Höhenfelder See
A 20-hectare gravel pit lake in Cologne's Dellbrücker Wald — swimming is banned year-round, the water is leased to anglers, and the surrounding woodland serves as recreational space.
The Höhenfelder See, covering around 20 hectares, formed in an abandoned gravel pit on Cologne's right bank of the Rhine. Its name derives from the district of Höhenfeld, which belongs to the Höhenhaus neighbourhood.
At a Glance
- Type
- Gravel pit lake formed from an abandoned quarry
- Size
- approximately 20 hectares
- Location
- Dellbrück district, Mülheim borough (right bank of the Rhine, Cologne)
- Depth
- ranges from shallow areas to zones up to approximately 15 metres deep
- Protection
- within the Dellbrücker Wald landscape conservation area
- Use
- leased fishing water; surrounding area used for local recreation
Although the city of Cologne considered opening the Höhenfelder See as an unsupervised swimming lake in 2007, the plan was rejected in 2008 not on safety grounds but due to nature conservation – the Mülheim district council turned it down because of the lake's location within a landscape protection area.
Things to do here
- Stroll the forest paths around the lake and soak up nature
- Watch birds and water creatures along the shore
- Photograph the tranquil lakeside scenery
- Jog or hike through the Dellbrücker Wald nature reserve
- Patiently fish the leased angling waters for pike, carp and more (club permit required)
- Take a relaxing break in the green surroundings
Water area comparison
Water area compared with other lakes in Cologne.
Location and Surroundings
Nestled in a woodland area of Cologne's Wichheim-Schweinheim district, the lake borders the Dünnwald and Höhenhaus areas. It forms part of the landscape conservation area "Dellbrücker Wald, vorgelagerte Freiräume und verbindende Grünbereiche" (Dellbrücker Wald, adjacent open spaces and connecting green corridors). A short distance to the south begins the Dellbrücker Heide nature reserve.
Swimming Ban
Although the surrounding woodland is popular for recreation, the lake itself has been closed to swimmers since the site was recultivated. Swimming is life-threatening and prohibited — partly due to sharp temperature differences between the shallow zones and sections reaching depths of around 15 metres. In 2007, the City of Cologne explored the possibility of opening the lake as an unsupervised bathing spot. On 18 February 2008, the Mülheim district council rejected the proposal, citing the site's protected status within the landscape conservation area.
Fishing and Fish Stock
The lake has been leased as a fishing water by the Angelsportverein der Berufsfeuerwehr Köln, the angling club of Cologne's professional fire brigade. The water is home to pike, perch, trout, catfish, eels, carp, and various coarse fish.
Timeline
- 2007City of Cologne considers opening lake as unsupervised bathing area
- 2008District council Mülheim rejects bathing lake proposal (18 February)
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
Address
Höhenfelder See
51069 Köln
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-26
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