Monschau-St. Vith-Monschau 102 km
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 63.38 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,780 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 3,763 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,144 ft
- TrailRank
-
60
4.7
- Min elevation
- 1,316 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 5 hours 44 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2372
- Uploaded
- May 19, 2017
- Recorded
- April 2017
near Mützenich, Nordrhein-Westfalen (Deutschland)
Viewed 2701 times, downloaded 28 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
The tour starts in Monschau station (Belgian territory), where there is also free parking. From here you cycle on the Vennbahn all the way to St. Vith, passing by the castle Gut Reichenstein, the station at Sourbrodt with old trains, Waimes, the valley of the Amblève, and the old railway viaduct in Born. In St. Vith, you leave the Vennbahn and climb the Prümerberg to Schlierbach, and then descend into the Our valley. You follow this valley up past Schönberg to Andler, and then start the longest ascend of the day from ~440 m to ~640 m past Eimerscheid to Holzheim. You then descend to Honsfeld where you enter the Vennquerbahn, another cycling path on a former railway line. You can continue on this cycling path to Weywertz where it connects to the Vennbahn, but on this tour you leave the cycling path shortly after the reservoir near Bütgenbach. You descend into the Warche valley and then climb to Nidrum. On quiet roads you continue to the entrance of the Elsenborn Lager (military camp) and then follow the N669, which is a bit busier, to Kalterherberg in Germany. From Kalterherberg you descend to the Perlenbachtalsperre and then climb a short stretch on the busy B258 to Höfen. From here you have a great descent into Monschau in the Rur valley. After a short touristic tour through the center a steep climb (100 m ascent in 920 m, or an average 11 %) brings you back to the station. If you do not fancy the steep climb you can also use the main route to the station which does the same ascent in 2 km (i.e. 5%).
You can find something to eat and drink on various places along the Vennbahn, and e.g. in St. Vith, Schönberg, Bütgenbach and Monschau.
Waypoints
Information point
1,444 ft
Climb to Holzheim
Here the climb starts to Holzheim taking you from about 440 m to 640 m, the highest point of the route.
Information point
0 ft
Climb to Monschau station
Here starts the steepest climb of the day (100 m ascent in 920 m, or an average 11 %), bringing you back to the station. If you do not fancy the steep climb you can also use the main route to the station which does the same ascent in 2 km (i.e. 5%).
Information point
0 ft
Descent to Monschau
Here you have a nice descent with great views on a broad asphalt road into the center of Monschau
Information point
1,529 ft
Prümerberg
Here you climb the Prümerberg through fir forest. At the end you have a great view of the Our valley.
Information point
0 ft
Rur bridge in Monschau
Bridge across the Rur with great views of the "Fachwerk" houses.
Information point
1,850 ft
Sourbrodt station
Station of Sourbrodt with old railway tracks, disused trains and carriages, and station buildings.
Information point
1,680 ft
Split L45 and L48 railways
Here two former railways split, which are now both popular cycle paths. Left you continue on the Vennbahn, right takes you on to Malmedy. The stretch from here to St. Vith has recently (2016) been asphalted.
Information point
1,933 ft
Vennquerbahn
Here you enter the Vennquerbahn, another former railway track. The last former stretch of gravel has now been asphalted. The tarring was very recent on my trip, but should now be ready.
River
1,716 ft
Warche valley
You go through the Warche valley on a small road.This river feeds the reservoir at Bütgenbach-
Comments (6)
You can add a comment or review this trail
I have followed this trail View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Nice ride, the former RR-tracks are great but it was also nice to do a bit of climbing now and then
Thanks, E. Hekman, for your review. Glad you liked both the railroad cycle paths and the various climbs...
I have followed this trail verified View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
nice track !
I have followed this trail View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Prachtige fietsroute waar je kan genieten van prachtige uitzichten en natuur; hier kom je bijna geen auto’s tegen! Een aanrader!
Bedankt voor je positieve review, Vandammeh!
Rob, bedankt voor je review en voor je positieve commentaar. Mooi dat je genoten hebt.