Beaver Tour

Right at the start, a short section goes quite steeply uphill from the rehabilitation clinic parking lot towards Hüttigweiler. But for that, we immediately enjoy the wide view over Illingen and the Ill valley: a bench invites you to linger. For about 100 m, the bike path runs along the country road to Hüttigweiler. Here a gradient indicator points to the 50 meters of elevation now to be overcome. But be careful – not quite at the top yet the beaver route and the Saar-Oster-Höhen-Radweg diverge: At Kiefernweg we turn left towards the boule court and tennis club.

For a few meters it goes somewhat unpleasantly uphill on coarse gravel, but soon we are rewarded with several clearings and distant views at the forest edge above Hüttigweiler. We meet the Saar-Oster-Höhen-Radweg again and cycle left on a beautiful asphalt path towards Urexweiler.

Along the forest edge, through meadows and fields with beautiful views we cycle for several kilometers on the ridge path to the dog sports club on the upper outskirts of Urexweiler. The club’s pub invites you to cool drinks, at least on weekends. Attention: here begins the junction to the variant described below. The beaver tour leads us down to Urexweiler. We cross the stream and turn right into the wide landscape of the upper Ill valley, our beaver territory.

The Ill was renaturalized a few years ago, and beavers have indeed been successfully settled here. The path, however, runs somewhat above the stream, so we can sense the beavers more than actually see them. But the valley itself is very beautiful and idyllic, as the Ill finds its way through the floodplain landscape.

We reach Hirzweiler, which we only skirt. Here it is time to gather strength: 80 meters of elevation must be overcome past the Kastanien and Berghof up to Faulenberger Hof. We meet the Saar-Nahe-Höhen-Radweg, which we follow towards Stennweiler.

Under fruit trees on wonderful meadows, one can enjoy a packed picnic with wide distant views and recover from the ascent to Faulenberg.

On well-developed gravel paths it continues, first downhill by itself and then up another approx. 40 meters. Here in the forest above Stennweiler, the Saar-Nahe-Höhen-Radweg and the beaver route diverge again.

The beaver route turns right, but it is advisable at this well-signposted intersection to cycle about 1 km further straight on towards Wiebelskirchen to the beer garden at Stülzehof. After a relaxing break, it goes first back to the forest junction, then to Stennweiler. We cross the village always following the blue beaver logo on quiet side streets and enjoy the descent to Hüttigweiler.

Just before the village entrance, on the right like a viewing platform, lies a small chapel. Once again you can let your gaze wander far into the upper Ill valley and let your soul dangle.

From Hüttigweiler it goes again somewhat unpleasantly 40 meters uphill to the "Hirschenhübel". This is still doable even at the end of our tour, and we are rewarded once more with a wonderful view and a nice descent back to Illingen.

Above Hüttigweiler, a forest path about 1 km long is only moderately passable. In wet weather, it is recommended to bypass on the Saar-Oster-Höhen-Radweg, which is continuously paved (see map).

From Faulenberger Hof to Stennweiler, a section about 4 km long is not paved but very well maintained as a gravel path. Finally, a 400 m section on the Hirschenhübel just before Illingen is only very rough gravel and passable only by bikes with correspondingly wide tires. On the fairly short route length of 25 km, a few small to medium ascents between 40 and 80 meters must be overcome. Even children with some practice and multi-gear bikes can manage this without problems.

Variant:

At the dog sports field above Urexweiler, it is possible not to descend into the village but stay at the height on the Saar-Oster-Höhen-Radweg to cycle to the small district Rheinstraße. From here, Saar-Oster and Saar-Nahe-Höhen-Radweg run parallel to Habenichts. From Habenichts we then follow the Saar-Nahe-Höhen-Radweg and meet the beaver route again at Faulenberger Hof. This way you avoid the crossing of the Ill valley but miss the "beaver section" between Urexweiler and Hirzweiler.