Hanseatic city and Indian Summer

You can cross the Wupper river with dry feet on this circular hike
The hike begins at the base station of the "Water Quintet" reservoir region in the Hanseatic city of Wipperfürth, leading along old railway lines and over scenic heights to two reservoirs connected by tunnels within the so-called Beverblock. This allows water to be diverted from the Hönnige stream into the Schevelingen Reservoir and from there into the Neyetal Reservoir. Due to the extensive deciduous forests, the hike is particularly appealing in autumn, when the Neyetal Reservoir displays the vibrant colors of an "Indian Summer" in the heart of the Bergisches Land region.
From the tourist base station of the reservoir region "Water Quintet", you hike along the former railway embankment, which was converted into a cycle path as part of the Regionale 2010 project, to the left, crossing the Wupper River. There, a circular area with an artwork commemorates the history of the Wippertalbahn railway, which was built between Bergisch Born and Marienheide from 1877 to 1902 and operated here until the mid-1980s, before its final section was also closed in the mid-1990s.

At the roundabout, follow the hiking trail marker of the Water Quintet to the right along the Wupper River. Before the paved Wupperstraße turns left towards an underpass, a detour beckons at the information panel of the "Bergisches Heimatweg" (Bergisches Homeland Trail): A path leads to the right to the Wupper, where in
As part of the renaturation of the Ohler meadows, a ford was created using stone blocks. Here you can cross the Wupper River without getting your feet wet.

A similar ford once gave Wipperfürth its name. Merchants and other travelers crossed the Wupper River here on the Heerweg, the long-distance trade route from Cologne eastward. The intersection with the Bergische Eisenstraße (Bergish Iron Road) established the city's trading tradition, earning it the nickname "Hanseatic City."
Since 2012, Wipperfürth has also officially revived the commitment of its merchants to the medieval trade alliance. Wipperfürth was the first town in the Bergisches Land region to receive its town charter between 1217 and 1222. A document from 1222 exists in which the Archbishop of Cologne and regional ruler, Engelbert von Berg, confirms the corresponding exemption from taxes.

After the detour, continue along Wupperstraße through the underpass and over a small rise to Voßkuhle, where you turn diagonally right onto a path. Turn left at the next road, then right again after five meters. Soon you'll be on a gravel path, then on a road above the main road. The side road leads you down to the L 284, which you cross to reach the Hönnige stream via a farm track. Here, cross a footbridge and then follow the path uphill to the left. After 100 meters, cross the former railway line to the right, on which trains ran between Wipperfürth and Anschlag, and on to Oberbrügge near Lüdenscheid, until 1960.

Beyond the old railway line, turn left behind an earthen embankment, then keep left at a fork in the path. The path leads uphill and offers a beautiful view of the valley from the edge of the forest. At the end of the forest edge, follow the farm track to the right. At the top, turn left, later reaching a crossroads where you'll meet a paved road; follow this to the left. After 290 meters, bear diagonally right onto a farm track. To the right on the horizon, you can see the church tower of Agathaberg, and to the left, the one in Kreuzberg. At the first junction, continue straight ahead across a clearing and back into the forest. Keep left at a fork, then turn left again at the next junction and continue on the main route of the Water Quintet hiking trail. At the edge of the forest, follow the road to the left, cross the main road in Wasserfuhr (where refreshments are available), continue straight uphill through a left-hand bend, and then, at a sharp 90-degree right-hand bend (!), turn left onto a farm track. At the top, cross the small road and walk diagonally left behind the "Silver Lake Shelter" into the valley, keeping left and reaching the inlet to the Silver Reservoir. Follow the lakeside path to the right around the "Schevelinger Reservoir," which, with a capacity of 300.000 cubic meters, was put into operation in 1941. After about 100 meters, turn right onto a forest path, following the water quintet marker. A farm track soon leads left to Niederscheveling. Continue along the road to the right. At the edge of the forest, turn left onto a farm track and descend to the lakeside path of the Neyetal Reservoir. Follow this path to the left, following the square marker. Where the path bends to the left at the top, continue straight ahead and after a few meters turn right into the forest, following the "Bergisches Heimatweg" marker (a white "3" on a red background). Shortly before you reach the dam, follow the "X" to the left through Großblumberg (refreshments available) until you reach the crossroads at the top, turn left there and at the next junction turn right onto the "Bergischer Heimatweg" down into the valley to Voßkuhle, where you keep right and return to the starting point on the same route as on the way there.