Sülzbahn platform

The Sülz Valley Railway Trail offers a nostalgic hiking experience. It also deliberately winds its way through a landscape crisscrossed by small streams, where interesting relics of culture and settlement can be discovered. The trail begins in Falkenhof on the old route of the Cologne-Mülheim-Lindlar railway line, or Sülz Valley Railway for short. At the beginning of the 20th century, this railway line served both freight (especially greywacke) and passenger traffic. The line was in operation until 1966. Today, it is used as a cycle path. Before the railway overpass, the so-called "Heaven's Gate," the path leads into the Sülz Valley, passing Schätzmühle. The trail then climbs back up to the former railway line, which, due to the terrain, is characterized by bridges, most notably the four-arched Bruch Viaduct. Besides experiencing the route's history, the trail's charm lies in the discovery of typical railway relics, such as kilometer markers and railway sleepers. At the lovingly privately restored Linde station, a heavy steam locomotive lies dormant. The trail follows the panoramic path to the village of Scheurenhof. From there, it descends southwards to the historic hydroelectric power plant (1250) at the Siebensiefen mill pond. In 1921, a turbine was even used there to generate electricity, which, among other things, supplied the Linde train station with power until 1965. The trail continues past the typical Bergisches Land farmstead of Unterhürholz, around the Dörrenberg (247 m), and eastwards to the village of Kemmerich. There, you'll find the St. Rochus Chapel, built in 1668. The path then leads along the high-altitude roads towards Lindlar, passing the LVR Open-Air Museum, which has been showcasing the historical rural and craft culture of the Bergisches Land region since 1998. Before reaching the village of Falkenhof, there was once a juniper pit, created by marble quarrying. At the entrance to the village stands the thatched-roof Chapel of Our Lady, known locally as the "Frauenhäuschen" (Little Women's House). The "Lindlar Stations of the Cross" branch off there, leading to the parish church of St. Severin. The circular route leads through the Falkenhof settlement back to the starting point. Some sections require sure footing. Additionally, cyclists must be taken into account in the cycle path area.

Start: Lindenallee Lindlar-Falkenhof
Difficulty: medium
Length: 11 km
Gradient: max. 25%, ø 5%
Height difference: 260m