Waterway (Excursion #2)

"Where the Wupper surges wildly," goes the Bergisches Land anthem. But at the foot of Hückeswagen's castle hill, with its historic old town, the 115-kilometer-long central river of the Bergisches Land region is tamed. Since the 1980s, the Wupper Dam has impounded it here, creating a long, narrow reservoir. This serves to prevent flooding and to replenish the Wupper during months with low water levels.

The Hückeswagen "Water Trail" leads around the largest pre-dam of the 25,6 million cubic meter reservoir. Along the 4,3-kilometer circular route, richly illustrated information panels explain both the operation of the dam and the history of hydropower use in the region. Along the way, there is also fascinating information to discover about a wastewater treatment plant and the pre-dam itself.

Each information panel offers interesting facts for adult hikers as well as child-friendly texts featuring the mouse from the German children's television program "Die Sendung mit der Maus" for younger hikers. This trail, with its length and route along the water, is particularly well-suited for a family hike. The entire trail is also accessible with a stroller.

The trail has a total of five information panels. We thank Joachim Kutzner, who maintains the trail as a volunteer trail steward.