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Moderate Hiking Trails near Essen

There are 25 hikes near Essen in our database that fit. They average 10.2 km and 223 m (732 ft) of ascent.

That is 17 percent of the 151 routes we map near Essen. They are shorter than the local average, 10.2 km against 53.4 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 223 m (732 ft) against 1,170 m (3,839 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Moderate routes are the sweet spot for most regular walkers: enough climbing to feel like a proper day out, never enough to turn into an ordeal. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Moderate

GeoRoute Ruhr (Südroute)

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
7.9 km
/ 4.9 mi
Elevation gain
173 m
Typical duration
1 hr 54 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Straße der Arbeit [Wuppertal]

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
13.5 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
296 m
Typical duration
3 hr 15 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

X17 Harkortweg [Düsseldorf]

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
8.1 km
/ 5.0 mi
Elevation gain
177 m
Typical duration
1 hr 57 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

X19 Schlösserweg [Kierspe]

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
10.3 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
226 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

X19 Schlösserweg [Langenfeld]

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
7.2 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
158 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

X19 Schlösserweg [Leichlingen]

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
15.5 km
/ 9.6 mi
Elevation gain
341 m
Typical duration
3 hr 46 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

X19 Schlösserweg [Remscheid]

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
8.2 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
180 m
Typical duration
1 hr 59 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

X19 Schlösserweg [Solingen]

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
202 m
Typical duration
2 hr 13 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

X29 Bergischer Weg [Lindlar]

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
7.7 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
169 m
Typical duration
1 hr 51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

X29 Bergischer Weg [Solingen]

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
11.9 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
263 m
Typical duration
2 hr 53 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

X7 Residenzenweg (Erkrath)

North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany

Distance
6.9 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
152 m
Typical duration
1 hr 40 min
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
GeoRoute Ruhr (Südroute)North Rhine-Westphalia7.9 km173 m1 hr 54 minModerateApril to October
Ruhrhöhenweg (Essen - Hattingen)North Rhine-Westphalia11.5 km253 m2 hr 46 minModerateApril to October
Bergischer Panoramasteig (Zustieg Wermelskirchen)North Rhine-Westphalia6.9 km152 m1 hr 40 minModerateApril to October
Straße der Arbeit [Engelskirchen]North Rhine-Westphalia11.6 km254 m2 hr 47 minModerateApril to October
Straße der Arbeit [Hückeswagen]North Rhine-Westphalia11.6 km255 m2 hr 48 minModerateApril to October
Straße der Arbeit [Radevormwald]North Rhine-Westphalia14.0 km309 m3 hr 23 minModerateApril to October
Straße der Arbeit [Wipperfürth]North Rhine-Westphalia14.6 km320 m3 hr 31 minModerateApril to October
Straße der Arbeit [Wuppertal]North Rhine-Westphalia13.5 km296 m3 hr 15 minModerateApril to October
X11a Rheinischer Weg Bergisch GladbachNorth Rhine-Westphalia15.2 km333 m3 hr 40 minModerateApril to October
X17 Harkortweg [Düsseldorf]North Rhine-Westphalia8.1 km177 m1 hr 57 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Ruhrhöhenweg (Essen - Hattingen), GeoRoute Ruhr (Südroute), X30 Neandertalweg [Leichlingen]. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

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