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Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Regierungsbezirk Düsseldorf

Viersen

Niederkrüchten

Lake Venekotensee – Venekotenbach loop from Naturpark Schwalm-Nette

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Regierungsbezirk Düsseldorf

Viersen

Niederkrüchten

Lake Venekotensee – Venekotenbach loop from Naturpark Schwalm-Nette

Easy

4.7

(137)

481

hikers

Lake Venekotensee – Venekotenbach loop from Naturpark Schwalm-Nette

01:56

7.56km

30m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Schwalm-Nette

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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886 m

Bridge Over the Schwalm

Highlight • Bridge

The path leads directly past the Schwalm and various lakes, all of this away from traffic. A varied landscape (lakes, rivers, moors, forests, wetlands) ensures entertainment.

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1.39 km

Lake Venekotensee

Highlight • Lake

Nice calm lake.

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3.23 km

Venekotenbach

Highlight • River

The Elmpter Schwalmbruch nature reserve is cut through with streams and ditches in order to drain excess water from the area.

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3.52 km

Juniper Heath and Information Boards in Naturpark Schwalm-Nette

Highlight (Segment) • Natural

On the opposite side of the path from the observation tower, you'll find (at the time of writing) two information boards. They, like part of the path that leads you there and the surrounding nature, are surrounded by juniper bushes.

One of the boards (with a brown background, see photos) shows a schematic profile of the Elmpter Schwalmbruch, which is part of the Maas-Schwalm-Nette nature reserve. This diagram shows the different layers, including peat, juniper heaths, bog myrtle, birch swamp forest, alder swamp forest, and the animals and plants on the slopes, valleys, and even on and under the ground (peat, sand, the Swalm river, etc.). Very informative.

The second board provides a colorful overview of the area's fauna and flora: from the sheep that graze there to the sundew, a common species in heathland and fenland, and the completely harmless grass snake.

If you turn around, you'll also see an information board on the renovated lookout tower. It tells you more about the water management in the area (including groundwater) and about lignite mining.

In short: something for everyone to learn more about this region and what you see. Both juniper berries and bog myrtle were used, especially in the past, in many alcoholic beverages. With juniper berries, that's primarily jenever, of course, but also gin and aquavit, for example (for aroma). And with bog myrtle, it's beer, especially in the Middle Ages when bog myrtle was an important component of gruit, a mixture of herbs that gave beer its aroma. There's also bog myrtle jenever in Denmark. Juniper berries are, of course, also found in sauerkraut.

All those plants on those signs are, and were, more than simply beautiful and useful for nature conservation and various animals, such as the bird species that love juniper berries.

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