Only a few days left - then autumn officially begins. The foliage is already coloring, the air is cool in the morning. For many hikers this is the best season. Here are six tours that run along lakes and rivers - one ends at a waterfall.
Around Berlin: hiking to 66 lakes
Whenever the weather is right: off to the train and to a start of the 66-Lakes hiking trail that leads around Berlin. The well-signposted path is actually particularly beautiful with autumn sun, because it crosses numerous, then colorful deciduous forests. On a total of 400 kilometers, it goes past 66 lakes, ponds and ponds, but also to castles and parkland. One of the most beautiful stages leads from Wensickendorf to Melchow, on which you can roam eight lakes alone.
Also impressive: on the way from Bad Saarow to Wendisch-Rietz, hikers pass the highest German inland dune at 36 meters and a small jungle near the old Brandenburg town of Storkow. The total of 17 stages are easy to handle even for the less experienced. The way can also be interrupted at any time, because bus and train connections lead back to the capital.
High bank on Rügen: tour with Baltic Sea view
Rügen calls as every year the "active autumn" (until October 28) - with guided bike, hiking and ranger tours. The high shore path along the chalk coast is particularly promising on the island: on the approximately 13-kilometer long path, hikers always have the Baltic Sea in view. The path leads between the harbor town of Sassnitz and the fishing village of Lohme through the Jasmund National Park and is one of Germany's most beautiful hiking trails.
In the biosphere reserve Southeast Rügen further hikes are possible. There, dunes alternate with cliffs and forests with bogs. During a wild fruit tour from Baabe, for example, the guides will tell you which species can be collected and processed. As long as the late summer sun warms, vacationers should also plan a break at the small Bodden beaches - even if the temperatures allow only a foot bath.
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Six autumn hikes: Rügen to ChiemgauDuchy of Lauenburg: Sparkling evening hours
Just outside Hamburg lies the gentle hilly landscape of the Duchy of Lauenburg. A special feature of the tourism association explains the "Funkelstunde": Then reflect the evening sun in over 40 lakes and the waves of the Elbe - and makes the water sparkle. At the kitchen lake near Ratzeburg. The twelve-kilometer tour takes you on a nature trail and offers rest on a jetty overlooking the quiet lake.
Whoever wanders from there to the nearby Mechow Lake, experiences the Schleswig-Holstein sunset from the lookout tower on the western shore of the lake. Between Lauenburg and Geesthacht, it can be observed from the wooded steep slopes of the Hohe Elbufer. Dawn is also the hour of the crane watchers here in autumn.
Urwaldsteig Edersee: Unesco-protected beech forest
It is quiet on Urwaldsteig around the Edersee in northern Hesse. Autumn is the best time to explore the 68 kilometer hiking trail. Then beech and oak trees form a colorful canopy and between the tree trunks the lake shines. In six daily stages, the tour can be easily created, even if hikers have to climb over fallen trees every now and then.
Deadwood belongs to the picture of the World Natural Heritage in the National Park Kellerwald-Edersee. Because the forest with up to 160 years old beech is neither managed nor maintained by foresters. But the almost mystical landscape offers a habitat to numerous plants and animals. Sometimes even the roaring of the deer can be heard in autumn. The Buchenwald area of the National Park is now part of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
imago
Hazy waterfall
Black Forest: trails, gorges and waterfalls
The Black Forest, south of Freiburg, is criss-crossed by a network of hiking trails - many circular trails lead to gorges, hidden lakes and waterfalls. Some are so root-covered that they require some surefootedness. The almost twelve-kilometer-long Wasserfallsteig trail, for example, skirts the Fahler Wasserfall as well as the Todtnauer Wasserfall - with a fall of 97 meters the highest natural waterfall in Germany.
Further circular routes lead to the Schluchsee, through the Rötenbach and the Wutachschlucht. All paths are well signposted and can be linked together. And at the end of the tour? Could a Black Forest cherries stand in one of the Black Forest parlors.
Chiemgau: smuggler trails and Almumtrieb
Even the foothills of the Alps are particularly beautiful in the autumn for long mountain tours - it is not so hot anymore, the light is gentle. The Chiemgau has opened its migratory autumn in early September with the Almumtrieb, but offers until the beginning of November numerous guided, several-hour hikes.
For example, hikers can take the routes to the popular Winklmoosalm near Reit im Winkl. On smuggler trails they lead to the Austrian border to the traces of glacial glaciers and a moor hike to the most beautiful mushrooms. Guides, geologists and botanists tell their guests where once salt, tobacco and even live pigs were smuggled across the border, and why bachelors were once so coveted when drifting.
Further multi-day hikes in Germany we have put together here:
Ten multi-day hikes
Heidschnuckenweg
Where: Lower Saxony, from Hamburg-Neugraben to Celle
Length: 223 kilometers
Daily stages: 13
Road condition: 50 percent natural
This is how it looks: The Heidschnuckenweg leads through one of the oldest cultural landscapes in Germany - the heaths. Characteristic are sandy paths, pine and mixed forests, rolling hills, small streams and the flourishing in August and September heaths on which year-round Heidschnucken herd grazing. And again and again: small villages with thatched houses - including the car-free Wilsede and tired with its historic core.
Highlights: Brunsberg and Büsenbachtal, NSG Lüneburg Heath, Wilsede, Wachholderwald Schmarbeck, Misselhorner Heath with Tiefental
Website: www.heidschnuckenweg.de
Märkischer Landweg
Where: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg, from Feldberg to Mascherin
Length: 217 kilometers
Daily stages: 10
Road condition: 70 percent natural
This is how it looks: The Märkische Landweg leads through the hilly Uckermark, the Lower Oder Valley National Park, to the Polish border. It is well suited for hot summer days, as it passes lakes or streams almost every day. If you want, you can rent a canoe for a change on the lakes of Feldberg. One highlight is the Schorfheide-Chorin biosphere reserve, which also includes the Grumsiner Forst (photo), which was declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site because of its Buchenwald forest.
Highlights: Feldberger Seenkette, Glashütte in Annenwalde, Templin, Angermünde, Schloss Criewe, Salveymühle
Website: The Märkische Landweg
Urwaldsteig Edersee
Where: Hessen, start and finish Edertal-Bringhausen
Length: 68 kilometers
Daily stages: 3 to 4
Road condition: 75 percent natural
This is how it looks: The 27-kilometer-long Edersee is one of the largest reservoirs in Europe, and the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park is on the shore. Parts of the red beech forest are UNESCO protected and are explored on this way. If you do not want to meander over the narrow paths for days, you can also shorten this to 24-hour hikes or extreme hikes. Lonely it is not exactly on the shores of the lake, and at low tide the remains of flooded villages become visible.
Highlights: Boat trip, Waldeck Castle, Ederstaumauer with Aquapark, Wild Animal Park Edersee, TreeTopWalk
Website: www.urwaldsteig-edersee.de
Baiersbronn Lakeside
Where: Baden-Würtemberg, start and finish Baiersbronn
Length: 91 kilometers
Daily stages: 5
Road condition: 35 percent natural
This is how it looks: The Seensteig beats in the northern Black Forest a round along seven Karseen. In total, there are about 2800 vertical meters each up and down. On the way are waterfalls, flood plains, Grinden plateaus, bogs and the oldest spell forest in Germany. In between, there are views over the Black Forest and the Rhine plain.
Highlights: Sankenbachsee, Ellbacksee, Buhlbachsee, Wildsee, Mummelsee, Dreifürstenstein, Huzenbacher See
Website: www.baiersbronn.de/seensteig
Erzweg
Where: Bavaria, from Pegnitz to Kastl
Length: 151 kilometers
Daily stages: 11
Road condition: 45 percent natural
This is how it looks: East of Nuremberg, the Erzweg opens up the "Ruhr region of the Middle Ages": iron ore was mined here at that time, there were smelting works and smelting works, forges and coal mines. It was not until 2002 that the Maxhütte was closed last. There is no sign of mining today, but rugged limestone cliffs, rolling hills, vast forests, river valleys and countless caves. Some castles, ruins and castles are on the way (Photo: Neidstein bei Neukirchen)
Highlights: Maximilian's Grotto, Lichtenegg Ruins, Hammerschloss, Kastl Monastery
Website: www.erzweg.de
Natural Trail victory
Where: North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, from Siegburg to Mudersbach
Length: 200 kilometers
Daily stages: 15
Road condition: 39 percent natural
This is how it looks: Always along the Sieg - and over the surrounding heights leads the natural path. It is particularly well suited for the gradual exploration, as each stage starts and ends at a train station. A total of impressive 7100 vertical meters come together. Silent river valleys, deep forests, open plateaus and also castles and palaces are characteristic for this way. In August, an extension to the source of victory at Netphen should be completed.
Highlights: castle ruins in Blankenburg, Windeck castle ruin, Steinerother Kopf, Ottoturm, Freusburg
Website: www.natursteig-sieg.de
Rheinburgenweg
Where: Rhineland-Palatinate, from Rolandsbogen to Bingen
Length: 198 kilometers
Daily stages: 13
Road condition: 48 percent natural
This is how it looks: Not the nature, but rather the numerous castles along the Rhine make this long-distance trail. Beginning and end of the stages are easily accessible by public transport - including ferries. Anyone who has had enough of history and legend can observe an eruption of the world's highest cold-water geyser in Andernach. Also climbing trails are on the way.
Highlights: Arp Museum, geyser Andernach, castle Stolzenfels, castle Pfalzgrafenstein, castle Rheinstein
Website: www.rheinburgenweg.com
Palatinate Vineyard
Where: Rhineland-Palatinate, from Bockenheim to Schweigen-Rechtenbach
Length: 172 kilometers
Daily stages: 11
Road condition: 66 percent natural
This is what it looks like : wine and mountains - you have to like that if you want to walk this way for eleven days. The winegrowing region of Pfalz is the second largest in Germany - the region is accordingly spoiled with sunshine - and altogether, there are about 5600 vertical meters uphill. Wine tasting can be enjoyed along the way - maybe one or the other stage would have to be chosen accordingly. The highest peak of the Palatinate Forest, the Kalmit at 673 meters, is on the way,
Highlights: Bismarck Tower, Hambach Castle (photo), Kalmit, Burg Landeck
Website: www.deutsche-weinstrasse.de/pfälzerweinsteig
Erzgebirge-Vogtland
Where: Thuringia, Saxony, Bavaria, from Geising to Blankenstein
Length: 285 kilometers
Daily stages: 17
Road condition: 42 percent natural
This is how it looks: Eight summits of the Ore Mountains and the Vogtland are crossed on this very long tour - and accordingly impressive views are won here by hikers. In addition to the deep forests and bright river valleys with black grouses, badgers and kingfishers, the mining and handicraft tradition makes the way so interesting. Steam-powered narrow-gauge railways and Germany's oldest cableway distract attention from the bubbles on the feet.
Highlights: Altenberg, Rechenberg-Bienenmühle, Muldenberg
Website: www.kammweg.de
Panoramaweg Schwarzatal
Where: Thuringia, start and finish Rudolstadt
Length: 136 kilometers
Daily stages: 8
Road condition: 61 percent natural
This is how it looks: The circular trail, which runs along the Schwarza, connects the Rennsteig on the heights of the Thuringian Forest with the Burgenland of the Saale. Wide forests, reminiscent of primeval forest, meadow valleys and always wide views are characteristic of the Panoramaweg. What is special is that more than half of the route runs on natural paths and paths.
Highlights: Schloss Schwarzburg, Oberweißbacher Bergbahn, Schwarza-Quelle, Trippstein, Burg Greifenstein (photo)
Website: www.rennsteig-schwarzatal.de