Meschede, Hochsauerlandkreis

Hennesee: the Bay and the Hill

Distance9.0 km

Elevation gain261 m

DifficultyModerate

Estimated time2 h 14 min

Overview

The Hennesee sits in the woods above Meschede: a free bathing bay facing the dam, then the hill that looks down on it.

The first stretch stays by the water and nearly level. Then the path turns inland and climbs steadily on forest roads over the flank of the Lannenberg, and drops back to the bay.

A good half-day with children, or after a swim. Around the Hennesee by the hillside — 17.3 km, a little over four hours — leaves from the same car park.

Points of interest

Ehrenmal — A memorial stands beside the path at the far end of the lake shore, where the walk is at its lowest — 315 m. From here it turns back and the climbing begins.
Berghausener Bucht/Spielplatz — Where the path comes back to the water, near the end: the largest bathing bay on the lake, 48 m off the line, with the Piratenbucht playground, a kiosk in bathing weather, and a landing stage.

Trail alerts

Summer weekends. This is the largest bathing bay on the lake. Start in the morning.

Trail character

Just over half is gravel forest road, about two fifths is paved, the rest a narrower path.
A fifth of the walk is steeper than one in ten — that is the climb off the lake, not the shore.
Follow the A3 in a black rectangle.
In a dry summer, the reservoir is drawn down and the shore path sits well above the water.

Access & rules

Getting there: by car to the Großraumparkplatz on the B 55, or the Berghauser Bucht bus stop.
Parking: 300 cars at the Großraumparkplatz on the B 55, a few minutes downhill; a smaller barrier-free lot beside it. Do not park on the bay.
Tickets and fees: the marked bays are free to use.
Rules: swim only in the marked bays.
Facilities: a kiosk and toilets at the bay in bathing weather, and the Piratenbucht playground. Lifeguards on summer weekends when the red-yellow flag is up.

Tickets & opening hours

Bathing, parking and the boat — check before a summer weekend.

hennesee-sauerland.de

Browse all ready-made routes