The best traffic-free bike rides around Im Saalscheid

The Scharpenacker Hills in eastern Wuppertal are a 326-meter-high ridge that was formerly used as a military training area and is now an important local recreation and nature reserve. The approximately 185 hectares are home to open meadows, hedges, wetlands, and near-natural deciduous forests, providing habitat for many rare animal and plant species. After the end of military use in 2004, the area was opened up for walks, hikes, and nature excursions; from the heights, one can enjoy expansive views of the Bergisches Land. The Scharpenacken Hills thus combine natural diversity, landscape conservation, and recreation in one of Wuppertal's largest open spaces.

The official path is still closed (about 100m), but about 1000 walkers have created a path around the spot, so you can carefully push your bike.

Great natural route in the mountainous landscape

These Bergische Löwen can be found in various designs throughout the city

Interestingly designed, and somewhat unexpected on the track

I pushed it back again🤣

🚴‍♂️ Remscheid Tool Route – History and Industry in Flow On this old railway line, your bike will almost roll by itself as you glide through the heart of Remscheid. What once connected trains and industry is now a green path full of life and stories. The air smells of fresh leaves, and here and there, information boards whisper of a time when Remscheid was the center of tool production. Between modern art installations and the rustic beauty of the old tracks, you can literally feel the pulse of the city – sometimes urban, sometimes almost wild. The view from the Corten steel pavilion offers a short break with a panoramic view, perfect for pausing and enjoying the scene. 🌿🏭 No steep mountains, but a vibrant mix of history, nature, and creativity that makes your tour a true experience. Whether you want to cruise leisurely or are looking for special photo opportunities – the Tool Route has both. 📸✨ My tip: Stop at the pavilion, take a deep breath, and let the memories of old times and the sound of the railway tracks resurface in your mind – only without the noise, but with plenty of charm. 🚂💨 This is what Remscheid feels like when industry and nature harmoniously converge – and you're right in the middle of it.

🛠️ Tool Route – History on Asphalt I set off – and immediately sense that this is no ordinary bike path. Here, on the former railway line right through Remscheid, rusty metal signs and cogs embedded in the asphalt tell of a time when the city still pulsed with steam, sweat, and the rhythm of workbenches. Industrial halls to the left, trees to the right – in between, this almost meditative flow of history and present. The air smells of leaves and a hint of machine oil (perhaps just my imagination, but the kind of imagination you'd rather keep 😉). Every now and then, I stop, read, and marvel. An old bridge arch, a sign with names like Lindenberg or Mannesmann – all silent, but telling. Like an open-air museum on two wheels. And then suddenly: silence. Just my bike and me. And the thought of how many people must have ridden along here in the past – with toolboxes, dreams, and oil-stained hands. 🧭 My conclusion Short but profound. The route is like a walk through the soul of Remscheid. No inclines, no rush – just you, the asphalt, and the memories beneath your tires. 📸 PS: Keep your eyes open – some of the works of art and symbols are hidden. And at the end? Maybe saddle up, dismount, take a deep breath – and hear the whispers of the past.