Am Ginsterpfad, Protected natural area in Cologne, Germany.

Am Ginsterpfad is a protected nature reserve in Cologne with ponds, steep wooded banks, and meadows where sheep graze. The site contains several distinct habitats that support a wide range of plants and animals.

Gravel extraction began at the site in the 1950s. The resulting pits were filled with household waste between 1957 and 1960, and several standing waters of different sizes later formed in them. The area has been a nature reserve since 1991.

The street name Am Ginsterpfad refers to gorse, but the reserve's documented plants are sea buckthorn, wild carrot, black elder and bee orchid. The site is a former gravel pit between Weidenpesch, Longerich and Mauenheim, and since 1991 it has been protected, so most of it is closed to visitors; the ponds and dry grassland can be viewed from a designated viewpoint.

Visitors should stay on marked paths and keep dogs leashed to avoid disturbing wildlife. Moving quietly and respecting restricted areas helps preserve the site's natural calm.

The strictly protected Kreuz- and Wechselkröten (spadefoot and green toads) spawn in the ponds, alongside crested newts and common toads. In summer dragonflies fill the wet sections and draw Eurasian hobbies, which hunt these flying insects. The sandy ground also suits ground beetles.