You won’t find any mighty mountain ranges in Lower Saxony, but the federal state offers exciting tours for hikers, beyond the often overcrowded routes in the foothills of the Alps or on the coast. And with your mobile device, you will always be able to do your online betting.
Are you planning a hiking weekend this year or looking for an insider tip for a weekend getaway away from the beach? Then you should take a closer look at the hiking trails in Lower Saxony. Holidaymakers who don’t necessarily want to climb many meters in altitude will find what they are looking for in mystical moorland landscapes along rivers and in relaxed low mountain ranges, sometimes over hundreds of kilometers. An overview of some of the most beautiful routes.
Hiking in Lower Saxony: following in Goethe’s footsteps on the Harz Witches’ Trail
The approximately 150-kilometre-long network of trails has been an institution in the Harz Mountains for more than 20 years, offering a total of more than 8,000 kilometers of hiking trails. Many guests have the hiking route on their bucket list, according to the tourism association.
The Hexenstieg leads from Osterode in Lower Saxony to Thale in Saxony-Anhalt. If you want to hike it in its entirety, you should plan five daily stages of 20 kilometers on average. The Lower Saxony section of the route is mainly characterized by the national park and the Harz upland moors. In Saxony-Anhalt, the trail leads through the romantic Bode Valley and over the highest mountain in the range – the 1,141-metre-high Brocken. The poets Goethe and Heine hiked there.
The Brocken bypass on the Harzer-Hexenstieg hiking trail
If the path over the Brocken is too difficult for you, the “Brocken Bypass” witches’ climb route offers an alternative. However, the route is then 34 kilometers long instead of 20. The effort is worth it, as the trail leads over wooden footbridges and tree roots past the Oderteich – a historic reservoir from the Harz mining era. The 4.5-kilometre circular trail is particularly popular with families.
From the three-river town to Porta Westfalica
The Weserbergland Trail begins in the very south of Lower Saxony. The route starts at the confluence of the Werra and Fulda rivers to form the Weser and follows the river for 225 kilometers to Porta Westfalica. This is where the Weser breaks through the Wiehengebirge mountains at the so-called Westphalian Gate just before Minden.
The route, which is one of the best long-distance hiking trails in Germany, leads through rustic forests, picturesque valleys, and mysterious gorges and offers sweeping views over a natural landscape, according to Weserbergland Tourismus. The Solling-Vogler region, with around 1,000 kilometers of hiking trails, is also covered. Highlights include the half-timbered houses of the old town in Hann, Münden, and the Kaiser Wilhelm monument in Porta Westfalica at the start and end of the route.
Hiking amidst purple flowers in the Lüneburg Heath
In the Lüneburg Heath, the Heidschnuckenweg is the counterpart to the Harz Witches’ Trail. The 223-kilometre long-distance hiking trail leads through the famous heathland. It begins on the outskirts of Hamburg and ends in Celle. The tourism agency lists 23 stages on its website – the longest of which is the last at 27 kilometers.
The Lüneburg Heath is probably the best-known heathland in Germany.
If that is too long for you, you can also choose the heath loops that were introduced a few years ago. They measure between 1.4 and 20.9 kilometers. They are aimed at guests who want to experience the Heidschnuckenweg but don’t want to hike entire stages during a short break, according to the presentation of the shorter trails. This way, you can experience the heath landscape and sample regional specialties in inns along the way.