Bigge-Lister-Weg Nordroute

The new Bigge-Lister-Weg opens the Biggesee-Listertalsperre natural experience in the southern Sauerland for hikers. Since the main path with a length of more than 40 km cannot be hiked in one day, there is the possibility of opening up the Bigge Lister path in individual, daily digestible bites through the combination with so-called clasps. The north route, for example, is suitable for this, as a circular hike can easily be completed in one day.

We start the north route on Bigge-Lister-Weg on Biggedamm in Attendorn. The 640m long Biggedamm was completed in 1965 and accumulates the water from the Bigge and various small streams on an area of 876ha when full. This makes the Biggesee the second largest lake in North Rhine-Westphalia after the Möhnesee in the Arnsberg Forest.

From the lighthouse on the lake you walk over the Biggedamm into a forest area and quickly reach the Biggeblick viewpoint, which was newly established in 2013. Those who have taken the ascent can enjoy the view of the Biggesee with the dam, the Gilberginsel, over the Waldenburg Bay and up to the Waldenburg castle ruins from the Biggeblick over the treetops.

Behind the forest, continue on the Bigge-Lister-Weg to the lido and the marina Waldenburger Bucht and head for the Waldenburg Chapel. Through the nature reserve Gilberginsel it goes up to Buchhagen (458m). Via the Attendorn locality of Bürberg, you hike down into the arm of the Bigge lake, which is filled by the Bremgebach, pass it and leave the main path over a clasp to the Sondern valley bridge.

Behind the viaduct you reach Sondern, the only lake railway station in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is connected to the railway network via Finnentrop (and then Hagen, Bochum, Essen to the north and Siegen to the south).

You hike from Sondern to the Dumicke arm of the Biggesee, cross it and then come to the Listertalsperre. The Lister Reservoir is separated from the Biggesee by the barrier wall. The clasp of the Bigge-Lister-Weg leads over the barrier wall between Biggesee and Listertalsperre back to the main path and follows it via Neu-Listernohl back to Biggedamm.