High Fens and Rureifel Tour

Nice starting points for this route are the former railway station in Petergensfeld/Roetgen, or the large parking lot of the Wesertalsperre (Eupen reservoir) near Eupen. The following description assumes the first starting place. The former railway station area now serves as a parking lot for tourists cycling on the paved cycle path over the former Vennbahn. The route runs partly through the High Fens, but for the most part the route follows the course of the Rur, downstream (path follows counterclockwise). This means that after the passage of the High Fens, the differences in altitude of the climbs increase as usual.

First, the Vennbahn goes slightly downhill for 5 km. Meanwhile, in Belgium, the ascent lands in the direction of Petergensfeld (http://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/petergensfeld/). Then it goes down to the Weser dam (note: barrier at the reservoir!), goes over the dam and then begins the 7-kilometer long and gradual ascent to the High Fens (http://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/muetzenich-pass/). Along the Imgenbroich Fens, the route ends back in Germany. As a result, the route was stretched over 14 kilometers on paved roads closed to car traffic (only forestry traffic uses these roads). Then follows the route of the Vennbahn in a southerly direction. The Vennbahn is quickly abandoned in order to make another 130 meters of altitude to the Eifelblick Mützenich Steling viewpoint (this part comes from the North Eifel valley of the WTC Klimmen). This is also the highest point of the route (654 meters above sea level). Of course, you can also continue to follow the Vennbahn in a southerly direction to Küchelscheid. Whether you follow the route or not, it is then a small climb to the Kalterherberg (http://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/kalterherberg/).

This is followed by a descent to and ascent from the Perlenbach valley (the ascent from the Perlenbach valley is steep again at the beginning (15%)). Via Höfen, the path leads down to Monschau, the relatively quiet east side of the very touristy town. Downstairs is an ideal time to go into town and have a drink/eat somewhere. Perhaps this relaxation is not so wise after all, because then the route climbs away from Monschau on a steep road with cobblestones that turns into asphalt, gradients here briefly reach the 18% maybe even 20% (see: http://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/imgenbroich/)! Then the path reaches Imgenbroich and leads down into the valley of the Rur. This descent is steep (15%), and just before reaching the valley there are some twists and turns in the way (so be careful!). But the transition can't be big enough, the route turns directly into the valley to Widdau: A wall seems to be emerging, because the following climb is the hardest of the entire ride and the percentages reach 15% in various places (see: http://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/rohren/)! The climb is also known as the Wall of Widdau. Here a timely downshift is really necessary (the transition from the steep descent to the steep climb is very abrupt)!

The route then dives into the Eifel National Park for a length of about 10 kilometres, which is closed to car traffic on roads (with the exception of park rangers/foresters). Note that after leaving the main road at pipes, you will cross a worse part of the road (gravel, holes in the asphalt) before entering the national park (otherwise on mostly fine road surfaces). Then it goes back down to the Rur, in the village of Dedenborn the descent is even very steep (watch out!), follow the valley and then follows the ascent to Eicherscheid (length: 2.6 km, see: http://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/eicherscheid-pass/). Via Huppenbroich you descend to the Tiefenbachtal and away again. Although the climb is short (barely a kilometre), 16% is reached here shortly.

Then it goes over and along busier streets for about four kilometers to finally end in Steckenborn. And then follows the fantastic descent (wide road, very good asphalt, not too much traffic) to the Rursee (reservoir). Once in the valley, the path quickly climbs again along a road closed to car traffic, the climb is 4 km long and quite steep (up to 20%) at the foot of the village. Once in Rollesbroich, the route goes 3 kilometers on busier roads, and then it gets quiet again on the climb to Paustenbach, by the way also 12% at the beginning. Then the route goes to Lammersdorf, and then the Vennbahn is taken again. This means that the last 7 kilometers are slightly descending (1 to 3%) to the starting point: Roll out!

More pictures on: https://plus.google.com/photos/100768492472156184443/albums/5850664936072847681