelaue region features various points of interest, including natural landscapes like the Berkel river's meandering sections and floodplain areas. Routes often pass by historical sites such as Velen Castle, various mills, and shelters. Specific attractions are highlighted in the Attractions in Berkelaue guide.
Komoot offers several guides for Berkelaue, covering various activities. These include Cycling in Berkelaue, Hiking in Berkelaue, Running Trails in Berkelaue, and Gravel biking in Berkelaue. There is also a guide for Attractions in Berkelaue.
Berkelaue is a popular destination on komoot, with over 3,000 visitors having explored its routes. The routes have an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, based on nearly 700 ratings. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users.
While there isn't a single official website for the entire nature reserve, information for specific sections can be found through local municipalities. For the Berkelaue in Gescher, contact Stadtmarketing Gescher at +49 (0) 2542 60500 or visit www.gescher.de. The Seniorenstift Berkelaue also has a website at seniorenstift-berkelaue.de.

