Many people know the Heimbach reservoir as a destination for hiking the so-called jungle trail. Yet the calm water below the dam is above all one thing: an ideal spot for boating, all year round. Here you will learn what is possible on the reservoir with a canoe, kayak and pedal boat, who it is worth it for and how a guided tour with us works.

The short answer

You can go boating on the Heimbach reservoir all year round. Guided canoe and kayak tours with a briefing and equipment are offered by us at Kanu Petry right on site, in a stable four-seater canoe, from the age of 7. If you would rather pedal along gently, you can rent a pedal boat from the boat rental at the shore. Only one thing is not possible on the reservoir: stand-up paddling is not permitted here. Everything about the calm, family-friendly water is on our reservoir page.

What is possible on the reservoir by boat

The Heimbach reservoir is a calm lake without any notable current, fed by the water of the Rur and the Urft that flows through the art nouveau power station. By canoe or kayak you glide across the water in a relaxed way, with a view of the wooded slopes of Eifel National Park. With us you go on a guided tour: in a four-seater canoe, with a guide, a life jacket and a short briefing, without any skill of your own. Pedal boats are available from the local boat rental at the shore. Stand-up paddling, on the other hand, is not allowed on the reservoir; for that the nearby Rursee, with a boat permit, is the right place.

Pedal boats in Heimbach: what is available and where

A pedal boat is the most relaxed way to get onto the reservoir, and it is not part of our offer. Pedal boats and canoes are rented out by the Freizeitanlage Heimbach right on the shore, and that is where you ask about availability and prices. For a few laps on the water without any paddling technique it is exactly right, especially with younger children or if you turn up spontaneously.

We at Kanu Petry do something different: guided canoe and kayak tours in a four-person Canadian canoe, with a guide, equipment and a briefing, from the age of 7. So if you want to do more than pedal and would rather paddle properly and learn something about the area, you are in the right place with us. The two do not rule each other out, plenty of families do the guided tour first and add a pedal boat round later.

Who the reservoir is ideal for

Calm still water, short distances, no weirs: the reservoir is the perfect start. Families with children from the age of 7, paddling newcomers, grandparents with grandchildren or groups looking for a relaxed day are exactly right here. Because the water stands rather than flows, the tour is far more beginner-friendly than the river run on the Rur, and it is possible all year round, not just in the summer season.

How a guided reservoir tour with us works

You come to Heimbach, we provide boats, paddles and life jackets, and after a short briefing you head out on the water. You paddle in a stable four-seater canoe, in which smaller children ride safely too. Adults pay 28 euros, children 24 euros. The tour can be booked year-round and combines well with a walk or a rest at the shore. Dates and booking are on our booking page.

Reservoir or the Rur: which water suits you?

The two areas are only minutes apart, but the experience is different. The reservoir is calm still water, navigable all year round and suitable from the age of 7, ideal for a relaxed start. The guided Rur tour is a real river run: 14 kilometres from Heimbach to Zerkall, start 11:15, around 4.5 hours, from the age of 9, and due to nature protection only in the season from 15 July to 28 February. If you like it calm and flexible, take the reservoir; if you are after the current and the longer stretch, take the Rur.

Around the reservoir: more than just water

After the tour, a look ashore is worthwhile. The well-known jungle trail, a family-friendly circular walk, runs around the reservoir, and above it all towers the art nouveau power station of Heimbach, a landmark of the region. What else you can discover in and around Heimbach is collected in our Heimbach sights.

Frequently asked questions about boating on the Heimbach reservoir

Can you go canoeing on the Heimbach reservoir?

Yes. Kanu Petry offers guided canoe and kayak tours on the Heimbach reservoir year-round, in a stable four-seater canoe, from the age of 7. Boat, paddle, life jacket and briefing are included.

What does a boat tour on the reservoir cost?

On the guided canoe tour, adults pay 28 euros and children 24 euros. Pedal boats from the local rental are charged separately on site.

From what age can children join?

On the reservoir, children join from the age of 7, because the water stands and has no current. The Rur tour, by contrast, is only from the age of 9.

Is the reservoir navigable all year round?

Yes. Unlike the Rur, which may only be paddled from 15 July to 28 February, the Heimbach reservoir is open all year round.

Is stand-up paddling allowed on the reservoir?

No, SUP is not permitted on the Heimbach reservoir. If you want to paddle standing up, move to the nearby Rursee, there with a boat permit.

Onto the calm water

The Heimbach reservoir is the most relaxed way to get on the water in the Eifel, all year round and even with small children. Pick a date and book your guided canoe tour directly on our booking page; everything else about the area is on the reservoir page.

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Heimbach Reservoir by Boat: Canoe, Kayak and Pedal Boat