Stage 5 Hohe Mark Cycle Route

Stage 5 from Olfen via Datteln to Haltern am See offers numerous natural attractions over its 25 kilometres.

Already in Olfen, you can make a detour to the southern Steverauen. The original floodplain landscape is home to numerous insects, small animals, geese and storks.

The route then leads to the Dattelner Meer in the south. This is not a sea in the true sense of the word, but a canal junction. It connects the Dortmund-Ems Canal with the Rhine-Herne Canal, the Wesel-Datteln Canal and the Datteln-Hamm Canal.

A few metres further on is the Datteln lock where the fascinating lock operations can be observed.

The route continues in a north-westerly direction across fields and meadows that form shallow ups and downs. Those who wish can take a detour to the Kneipp basin in Flaesheim.

From April to October, cyclists can transfer their bikes to the Lippe ferry Maifisch. The ferry is as old-fashioned as it is special. Here the motto is: "Try it out and have fun!". For cycling tours in the winter months, the cycle path can be followed to junction 34 to get back on the stage route.

The route continues to the Westruper Heide nature reserve. The vibrant nature is both a place of recreation and a photographer's hotspot. In August and September, the fairytale heath landscape is in bloom. If you want to see the natural spectacle up close, you should park your bike in front of the nature reserve.

Continue on to the Haltern reservoir with its secluded spots to linger. This time from the south.

One last detour is to the Blue Classroom . It is similar to an amphitheatre and is located on the Stever. Schools, kindergartens and educational institutions can hold outdoor classes here, but the Blue Classroom is also a nice and informative stop for guests.

The diverse stage ends when you arrive in Haltern am See.

By car via the A2 motorway (Oberhausen-Hannover) to the Henrichenburg exit. Follow the B235 motorway in the direction of Lüdinghausen. On entering Olfen, take the 2nd exit at the roundabout in the direction of Olfen.

Travelling by train via Münster main station with numerous train connections from all over Germany. Continue with the express bus X90 or via Lüdinghausen station (trains from Dortmund and Enschede) and continue with the express bus S91. The destination is always the "Mobilpunkt Stadthalle" stop in Olfen.

Connection between the start and finish of the stage by regional train from Haltern am See to Lüdinghausen and then from Lüdinghausen station by express bus S91 to Olfen.

Car park in Olfen on Schulstraße. Car park in Haltern am See on Hullerner Straße.

E-bikes can be hired from the nature park centre in Olfen during opening hours. Outside of opening hours, 4 bikes can be hired via app. The nature park centre is located directly on the Hohe Mark cycle route.

Up to 100 bikes and up to 20 children's bikes are available for hire at the bike station at Haltern am See railway station. Minor repairs are also carried out here.

Parkplatz Schulstraße

Bahnhof Haltern am See