Effelder Forest Lake – Gitstapper Mill loop from Effelder Waldsee

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Heinsberg

Wassenberg

Effelder Forest Lake – Gitstapper Mill loop from Effelder Waldsee

Easy

4.4

(107)

382

hikers

Effelder Forest Lake – Gitstapper Mill loop from Effelder Waldsee

01:36

6.34km

10m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 26, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Schwalm-Nette

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

898 m

Landwehr

Archaeological Site

3.16 km

Effeld Border Crossing

Highlight • Monument

In earlier times, this was a popular, but also well-known, smuggler's route.

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3.40 km

View of Effelder Waldsee

Highlight • Viewpoint

Great lake with great water sports and beach bar restaurant

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3.94 km

Bench with a view of Effelder Waldsee

Highlight • Viewpoint

One of the few benches - if not the only one - stands in the shade of the trees by the forest lake. Here you can take a break and …

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3.97 km

Effelder Forest Lake

Highlight • Lake

Beautifully situated lake with various recreational opportunities.

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4.19 km

Rode Beek (border stream) at Effelder Waldsee

Highlight • River

Here, too, at the Effelder Waldsee, the Roodebeek stream continues to flow alongside you, briefly forming the border between the Netherlands and Germany. The hiking trail lies between the stream and the lake—sometimes you don't know where to look first.

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4.30 km

Effelder Forest Lake

Highlight • Lake

Here on the east bank of the Effelder Waldsee, in the municipality break, there is also a beautiful vantage point for bird watching. A little overgrown at the moment.

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5.12 km

Gitstapper Mill

Highlight • Monument

The watermill, a national monument, is a so-called medium-stroke mill and is located at the address Gitstappermolenweg 3 in Vlodrop. The watermill is located east of the hamlet of Etsberg. …

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5.19 km

Pancake House de Huifkarhoeve & Restaurant Aan de Hoeve, Gitstapper Mill

Highlight • Restaurant

There are two good restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating at Gitstap Mill.

You can sit very comfortably in the converted barn or the beer garden of Pannenkoekenhuis de Huifkarhoeve or in the beer garden of Restaurant Aan de Hoeve.

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