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Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Source of the Ruhr – View of the Sauerland Forest loop from Oberes Ruhrtal

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Source of the Ruhr – View of the Sauerland Forest loop from Oberes Ruhrtal

Easy

4.7

(142)

626

hikers

Source of the Ruhr – View of the Sauerland Forest loop from Oberes Ruhrtal

00:53

3.25km

40m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: July 6, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Sauerland-Rothaargebirge

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

106 m

Hiking car park at the Ruhr Spring

Highlight • River

From here it is about a 200m walk to the source of the Ruhr.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

162 m

Ruhrquelle Trailhead Parking

Highlight • Parking

A nice idea and information.

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204 m

First Bridge Over the Ruhr

Highlight • Bridge

This is the first bridge under which the Ruhr flows through.

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Tip by

367 m

The not quite 220 kilometers long Ruhr rises in the Rothaargebirge, about three to four kilometers from the center of Winterberg. Among other things, the long-distance hiking trail Rothaarsteig leads …

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1.07 km

View of the Sauerland Forest

Highlight • Viewpoint

Very nice paths and viewing area on the way from Winterberg to the Ruhrquelle.

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1.88 km

Decorated Christmas Tree with Nativity Scene in Naturpark Sauerland-Rothaargebirge

Highlight • Structure

Has even already got a guestbook

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2.06 km

Twin Ponds

Highlight • Lake

Beautiful scenery! And nice offer with nice paths.

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3.01 km

Forest Information Center Naturpark Sauerland-Rothaargebirge

Highlight • Rest Area

1. This hut, right next to the Ruhrtalradweg, offers a wide range of information on the subject of forest and wood.
2. They offer a great shelter option in bad weather.

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3.25 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

3.14 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

3.01 km

135 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Thursday 23 July

20°C

6°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 29, 2022,🍋 Sauerland - Ruhrquelle

The Ruhr has its source three kilometers from Winterberg. It rises from the Ruhrkopf, a 696 meter high mountain, in a small piece of forest that is a nature reserve. Below the spring there is a memorial stone and a rondel. From its source in Winterberg to its mouth in Duisburg, the Ruhr is 219 kilometers long.
This small lap …

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January 2, 2024,🎉Ruhrquelle bei Winterberg-kleine Regenrunde☔️

Today we explored the Ruhrquelle, just under 3 km from Winterberg, which rises as a small trickle in a tranquil forest on the northeast slope, below the Ruhrkopf on the Rothaarsteig in the Hochsauerland district. The source is at 654 m above sea level. NN and flows westward 219 km further into the Rhine in Duisburg. Below the spring, a …

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September 21, 2021,G Winterberg: Ruhrquelle - Themenpfahldorf

Small round at the source of the Ruhr.
The puddle in picture 2 is the Ruhr below the source. It is hard to believe that it will be so large over 200 km and give its name to an entire industrial region. The themed pile village "Forest as an economic area" is very informative.
The 'Ruhrquelle' hiking car park on …

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