Mistletoe birches, wide fields, club signpost: Baumberger Aue walk

The Baumberger Aue walk shows what flat Rhine floodplains are truly capable of – mistletoe birches, reeds and a nature reserve across 8.5 km.

Sometimes you don’t need mountains. The Entdeckerschleife Baumberger Aue in Monheim am Rhein, Kreis Mettmann, is that kind of tour – flat, green, surprisingly varied, and with a nature reserve that even locals often underestimate. I walked the 8.5 km on an overcast autumn day, and what I took away from it genuinely surprised me.

Through the floodplain forests of the Urdenbacher Kämpe

The route begins in the district of Baumberg and heads briskly out into the green. After just a few minutes the asphalt is gone – a cobbled path winds into lush green floodplain terrain, with trees on both sides arching their branches over the trail. Then the path opens onto a wide gravel strip, comfortably broad enough for walkers and cyclists alike. Vegetation presses in from both sides: willows, alders, and in between, reeds that rustle in the wind.

A wooden footbridge with a small viewing platform leads over a stretch of water – it’s worth stopping here for a moment and looking into the reeds. In autumn the light is diffuse, almost velvety, and the colours are rich nonetheless. Anyone here early in the morning experiences the floodplain path in backlight – that’s a whole different quality.

Himalayan balsam and mistletoe spheres

Shortly after the footbridge, dense stands of Himalayan balsam line the path – pink-violet flowers that literally explode in late summer and early autumn. That’s botanically not unproblematic (the species is invasive), but photographically a feast. Directly behind it comes one of the unexpected highlights of the tour: an old birch tree, whose crown I spontaneously photographed because I initially mistook the spherical mistletoe nests for bird’s nests. On closer inspection it was clear: those are mistletoe, half a dozen of them, distributed across the branches like green lanterns. In winter without foliage they are said to look even more impressive – I’ll keep that in mind for a second visit.

The Urdenbacher Kämpe, through which the middle section of the tour passes, is a significant nature reserve directly on the Rhine – it stretches across the municipal area of Baumberg and the Düsseldorf district of Urdenbach. Along the old pollarded willows, whose hollows serve as shelter for the rare little owl, you feel far away – yet the nearest S-Bahn stop is less than two kilometres away. In North Rhine-Westphalia, that’s not a given.

Wide arable fields and the club signpost of Baumberg

Further along, the landscape changes: the floodplain gives way to open fields. A large arable field opens up, bounded by a row of trees on the horizon – the composition is almost classical, with framing branches on the left and right in the foreground. Then, on re-entering the village, a genuine curiosity awaits: a club signpost with a good dozen signs showing the full spectrum of Baumberg community life – chess club, women’s choir, Catholic youth group, Rhein-Rock e.V. and several more. This is no tourist decoration, this is a real village.

Practical information

• Distance: 8.5 km, barely any elevation change (39–51 m), easy
• Start: Baumberg, district of Monheim am Rhein; parking available on the main road or at the official starting point (Klappertorstraße 47)
• Getting there by public transport: S-Bahn to Langenfeld or Leverkusen, then bus towards Baumberg – easily accessible
• Food and drink: In Baumberg there are the Rheinterrassen right at the starting point as well as restaurants in the village centre; the historic Haus Bürgel (former Roman fort, today with museum and biological station) is also along the route and occasionally offers guided tours
• Equipment: Sturdy footwear recommended in wet conditions – the gravel paths can become muddy after rain; otherwise no special requirements
• Best time: Accessible year-round; early summer for the balsam bloom, winter for the exposed mistletoe spheres in the bare birches

Conclusion

The Entdeckerschleife Baumberger Aue is not a spectacular tour – but one that rewards a closer look. Mistletoe nests, little owl hollows in old pollarded willows, a nature reserve with a connection to the Rhine, and a club signpost that tells you more about Baumberg than any travel guide. If you’re looking for quiet floodplain scenery and still want to be back in the city quickly, this is the right place.