Gummersbach – Hiking Trails, Reservoirs and City Culture
Accommodation in Gummersbach
Gummersbach combines nature experiences in the Bergisches Land Nature Park with water activities and a city walk past historic buildings and urban architecture. During your holiday, you can choose between activities at the reservoirs, trails through the countryside and culture in the city centre. Which holiday apartment is right for your stay also depends on which aspects of Gummersbach you are most keen to explore.
Hiking trails of varying lengths
There are around 180 km of hiking trails around Gummersbach, marked by the Sauerländischer Gebirgsverein (SGV). Local circular trails are marked with an “A”, while long-distance hiking routes are marked with an “X”. These markings help you follow the route when hiking. You can hike around the Aggertalsperre and Genkeltalsperre reservoirs; a 9.3 km circular hiking trail is described at the Genkeltalsperre.
For a shorter walk, try the peninsula between the Genkel and Agger arms near Bredenbruch: the route there is just under 4 km long and mostly flat. If you would rather take a city walk, you can plan a route of a little over 1 km through Gummersbach city centre; allow about an hour for it. The different routes give you the opportunity to shape your days according to how far you want to walk and whether you are more interested in nature or the city.
Reservoirs and activities on the water
Various water sports are possible at the Aggertalsperre. The leisure camp in Lantenbach rents out sailboats, canoes and pedal boats. The NRW Diving Association also uses the Aggertalsperre as a diving site. The Gummersbach Trail also starts at the Aggertalsperre and offers clear information about renewable energy. The reservoir therefore offers different options for an outing: water sports, diving or an informative trail.
Bruch beach is located in the forebay of the Aggertalsperre. There is a large sunbathing lawn and a separate area for small children. The Genkeltalsperre, on the other hand, is protected as a drinking-water reservoir. If you are considering different places by the water when planning your trip, it is worth bearing this feature of the Genkeltalsperre in mind. Groups can arrange a tour of the Aggertalsperre dam walls with the Aggerverband; the telephone number given is 02261-360.
City centre and culture
The city-centre walk connects the Alte Vogtei, the two churches and the former trading houses in Baumhof with the urban architecture of the Steinmüllergelände. The Alte Vogtei is the oldest secular building in Gummersbach city centre; its renovation began in 2021. The route brings together different chapters of the city without requiring you to focus on just one building.
Halle32 is also part of the city’s cultural life. The events venue offers concerts, theatre and musical performances, readings, comedy and exhibitions. Along with the walking tour, it makes for a city experience that includes historic buildings and a varied cultural programme. During your stay, you can combine nature and water activities with a visit to the city centre.
Getting there and choosing a focus for your holiday
Regional train 25 connects Cologne and Gummersbach. By car, the city is connected to the Rhine and Ruhr metropolitan areas via the A 45, the “Sauerland Line” from Dortmund to Gießen and Frankfurt, and the A 4, the Aachen–Cologne–Olpe motorway. Bus route 318 runs from Gummersbach centre or bus station via Lantenbach and the Genkeltalsperre stop to Lieberhausen.
When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first consider which experiences you want to focus on: hiking on marked trails, water sports at the Aggertalsperre or a day in the city exploring architecture and culture. These interests give your stay a clear direction without requiring you to limit yourself to just one type of outing.
For more local destination pages: Bergneustadt, Hückeswagen, Reichshof, Wipperfürth, Wiehl, Lindlar, Radevormwald.
For the higher-level travel overview: Oberbergischer Kreis.
