Nature Reserve Guide
Mittlere Horloffaue is a nature reserve located in the districts of Gießen and Wetterau in Hessen, Germany. This area is characterized by its flat, wetland, and marsh ecosystems, including the Unterer Knappensee, which was repurposed from a former opencast mine for nature conservation. The landscape features extensive lowland meadows and vital habitats for diverse flora and fauna, particularly significant for birdlife. The accessible terrain makes Mittlere Horloffaue suitable for several sports like touring cycling, hiking, road cycling, jogging, and more.
…149
Routes
4.5
(675)
Average rating
2834
People visited

4.7
(97)
273
hikers
9.93km
02:35
60m
60m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(13)
70
hikers
4.56km
01:10
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(10)
32
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(22)
61
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(101)
305
riders
34.3km
02:04
200m
200m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.2
(9)
68
riders
25.5km
01:30
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(12)
64
riders
15.7km
00:56
70m
70m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(33)
118
riders
53.2km
03:25
610m
610m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.4
(5)
92
riders
36.0km
01:34
270m
270m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(13)
75
riders
52.8km
02:10
330m
330m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(3)
83
riders
52.4km
02:18
450m
450m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.3
(3)
29
riders
43.4km
01:52
290m
290m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.9
(14)
33
runners
14.2km
01:29
50m
50m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

12
runners
6.55km
00:41
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(13)
16
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(9)
24
riders
27.2km
01:31
120m
120m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(2)
21
riders
49.5km
02:54
290m
290m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(3)
20
riders
35.8km
01:57
160m
160m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
6
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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5.0
(3)
13
riders
41.7km
02:16
370m
370m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(2)
8
riders
28.4km
01:35
200m
200m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
5
riders
20.0km
01:12
220m
220m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
70.2km
04:23
970m
970m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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Mittlere Horloffaue nature reserve offers a variety of outdoor activities including Touring cycling, Hiking, Road cycling, Jogging, Mountain biking, and Gravel biking. The area features 95 routes with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. These routes cater to various skill levels and interests.
Popular touring cycling routes include the "Laubach Castle – Rail Trail Laubach–Hungen loop from Trais-Horloff," a moderate route of about 21.2 miles (34.1 km). Another option is the "Trais-Horloffer Lake – White Tower, Wölfersheim loop from Trais-Horloff," an easy route spanning approximately 15.9 miles (25.5 km). More details are available in the Cycling in Mittlere Horloffaue guide.
Yes, Mittlere Horloffaue offers several easy hiking trails. An example is the "Utpher Mill – Upper Knappensee loop from Mittlere Horloffaue," which is about 2.8 miles (4.6 km) long. The reserve's flat terrain makes many paths suitable for leisurely walks. For more options, consult the Easy hikes in Mittlere Horloffaue guide.
The reserve is known for its marsh and wetland areas, including the Unterer Knappensee, which was once an opencast mine. It features extensive lowland meadows, shallow water areas, and a rare inland salt marsh vegetation. The area is also a significant habitat for diverse bird species and other wildlife.
Mittlere Horloffaue has mountain biking routes, such as the moderate "Upper Knappensee – Upper Knappensee loop from Mittlere Horloffaue," covering about 16.9 miles (27.2 km). Another option is the easy "Lich Castle – Lich Town Tower loop from Ober-Widdersheim," approximately 22.2 miles (35.8 km) long. Further information can be found in the MTB Trails in Mittlere Horloffaue guide.
Road cyclists can explore routes like the moderate "Röthges–Hungen Rail Trail – Lich Old Town loop from Steinheim," which is about 32.8 miles (52.8 km) long. Another moderate option is the "Nidda Cycle Path near Florstadt – Assenheim Railway Bridge loop from Trais-Horloff," spanning approximately 33.9 miles (54.5 km). The Road Cycling Routes in Mittlere Horloffaue guide provides additional details.
Mittlere Horloffaue is a crucial habitat for numerous bird species, serving as a breeding, migratory, resting, and wintering ground. Birdwatchers may spot White Storks, Northern Lapwings, and Common Cranes. The reserve also supports various fish, amphibians like the European tree frog, and insects such as the scarce blue-tailed damselfly.
Mittlere Horloffaue is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 2,000 visitors having explored its routes. The 95 available routes have received an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from nearly 500 ratings. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among outdoor enthusiasts.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for Mittlere Horloffaue to help plan activities. These include guides for Cycling, Hiking, Road Cycling, MTB Trails, Running Trails, and Gravel Biking.
For official information regarding the Mittlere Horloffaue nature reserve, contact the Forstamt Nidda. They are responsible for the care and management of the area. Their phone number is +49 6043 9657 0, and their website is hessenforst.de/forstamt/nidda/.
Yes, more challenging routes are available for experienced cyclists. An example is the "Nidda Reservoir – View of Hoherodskopf loop from Ober-Widdersheim" for touring cyclists, which is a difficult route of about 33.1 miles (53.2 km). Gravel bikers can also find difficult options like the "Tower at the Gradierwerk (graduation tower) – Nidda Cycle Path loop from Melbach," spanning approximately 47.7 miles (76.8 km).
Key highlights in Mittlere Horloffaue include the Unterer Knappensee, a rewilded former opencast mine now a vital wetland. The reserve is also known for its birdwatching hides, offering opportunities to observe numerous bird species. The diverse marsh and meadow landscapes themselves are significant natural attractions.

