The 380 kilometre Ems-Radweg follows the course of the Ems river, from the Senne sand dunes to the North Sea coast, from the source of the Ems in Hövelhof to the estuary in East Frisia.
Route and sights
Following the entire course of a river from its source to its estuary really is a special experience. Cyclists can do this on the EmsRadweg, which starts in the Senne moorland in Hövelhof and ends at the Ems estuary in Emden on the North Sea coast.
Visitors can see for themselves how the Ems grows from a tiny stream to a major majestic river on its way to the North Sea. The EmsRadweg path follows the general direction of the water, but also weaves in and out of the historic towns and cities and idyllic landscapes on both sides of the Ems river.
As one of the few long-distance cycle paths, the EmsRadweg bears the prestigious title of “ADFC 4-star Quality Route” from the German Cyclists' Association.
Information
Arrival and departure
The EmsRadweg starts approx. 7 km outside Hövelhof. You can park your car for free for several days at a time at Hövelhof Central Station or approximately 150 m down the road on Bahnhofstraße between the police station and Town Hall.
The specifics of the tour
Ems ferry: the “Ditzum” Ems ferry connects the municipality of Jemgum to Emden’s district of Petkum.
You can find information on the schedule and prices on the website for the district of Leer.
Weener railway bridge closure: the Weener railway bridge is closed until further notice. The Ems can currently only be crossed in Papenburg or near Leer.
The following are temporary alternative routes to the EmsRadweg:
If you are travelling from the South, you can access the normal EmsRadweg up to Weener. From here, the International Dollard Route on the left bank of the Ems takes cyclists on to Bingum (to the west of Leer), where they can rejoin the original EmsRadweg route.
If you are travelling from the North, you can also follow the EmsRadweg route to Höhe Weener (Hilkenborg). From here, the Deutsche Fehnroute on the right bank of the Ems will take cyclists to Papenburg, where they can rejoin the EmsRadweg.