D6 Wide Waterland

The nine-kilometer-long, very varied circular hike D6 – Weites Wasserland (Wide Waterland) – leads from the cool Osbach Valley up to the plateau near the village of Müllenberg. Following the D6 trail marker, hikers first reach the village of Viersbach, where the reservoir has flooded the long side valleys to the east and west. From Richerzhagen, the route follows the same path as the Talsperrenweg (Reservoir Trail) to Kotzberg, where a small, northward loop leads through a magnificent natural landscape. The trail then climbs gently to Oberossenbach and up to the Hämmerich, at 292 meters the highest point in the municipality of Kürten. From here, it's all downhill through the wooded valley of the Kleinheider Bach stream back to the starting point.
The starting point for this nine-kilometer circular hike, D6 - Weites Wasserland (Wide Water Country), is the hiking parking lot in the Osbach Valley on County Road 20 between Bechen and Richerzhagen (alternatively, Eisenkaulan on the B 506 is a good starting point). Follow the road east towards Richerzhagen and at the first crossroads, turn left and ascend the steps into the forest. At the top, the path meets the connecting road between Richerzhagen and Müllenberg, which you follow to the left towards Müllenberg. Here, hikers are rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view of the Dhünn plateau and the dam of the Große Dhünn reservoir. After passing the first house, follow the old road to Plätzmühle to the right until you reach the dam gate. Turn right here and continue via steps, with varied ups and downs through two small valleys, until you reach a fork in the path before the village of Viersbach. At this point, route D6 turns right via Viersbach to Richerzhagen, passing the remarkable wayside cross under the two magnificent oak trees at the edge of the village.

Tip: If you wish, you can extend the hike by about two kilometers at this point and follow the reservoir loop trail to the left. This detour across the peninsula of the reservoir rewards you with a beautiful stretch of path and a lovely viewpoint offering unique views of the water.
Between Viersbach and Richerzhagen, the Talsperrenweg (Reservoir Trail) and the D6 circular trail automatically rejoin the main route. At the next junction, where the D6 and Talsperrenweg meet, one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the reservoir and the Dhünn plateau unfolds – the reservoir's waters are visible on two sides! Continue along the paved road to Richerzhagen, turn left in the village, and cross the valley of the Eisenkauler Bach stream, which is extensively bordered by moisture-loving perennials and shrubs. Near Kotzberg, hikers will encounter the old tree-lined road that once led through the Dhünn valley to Grunewald. Follow this road downhill to the dam gate, keep right, and enjoy the magnificent natural landscape on the circular trail. In Kotzberg, follow the tree-lined road to the left towards Eisenkaul. To the right of the restaurant, the path leads between the houses, away from the main road to Oberossenbach, and up to the Hämmerich, the highest point in the municipality of Kürten. On a clear day, you can see from here across the Dhünn plateau to the Cologne Lowland, the Eifel region, over Wermelskirchen to Remscheid, and into the Ebbe Mountains. The route descends gently southwards into the forest until you reach a paved road, where you turn right. After another 100 meters, leave the road to the left and descend in switchbacks through the forest into the valley, until you arrive back at the starting point of the circular hike on County Road 20.