Exploring Augsburg: Western Woods Nature Park
The possibilities where you can ride your bike on a weekend are endless, especially when the Alps are just a 2 hour drive away and you love being in the mountains just like I do. But instead of getting onto the freeway with all the other weekend travellers I decided to stay at home this once.
There are so many beautiful roads for (road)cyclists in Munich, Augsburg and inbetween. A thing that is apparently only known by few, because many of them stick to familiar routes since it’s the path of least resistance. Which displays a certain irony considerung that challenging yourself, exploring the unknown and sometimes even struggling and suffering should be core values of any passionate cyclist. I’m always excited about finding and trying out new roads, studying maps and planning trips. I’ve build myself quite the reputation when it comes to that. So, here we go… A brief glimpse of cycling around Augsburg.
I started my ride in Hochzoll. I was so glad I brought my long winter gloves; the crisp morning air was nearly freezing me off my bike. The sky was just slightly opening up and I was kind of curious how the weather would play out over the next few hours. In the summer months it’s really cool to head along the Eiskanal, an artificial whitewater river and canoe slalom channel, and watch the canoeists train or participate in competitions. Now the place is strangely abandoned. Same goes for the following path through the Siebentischwald, the northern part of Augsburgs city forest. I truly love this spot, no matter what time of the year. When it’s warmer, the place is packed with other cyclists or walkers. Today there were only a handful others. Plus me and my bike.
After that I was making my way around the south endings of the city, passing some villages along rural roads. It’s a nice area down there. Even though you won’t find any decent climbs there are several small roads through fields without noteworthy traffic. The only bad thing about those villages? It was already around noon and after almost every inn I passed I had the delicious smell of Kässpätzle in my nose.
My goal was to reach the beginning of the Weldenbahn in Neusäß. It once was a railway line connecting Augsburg with Welden. Nowadays its trackbed remains in form of a paved cycle path that leads you roughly 18 kilometers through a remote part of the Western Woods Nature Park, the Holzwinkel. In a few places you’re completely surrounded by the forest. Currently painted in lovely autumn colours.
After finding something to eat — unfortunately no Kässpätzle this time — and grabbing a coffee to go in Welden I cycled further through the gentle, hilly landscape. I’m always amazed about the barely there traffic in this area. It’s a welcome change. So are the single laned side roads, mostly hidden in seemingly endless and magical forests. Where you can see deer in the fields during the day.
Eventually it was time to get back to the city. I was coming in from the north-west and to be honest — besides some dirt roads — there are a couple of neat cycle paths before and after Gersthofen. Take them to avoid the traffic on the streets. After passing the Lech I made a detour to Friedberg, just because I like the historic district and the view you have from the town wall so much. There are also some nice cafés around if you’re in need for caffeine or pastries.
Last but not least, let me tell you one more thing: there’s almost always plenty of west wind… We’re on a first-name basis for quite some time now.
