MTB - Willingen Trail Quartet No. 45

Bike Arena Tour No. 45

1st section of the route

First of all, we cycle to the biathlon facility. Passing the Diemel spring on the mountain "Auf'n Knoll", one of the first distant views on this tour lets our gaze wander to Titmaringhausen and the Medebach Bay. Up to this point, the route has a few short trails that give an idea of what is to come. The first real climb to the Kruttenberg follows. Here we have a panoramic view of Korbach, with the foothills of the Kellerwald National Park and, to the right, a view of the border area between NRW/Hessen. A 4.2 km partly rough, partly flowing trail, over the Toten Mann coal pile, over the Hillekopf and down into the Strycktal sweeten the first section of the route. Please note: from the Hildfeld Höhe, there is a trail descent next to the gravel path.

All paths into the valley now lead us via the Mühlenkopfschanze to the starting point, but these paths are no longer marked.

2nd section of the route

From Strycktal, the route climbs 175 m up to the "Neuer Hagen" high heath plateau. From kilometer 20, the suspension elements are put to use. The first section of the trail is a root passage around the heath area, followed by the Biggestein downhill towards Niedersfeld. This blocked descent keeps the pulse racing. But as the banal saying goes: "where it goes downhill, it also goes uphill again" and in this case to the highest mountain in NRW, the 847 m high Langenberg. To ensure that speed riders also get their money's worth, we speed down a gravel track into the Hoppecke valley, not forgetting the obligatory "Willingen from above" photo at the Sonnenlift lift. In the valley, we return to Willingen on the right without any signs.

3rd section of the route

We follow the path to the right of the railroad tracks towards Brilon Wald. After 2.6 km, in a dip, we leave the gravel path and cycle through a path that has grown over time under a railroad underpass, then over a stream bridge that is no longer completely intact to the main road. Now it's chain right, from 480 m to 801 m, a 5 km ascent without recovery on the Hoher Eimberg. At the top, a quick gel, a sip from the hydration bladder and then the legendary Hoher Eimberg Kammweg and the flowing serpentines down to Lommerke. At the top of the Kammweg, you have a view as far as the Soest Börde.

At the end of the 3rd section, you can take the main road to the right, again unsignposted, to Willingen.

4th section

We cycle around Schwalefeld to get to the Aartal valley and struggle uphill one last time almost to the Orenberg. A fast trail leads us slightly downhill to the "Drei Dörfer Eck" (Three Villages Corner) and we continue along the trail to above Schwalefeld. This is followed by a short gravel section to get close to the Orenbergschanze and enjoy the last trail descent to Willingen. Be careful again here, the last 3 meters of trail are steps that end on a road with light traffic. So keep your eyes open - there might be a car coming!