Nature Reserve Guide
Düsterdieker Niederung is a nature reserve located near Westerkappeln in the northern part of the Steinfurt district. This extensive area, spanning approximately 2,700 hectares, is characterized by a diverse landscape of wet meadows, heathlands, moors, and open lowland, designated as an EU bird sanctuary and Natura 2000 site. Its largely treeless and open terrain provides wide vistas and a rich mosaic of habitats, making it suitable for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, gravel biking, road cycling, and more.
140
Routes
4.6
(283)
Average rating
1671
People visited

4.8
(29)
76
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(15)
62
hikers
13.5km
03:29
60m
60m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(16)
53
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(14)
44
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.1
(14)
40
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

20
riders
10.8km
00:39
40m
40m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(4)
18
riders
29.5km
01:50
80m
80m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(9)
9
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(29)
123
riders
31.1km
01:51
80m
80m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(1)
9
riders
16.3km
00:58
40m
40m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
40.2km
02:30
340m
340m
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

6
riders
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
38
riders
69.1km
02:55
310m
310m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(1)
28
riders
37.1km
01:37
150m
150m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

23
riders
118km
04:58
490m
490m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.0
(1)
21
riders
51.2km
02:09
310m
310m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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11
runners
8.93km
00:56
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
runners
6.89km
00:43
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
runners
10.6km
01:07
40m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

14
runners
7.70km
00:52
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
11
riders
35.5km
02:29
230m
230m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5
riders
60.6km
04:10
470m
470m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.8
(5)
7
riders
29.5km
02:07
250m
250m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(4)
9
riders
30.9km
02:29
290m
290m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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The Düsterdieker Niederung is a nature reserve spanning approximately 2,700 hectares near Westerkappeln. It is designated as an EU bird sanctuary and Natura 2000 site, known for its diverse landscapes including wet meadows, heathlands, and rewetting moors.
Düsterdieker Niederung offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Touring cycling, Gravel biking, Road cycling, Jogging, and Mountain biking. The reserve features over 90 routes for these sports.
Popular hiking trails include the 'Long Dry Stone Wall – Figurines Along the Trail loop from Düsterdieker Niederung,' a moderate 8.4-mile [13.6 km] route. For easier options, consider the 'Niedringhaussee – South shore of Niedringhaussee loop from NSG Sloopsteene,' which is 2.5 miles [4.1 km] long. More hiking options are available in the Hiking around Düsterdieker Niederung guide.
Yes, Düsterdieker Niederung offers easy routes suitable for beginners and families. An example is the 'Niedringhaussee – South shore of Niedringhaussee loop from NSG Sloopsteene,' an easy 2.5-mile [4.1 km] hike. The Easy hikes around Düsterdieker Niederung guide provides more options.
The reserve provides routes for touring cycling, gravel biking, and road cycling. A popular touring cycling route is the 'Mettingen Local History Museum – Mühlenteich Mettingen loop from Westerkappeln,' an easy 19.6-mile [31.6 km] ride. Explore more options in the Cycling around Düsterdieker Niederung guide.
Düsterdieker Niederung is characterized by extensive wet meadows, heathlands, and rewetting moors. It is a crucial breeding ground for over 30 endangered bird species and home to more than 100 threatened plant species, including marsh marigold and various orchids.
The breeding season for birds, from March 15th to June 15th, is a prime time for birdwatching. Visitors should remain on designated paths during this period to avoid disturbing nesting birds.
Düsterdieker Niederung is a popular destination on komoot, with nearly 1,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The routes have an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars across more than 150 ratings.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for the area. These include Hiking around Düsterdieker Niederung, Road Cycling Routes around Düsterdieker Niederung, and Gravel biking around Düsterdieker Niederung.
For official information and inquiries about the Düsterdieker Niederung nature reserve, contact the Biologische Station Kreis Steinfurt e.V. Their official website is biologische-station-steinfurt.de, and they can be reached by phone at +49548292910.
Information regarding specific dog policies is not provided. However, to protect wildlife, especially during bird breeding season, it is advisable to keep dogs on a leash and stay on designated paths.
The terrain in Düsterdieker Niederung is diverse, featuring wet meadows, heathlands, dry sand grasslands, and rewetting moors. The area is largely open and treeless, providing wide vistas across the lowland.

