Nature Reserve Guide
Nsg Koellnischer Wald is a nature reserve located between Alt-Bottrop and Kirchhellen in Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. This area is characterized by extensive, interconnected deciduous forest areas with minimal undergrowth, providing a suitable environment for various outdoor pursuits. The landscape features numerous small paths and streams, making it a notable natural space in the western German lowlands. The Nsg Koellnischer Wald offers opportunities for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, touring cycling, jogging, road cycling, gravel biking, and more.
141
Routes
4.4
(1120)
Average rating
6044
People visited

4.5
(102)
408
hikers
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.6
(42)
195
hikers
8.15km
02:29
160m
160m
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.9
(43)
284
hikers
3.25km
01:03
110m
110m
Hard hike. Great for any fitness level. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.6
(329)
1,524
hikers
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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4.4
(34)
204
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

2.0
(2)
22
riders
30.6km
02:01
180m
180m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.7
(3)
11
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

9
riders
8.55km
00:44
160m
160m
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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4.0
(32)
128
riders
29.0km
01:45
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(10)
82
riders
17.5km
01:08
100m
100m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(18)
67
riders
33.6km
02:04
140m
140m
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.2
(5)
51
riders
18.0km
01:03
80m
80m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3.7
(6)
140
runners
6.75km
00:42
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(8)
131
runners
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.0
(2)
44
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
29
runners
17.7km
01:51
80m
80m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.4
(7)
122
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.7
(3)
62
riders
47.5km
02:28
180m
180m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.6
(5)
37
riders
39.6km
01:42
190m
190m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

2.0
(1)
59
riders
30.6km
01:13
110m
110m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.0
(4)
47
riders
49.2km
02:52
190m
190m
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.4
(18)
122
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.8
(6)
35
riders
32.0km
01:40
90m
90m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
20
riders
47.0km
02:31
170m
170m
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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Nsg Koellnischer Wald is a nature reserve situated between Alt-Bottrop and Kirchhellen in Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It features extensive, interconnected deciduous forest areas with minimal undergrowth. The reserve is known for its numerous small paths and streams, providing a natural setting in the western German lowlands.
Nsg Koellnischer Wald offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Jogging, Road cycling, and Gravel biking. The reserve provides more than 90 routes for exploration. Visitors have rated routes in the area with an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Popular hiking routes include the Start of Kreuzweg – Prosper-Haniel winding tower loop from Grafenwald, a difficult route spanning 9.2 miles (14.8 km). Another option is the Schöttelheide Spoil Heap – Schöttelhalde loop from Köllnischer Wald - FFH, an easy 3.9-mile (6.3 km) trail. For more options, consult the Hiking in Nsg Koellnischer Wald guide.
Yes, Nsg Koellnischer Wald features several easy hiking routes suitable for beginners. Examples include the Schöttelheide Spoil Heap – Schöttelhalde loop from Köllnischer Wald - FFH, which is 3.9 miles (6.3 km) long. The Fr. Hanul-Tiedlung Mining Cart Path loop from Grafenwald is another easy option at 2.4 miles (3.8 km). Additional easy routes are detailed in the Easy hikes in Nsg Koellnischer Wald guide.
Touring cyclists can explore routes such as the Rotbach Trail – Rotbach Pathway loop from Schlehdorn / Kirchhorst, an easy 18.0-mile (29.0 km) ride. The Bernhard-Jäger-Weg – Köllnischer Wald loop from Grafenwald is another easy option at 10.9 miles (17.5 km). More routes are available in the Cycling in Nsg Koellnischer Wald guide.
Yes, Nsg Koellnischer Wald offers mountain biking trails, including difficult routes like the Totem Poles on Halde Haniel – Halde Haniel Mountain Arena loop from Grafenwald, which covers 10.4 miles (16.7 km). The Vonderort Wooden Pyramid – City Ponds loop from Grafenwald is a moderate 18.9-mile (30.4 km) trail. Further options can be found in the MTB Trails in Nsg Koellnischer Wald guide.
The reserve is characterized by extensive deciduous forests and numerous small streams. A notable feature is the artificial drainage system, which maintains the forest's water balance due to historical mining subsidence. The area also includes the "Radweg an der Halde Schöttelheide" (cycle path at the Schöttelheide spoil heap) on its outskirts. Ecological upgrades like Benjeshecken (dead wood hedges) enhance biodiversity.
Nsg Koellnischer Wald is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 3,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The available routes have received an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from over 460 ratings. There are 97 total routes recorded for various sports.
Komoot offers several guides for Nsg Koellnischer Wald, including Hiking in Nsg Koellnischer Wald, Cycling in Nsg Koellnischer Wald, and Running Trails in Nsg Koellnischer Wald. Specific guides for Easy hikes, Gravel biking, Road Cycling, and MTB Trails are also available. An Attractions in Nsg Koellnischer Wald guide highlights points of interest.
Nsg Koellnischer Wald is managed by the Fachbereich Umwelt und Grün (Department of Environment and Green Spaces) of the City of Bottrop. General inquiries for the City of Bottrop can be made by calling +49 (0)2041 7030. For environmental concerns or specific inquiries, the "Grünes Telefon" (Green Phone) can be reached at +49 (0)2041 705060.
Yes, Nsg Koellnischer Wald offers several jogging routes. A moderate option is the Prosper-Haniel Coal Mine loop from Köllnischer Wald - FFH, which is 4.2 miles (6.8 km) long. The Totem Poles on Halde Haniel – Stations of the Cross at Halde Haniel loop from Köllnischer Wald - FFH is a difficult 5.0-mile (8.0 km) trail. More options are detailed in the Running Trails in Nsg Koellnischer Wald guide.
Nsg Koellnischer Wald is notable as one of the largest continuous, near-natural deciduous forests in the western German lowlands. Its historical connection to the Archbishop of Cologne gives it its name. The reserve also features an active artificial drainage system to manage water levels, a consequence of past mining activities.

