This route takes you through Middle Limburg, between the Meuse and the Meuse terraces, where the nature reserves Elmpter Wald and Meinweg are located. You will also ride along the gravel paths along the River Roer (in German: Rur) and over the Meuse terrace directly northeast of Maria Hoop. The route is followed clockwise and consists of 61% gravel paths, and can easily be shortened to 70 km (and 60% gravel paths)(*). The starting point is the parking lot at the sports hall Roerparel in Sint-Odiliënberg. Alternative starting points with dining options nearby are the visitor center Meinweg (Herkenbosch) or the market in Vlodrop. Wider gravel tires (36 mm) are recommended, as two gravel paths are rockier (near the hamlet of Putbroek at Maria Hoop and near Ohe on the northern side of the southernmost sand extraction). Additionally, the gravel paths in the agricultural area between Sint-Odiliënberg and Vlodrop can become very dry during dry periods (very loose gravel). The route can easily be shortened due to its 3 loops (northwest, east, and southeast).

(*) If you skip the northwestern loop (north of the Melicker Venweg), the route will be 70 km long and the proportion of gravel paths will be 60%.

From Sint-Odiliënberg, you quickly ride into the agricultural area towards Vlodrop with long straight gravel paths. Upon arriving in Vlodrop, you pass Castle Steenhuis and cross the Roer. Through the nature reserve Turfkoelen and the beautiful villa district of Herkenbosch, you travel through the nature reserves Melickerheide and Luzenkamp. East of Asenray, you reach the border to Germany and must go through a gate. A beautiful section follows along the edge of Elmpter Wald, alongside the nature reserve Lüsekamp and along the steep edge of the high terrace of the Meuse. You ride past the Melickerven and then back to the Netherlands. You travel over the nature reserve Zandbergen to the middle valleys of the Meuse, so it’s a slight uphill, over the beautiful (sometimes winding) gravel bike paths in the National Park De Meinweg. Further east, you go from the middle valleys to the high terrace via the gravel road Hooibaan, with a 10% increase. You head west again through the valley of the Roode Beek, followed by more gravel bike paths and the gravel road Hooibaan.

Next, you ride to the Gitstappermolen (this is 45 km from the start in Sint-Odiliënberg), a picturesque water mill located on the Roode Beek with dining options, before heading to Germany. Now follows a beautiful gravel section through the forest and along the Effelder Waldsee. Over Castle Effeld, you travel through the banks of the Roer (in German: Rurauen). You travel southeast over partially paved, partially gravel paths. South of Orsbeck, you ride directly alongside the Roer, following almost 6 kilometers of the gravel bike path along the Roer (Ruruferradweg). Near Karken, you leave the Roer. Through a forest path/gravel road in the Peter Müller Park and the gravel bike path through the valley of the Kitschbach, you head back towards the Netherlands. By the way, you cross the border several times, and you will first find dining options again in the hamlet of Echterbosch (Eetcafé 't Berghoes).

Finally, you ride back to the Netherlands between Brüggelchen and Maria Hoop, and there are additional gravel paths over the plateau at an elevation of 50 meters northeast of Maria Hoop, near the hamlet of Putbroek, through the Munnichsbos and through the forest directly south of Sint-Odiliënberg.

Gravel sections and their length in kilometers:
0.7 Dassenratherveldweg
0.8 Feldweg zum Schwarzeberg
0.8 Schwarzeberg / Holsterkampweg
4.8 Donckerveldweg / Mittelweg / Scheidingsweg / Waldweg / Koebroekweg
0.9 Heikampweg
0.9 Haldertweg / Verlängerte Wijngaardstraße
2.1 Melickerheide
1.0 Thuserhof / Heide
0.5 Duiperweg
2.1 Lüsekamp
2.7 Melicker Venweg
1.4 Zandbergen
6.7 Meinweg Part 1
2.7 Meinweg Part 2
0.5 Gitstappermolenweg
2.2 Effelder Waldsee
0.5 along the Baaler Bach
0.9 Rurauen Ophoven
0.5 Ophovener See
1.0 Wielack
0.4 Along the gravel pit
1.0 Rurauen Orsbeck / Along the Roer
1.2 Ruruferradweg Part 1
3.0 Ruruferradweg Part 2
2.3 Ruruferradweg Part 3
0.4 Hickeswinkel
0.9 Peter Müller Park
0.7 Path along the Landweer
0.8 Grenzweg (please note: 100 m loose sand, ride in the grass edge!)
1.0 Kitschbachtal
0.8 Schiersweg
1.8 Breukerveestraat
1.0 In der Sluffert
1.8 Munnichsbos
0.5 Waldcherweg / Eichenbaumweg
-----+
51.3 km (= 61.1 %) gravel paths (this is 4% more than routeyou indicates because routeyou categorizes some gravel paths (along the Roer) in their database as paved).