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Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Bergisches Land

Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis

Bergisch Gladbach

Bensberg Lake – Grube Cox Lakes loop from Gierather Wald

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Bergisches Land

Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis

Bergisch Gladbach

Bensberg Lake – Grube Cox Lakes loop from Gierather Wald

Hard

4.7

(242)

829

hikers

Bensberg Lake – Grube Cox Lakes loop from Gierather Wald

05:00

18.6km

240m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Bergisches Land

Gierather Wald

Grube Cox

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

2.42 km

Bensberg Lake

Highlight • Lake

The Bensberger See is popularly known as the Saaler Mühlenteich. The lake is a former lignite opencast mine. A dam was built at the outflow and the lake was dammed up as a rainwater retention basin.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4.66 km

The former "Cox" dolomite mine is located in Bergisch Gladbach. In 1969 a dolomite deposit was discovered here in the Lerbach Forest. Mining continued here until 1985. In 1996 the Cox pit was declared a nature reserve.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6.60 km

Gut Lerbach Milk Station

Highlight • Rest Area

There are also fresh eggs, cheese, sausage and jam. You can pull everything yourself from the machine! With cash or even with a credit card.

Translated by Google •

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9.46 km

Nature Friends House Hardt

Highlight • Mountain Hut

A very nice place in the forest. Great with children: There is play equipment, a large meadow, a soccer field, a sparse forest, a stream and through the pit an interesting environment with a small cave and more...

Translated by Google •

Tip by

10.4 km

Bergisches Land Nature Park

Highlight • Forest

12.2 km

Milchbornbach Stream

Highlight • River

A very nice spot, unfortunately there is no bank here to linger.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

16.0 km

Saaler Mühle Recreation Park

Highlight • Lake

Lake view

Translated by Google •

Tip by

16.4 km

Lake Bensberg (west bank)

Highlight • Lake

The area around the Saaler Mühle lake literally goes back to a medieval grain mill. Since the mill was no longer in operation at the beginning of the 20th century, the place has increasingly become a recreational area. Even today you can ideally combine a walk around the lake with a visit to the adjacent swimming pool and relax extensively.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

18.6 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.86 km

4.38 km

1.94 km

1.77 km

638 m

Surfaces

5.50 km

4.33 km

3.61 km

2.41 km

2.06 km

692 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Wednesday 15 July

31°C

16°C

11 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

October 1, 2023,8. Etappe vom Kölnpfad von Thielenbruch nach Bensberg 🥾🎒🌻☀️☀️😎🍁🍂🌳

That was the most beautiful stage of the Cologne Trail so far. Lots of forest 🌳 and there are also a few small climbs 😉

Showing Translation

July 30, 2022,Kölnpfad - Etappe 08: Von Thielenbruch nach Bensberg

Stage overview:
koelner-eifelverein.de/koelnpfad/etappen
and
de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6lnpfad

*Note*: Do *not* strictly follow the official Cologne Trail GPX track

Refreshments:
(1) Beautifully located:
Café & Restaurant Naturfreundehaus Hardt
haushardt.de/essen-trinken

(2) Historical inn Wermelskirchen in Bensberg:
gasthaus-wermelskirchen.de

(3) If you like it exclusive (star cuisine €€€€):
Restaurant Vendome
althoffcollection.com/de/althoff-grandhotel-schloss-bensberg/restaurant-vendome

Showing Translation

October 8, 2022,🏠 Kölnpfad (8): Thielenbruch - Bensberg

The Kölnpfad (circular trail) has 11 stages between 9 and 22 km and a total length of 171 km (including access routes).
Stage 8 leaves the Cologne city area and leads over long distances through the Bergisch Gladbach area. There we went new ways - this time under the motto "Cologne Path". Stage 8 may be considered the royal stage …

Showing Translation

January 18, 2026,Saaler Mühle🍀 - Grube Cox⛏️ ab Bensberg🏰🥾🥾

Meine zweite Wanderung🥾🥾 dieses Wochenendes führte mich vor die Tore der Domstadt Köln, wo ich von der „Schlossstadt“ Bensberg aus eine vielseitige Runde unter die Füße nahm⭕️. Nachdem ich zu Hause von Temperaturen um den Gefrierpunkt überrascht worden war, sanken diese bis ins 300 Meter tiefer gelegene Aggertal auf -2,5°C ab🥶. So war ich froh, dass sie sich beim Startpunkt …

September 10, 2023,Kölnpfad Etappe 8: Von Thielenbruch nach Bensberg

At an early hour today we started what is probably the most beautiful stage of the Cologne Path with @Christitan and @JuLe, which interestingly took us out of Cologne for the first time. 😉 From Thielenbruch we went into the beautiful Bergisches Land, mostly through shady forests.

Showing Translation

August 3, 2024,2. Teil 8 Kölnpfad Thielenbruch-Bensberg

Today I walked part 8 of the Cologne Trail. I liked the Cox Pit the most. Walking in the forest in the rain is fun when I'm already wet

Showing Translation

September 10, 2023,Kölnpfad Etappe 08: Von Thielenbruch nach Bensberg

Today we went with @Kathleensche 🚶‍♀️ and @JuLe on what is probably the most beautiful stage of the Kölnpfad, from Thielenbruch to Bensberg. Through the Gierather Forest, past the Saaler Mühle and Grube Cox to the soft ice cream at the milk filling station and on to Haus Hardt and the water ice cream 😅

Showing Translation

January 30, 2022,Kölnpfad - Etappe 08: Durch Wälder und über Höhen von Thielenbruch nach Bensberg

Perfect conclusion at Bensberg Castle for the 168.4 km loop around Cologne, which gave even a native of Cologne many new insights and a slightly different view of home.
Surprisingly, the stages away from the Rhine were the more beautiful, so that it makes sense in terms of motivation to complete these at the beginning or end of the long-distance …

Showing Translation

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Bensberg Lake – Grube Cox Lakes loop from Gierather Wald

Bensberg Lake

Grube Cox Lakes

Gut Lerbach Milk Station

Nature Friends House Hardt

Bergisches Land Nature Park

Milchbornbach Stream

Saaler Mühle Recreation Park

Lake Bensberg (west bank)

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