Kalltalweg

During the hike, you will pass various conservation measures from the Life+ project "Rur & Kall - Habitats in the River", the Biological Stations Düren, and the Aachen City Region. The construction measures promote the connectivity of the Kall and improve the habitat for migrating stream inhabitants such as brown trout, bullhead, and small organisms on the riverbed.

Already in 1512, at the site of today's Zerkall paper factory near the route's starting point, there was a water-driven mill that served over time as a grinding, fulling, and oil mill. Today, the handmade paper of the Zerkall paper factory is known worldwide, for example, the German Basic Law was printed on it in 1949. With some luck, you can observe kingfishers near the paper factory. On closer look, you can discover other animals, e.g. the common lizard sunbathing on a fallen tree trunk or the dipper, the only songbird that can dive underwater for up to 30 seconds while foraging.

A wooden bridge crosses the Kall, where the valley opens up, offering a view of extensive meadows. Shortly before Zweifallshammer, the Kall can be crossed via a ford. The problem: unpaved crossings cause increased sediment to enter the water when driven over. For this reason, access routes are reinforced with stones. Beaver gnaw marks are visible here. For the landscape designer, the Kall presents a challenge. In heavy rain or flooding, the current is so strong that it repeatedly destroys dams. The small side streams of the Kall, such as the Tiefenbach, are better suited as habitats.