Circular route around the Heyda dam

Mixture between water and forest

The Heyda dam was once considered an insider tip for Erfurters who wanted to quickly get into the “real” nature. At that time, Autobahn 71 ended behind the Behringen tunnel. From there it was only a few minutes to the Wipfra dam. That was a long time ago.

The completion of the motorway has lengthened the route a little. But a visit to the dam is still worth it.

In summer the water is used for various water sports. There is even a small harbor there. The main activity on site is hiking. Sometimes you can also meet cyclists, but the hiking trail “Around the Heyda Dam” is probably the main reason for the numerous visitors to the water, especially on weekends.

The appeal lies in the mix between water and forest that nature lovers find there. There is also a restaurant and hotel at the dam. In the last few decades there have been occasional vacancies caused by a change in ownership. So if you want to go there, you should find out about opening times and offers beforehand.

Arrival:

From Erfurt, drivers need around 40 minutes to get to one of the numerous parking spaces in the run-up to the closure. Cyclists can complete the route in approximately 2.5 hours. However, a cycle path does not lead directly to the destination. Either take the Geraradweg to Plaue and then cycle over the Reinsberge or cycle from Arnstadt on district roads via Dannheim and Reinsdorf.

The nearest train station is Martinroda. It will be difficult or impossible for public transport users to reach the Heyda dam. According to our research, for example, there are no buses in the area on Sundays. Otherwise there are train/bus connections only in combination with a final walk to the desired destination. During the week this should be possible from Erfurt main station in just over 2 hours.

Conclusion:

The circular route around the Heyda dam is intended for hiking. Riding this route by bike is rather unpleasant: the narrow paths are overgrown with roots and are simply not suitable for this type of transport. The route is more pleasant to drive along one of the many forest paths. Although these do not always lead along the water, they are easy to drive and conflicts with hikers are minimized.

Finally:

Do you have an addition to the article, do you know where the bus leaves on Sundays or have you discovered the ideal bike route to your destination? Register at: redaktion@ich-liebe-erfurt.de