Stage 12: Forest romance & castle magic

12,34 km long
Difficulty: easy
Great panorama
regional hiking trail
  • 3: 01 pm
  • 12,34 km
  • 36 m
  • 35 m
  • 43 m
  • 58 m
  • 15 m
  • Start: sleeve road in Hilden
  • Destination: At the Kapeller Feld in Düsseldorf-Garath
Bird paradise in quiet forests

Close to Düsseldorf, yet far from the hustle and bustle of the city – this stage leads through quiet forests and idyllic waterways. The Benrath Forest lies on glacial gravel and sand, characterized by gnarled oaks and hornbeams. The route continues over the Itter dam into the Garath Forest and to Lake Oerkhaus. There, protected areas provide a valuable habitat for rare animals – with a little luck, you might spot cormorants, great crested grebes, and tufted ducks. At the end of the tour, hikers will reach the historic Garath Castle. The manor house, with its striking turrets, now serves as an event and conference venue, while the publicly accessible park is ideal for a stylish end to the stage.

neanderland STEIG
© Kreis Mettmann
neanderland STEIG

waypoints

Start
Hulsenstrasse in Hilden
A plate of fresh breakfast: cold cuts, a sandwich, a hot drink, and juice in the background.
Hotel Wiedenhof in Hilden, a two-story building with a gray facade and a green forecourt.

Good to know

Best Season

suitable
depending on the weather

Tour features

  • refreshment possibility

Equipment

Wear hiking boots and clothing appropriate for the weather.

Arrival & Parking

Use the app’s arrival navigator or your navigation device.

Parking at the start:
Düsseldorf-Hoxbach car park, hiking car park at Schönenkamp
Parking at the destination:
P+R car park at Garath S-Bahn station
P+R car park at Hellerhof S-Bahn station
Parking at the chapel field

Public transport at the start:
S-Bahn: Hilden-Süd S1 
Bus: Hilden-Hülsen Line 785, Hilden-Süd Lines 784, O 3, Hülsen 785
Public transport to the destination:
S-Bahn Düsseldorf-Garath S 6, S 68 and bus lines 778 and 779
S-Bahn Düsseldorf-Hellerhof S 6, S 68 and bus lines 789 and 795
Bus: Garather Kirchweg Line 789, Düsseldorf-Garath 778 / 779,
Düsseldorf-Hellerhof 789 / 795
Public transport back to the start: 
S-Bahn Hellerhof S 6 and S 68 to Düsseldorf Reisholz, then bus line 785 to Hilden Huelsen

author

Office for Culture and Tourism
Düsseldorfer Strasse 26
40822 Mettmann

safety instructions

Please stay on the paths! The narrow trails can be slippery in places, especially in wet weather. Keep your distance from embankments or cliff edges! Please do not feed any wild boars you may see in private forests! 

Card

You can find ours here Brochures and maps.

Nearby

Contact

Stage 12: Forest romance & castle magic
40721 Hilden