Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Bergisches Land

Burgholz Station – Von der Heydt Tower loop from Bergische Universität Wuppertal - Campus Grifflenberg

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Bergisches Land

Burgholz Station – Von der Heydt Tower loop from Bergische Universität Wuppertal - Campus Grifflenberg

Moderate

4.7

(85)

132

hikers

Burgholz Station – Von der Heydt Tower loop from Bergische Universität Wuppertal - Campus Grifflenberg

02:42

9.92km

150m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Bergisches Land

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.78 km

Burgholz Charcoal Kiln Rest Area

Highlight • Structure

On May 26, 1999, the so-called exotic forest in the Arboretum Burgholz was opened. The three large cultivation areas with species from three continents were made accessible to the public through hiking trails. Many of the approx. 100 foreign tree species are presented using signs. The focus for North American woody plants is near the forester's house in the southern area of the Burgholz, which for On May 26, 1999, the so-called exotic forest in the Arboretum Burgholz was opened by the State Minister Bärbel Höhn. The three large cultivation areas with species from three continents were made accessible to the public through hiking trails. Many of the approx. 100 foreign tree species are presented using signs. The focus for North American trees is near the forester's house in the southern area of the Burgholz, as is that for Asian trees. The area of European and Asian Minor trees is located near the former Burgholz train station.
There are some circular hiking trails that are excellent there.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

1.88 km

Samba-Trasse

Highlight • Trail

2.11 km

Burgholz Station

Highlight • Restaurant

Ideal stop for a little refreshment, located directly on the route.

Opening hours:
Wednesdays to Saturdays from 12 noon,
Sundays from 11 a.m.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.50 km

Samba Trail Between Kaisereiche and Honigstaler Bach

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Burgholzbahn, also known as the Samba, was an eleven-kilometer-long, single-track railway line between Elberfeld and Cronenberg, both later districts of Wuppertal.

The railway line, which opened in 1891, owes its name to the Burgholz State Forest, through which most of the route runs. The reason for the construction was the great need for raw materials and coal by the flourishing tool industry in Cronenberg, as well as the need to transport the finished products inexpensively.

The height difference of around 140 meters meant that the route was quite winding. The route had a maximum gradient of 25‰ (1:40) at the Boltenberg stop. Until shortly after the Second World War, the route was mainly used for freight traffic, but passenger traffic was also handled. From the mid-1950s onwards, the majority of passenger transport was carried out by rail buses. The rocking of the cars in the numerous curves quickly earned the route the nickname Samba.

In addition to local transport between the Wuppertal city center and Cronenberg, the railway served primarily as a connection to leisure destinations, the Wuppertal Zoo, the Stadium at the Zoo, the Burgholz forest area and the Neuenhof outdoor swimming pool.

In the 1980s it became clear that the Deutsche Bundesbahn wanted to get rid of the route. The line finally had to be closed at the beginning of 1988 for safety reasons. Repairing the tracks was ruled out for cost reasons.

The majority of the route (also called the “Samba Route”) is still there today; However, the tracks were completely dismantled. By the summer of 2007, work was underway to complete a pedestrian and cycle path. The official inauguration of the route took place on October 27th with a celebration at the old Cronenberg train station and, among other things, a mountain run from the Zoo S-Bahn station to Cronenberg.

Between the former Hindenburgstrasse and Boltenberg stops, the route used to form the eastern border of the Wuppertal Zoo. After its expansion in a south-easterly direction in 2006, today's footpath and cycle path runs largely on a bridge across the zoo grounds, from where a view of the tiger enclosure is particularly possible.

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgholzbahn

Translated by Google •

Tip by