Nature Reserve Guide
Hegbachaue Bei Messel is a nature reserve in Hesse, Germany, encompassing approximately 228 hectares of diverse landscapes. The area features wet meadows, riparian forests, and mixed woodlands, with the Hegbach stream meandering through its core, contributing to a rich biodiversity. This varied terrain, including the Ernst-Ludwig-Teich pond, provides a suitable environment for several outdoor activities like road cycling, hiking, touring cycling, mountain biking, and more.
The Hegbachaue Bei Messel nature reserve offers more…
169
Routes
4.5
(1063)
Average rating
5817
People visited

4.5
(98)
317
riders
55.2km
03:53
330m
330m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(81)
283
riders
Hard bike ride. Great for any fitness level. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.7
(59)
120
riders
24.8km
01:40
120m
120m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(27)
84
riders
52.5km
03:07
100m
100m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(11)
104
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.1
(22)
212
riders
18.4km
00:45
40m
40m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.4
(14)
71
riders
53.1km
02:09
250m
250m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.5
(8)
78
riders
33.3km
01:24
110m
110m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.4
(11)
44
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(18)
63
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(9)
45
hikers
6.00km
01:35
50m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(9)
32
hikers
9.59km
02:28
50m
50m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.9
(8)
20
riders
29.0km
01:55
100m
100m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.7
(11)
33
riders
34.0km
02:13
210m
210m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.5
(2)
14
riders
44.2km
02:40
190m
190m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(4)
9
riders
35.0km
02:13
150m
150m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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4.7
(3)
38
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(7)
30
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
24
runners
8.46km
00:54
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
22
runners
8.14km
00:51
70m
70m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.3
(7)
52
riders
28.5km
01:34
170m
170m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(6)
19
riders
46.7km
02:31
130m
130m
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.8
(41)
20
riders
21.5km
01:18
130m
130m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(2)
11
riders
40.5km
02:04
120m
120m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Hegbachaue Bei Messel offers a variety of outdoor activities, including road cycling, hiking, touring cycling, mountain biking, jogging, and gravel biking. The nature reserve encompasses diverse landscapes such as wet meadows, riparian forests, and mixed woodlands.
Hegbachaue Bei Messel features 114 routes on komoot for various activities. These routes have been explored by over 3,000 visitors, resulting in an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Yes, Hegbachaue Bei Messel offers several road cycling routes. An example is the Historic Town Hall Worfelden – Mönchbruch Hunting Lodge loop from Erzhausen, which covers approximately 27 miles [43 km]. More options are available in the Road Cycling Routes in Hegbachaue Bei Messel guide.
Hiking trails in Hegbachaue Bei Messel traverse diverse landscapes, including the Koberstädter Wald. The Ernst-Ludwig Pond – White Temple loop from Regierungsbezirk Darmstadt is a moderate hike of about 5 miles [8 km]. For easier options, consult the Easy hikes in Hegbachaue Bei Messel guide.
Yes, Hegbachaue Bei Messel provides mountain biking trails. The Singletrack at Bornbruchsee – Oberwaldsee loop from Egelsbach is a moderate route of about 18 miles [29 km]. Further trails can be found in the MTB Trails in Hegbachaue Bei Messel guide.
Key natural attractions include the Hegbach stream, which meanders through the reserve, and the Ernst-Ludwig-Teich (Ernst-Ludwig Pond). This pond, created around 1890, is fed by the Hegbach and features a reed belt important for local wildlife. The area is also part of the Koberstädter Wald.
Yes, Hegbachaue Bei Messel offers easy routes suitable for touring bikes. The Oberwaldhaus, Darmstadt – Kalkofenschneise loop from Messel is an easy route of about 13 miles [21 km]. More options are detailed in the Cycling in Hegbachaue Bei Messel guide.
Gravel biking in Hegbachaue Bei Messel involves varied terrain, often combining forest paths, fields, pastures, and hedges. Routes like the Steinbrücker Pond – Oberwaldhaus, Darmstadt loop from Egelsbach, approximately 18 miles [29 km], offer a mix of surfaces. The Gravel biking in Hegbachaue Bei Messel guide provides further details.
Komoot offers several guides for Hegbachaue Bei Messel, covering various activities. These include Road Cycling Routes, Easy Hikes, MTB Trails, and Running Trails. There are also guides for general cycling, hiking, and gravel biking.
For general inquiries related to the municipality of Messel, which partially covers the reserve, contact the Gemeinde Messel. The phone number is 06159 - 71570, and the email address is info@messel.de. Specific administrative details for the nature reserve may be found via the Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt.
Yes, Hegbachaue Bei Messel offers routes suitable for jogging. The Mittelster Egelswoog – Heinrich Quari Memorial Stone loop from Egelsbach is a moderate route of about 4 miles [6.6 km]. Additional options are available in the Running Trails in Hegbachaue Bei Messel guide.
Hegbachaue Bei Messel is designated as a nature reserve and a Natura2000 area, part of the 'Kranichsteiner Wald with Hegbachaue, Mörsbacher Grund and Silzwiesen' FFH area. It preserves valuable wet meadows, alder-ash forests, and supports rare plant species like Siberian iris and diverse birdlife.

