Guest author: Astrid Biemann
When you think of hiking, do you mostly picture the Alps, too? Then this article might hold some surprises for you. I have discovered some wonderful hiking routes for families in the North of Germany and I can promise you: This region has a lot more to offer than flat landscapes!
From the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas to the glittering waters of the Mecklenburg Lake District and the mountains in the Harz highlands, there’s so much for families to explore. You’ll be amazed! Here are my favorite stretches in the North of Germany:
The North Sea classic: walking the tidal (mud) flats
It’s mud time! You can leave the hiking shoes in the closet when walking the tidal flats, also known as mud flats, at the North Sea. On warm days, you can explore the mud flats with bare feet and experience the pleasantly cool ground with all your senses. (Water shoes are recommended for small children to protect little feet from seashell cuts.)
Did you know that the little piles you see all over the sand are sandworm poop? (My kids found this unbelievably hilarious on our last vacation to the North Sea.) But that hardly bothers most mudflat hikers. You can take these walks almost everywhere along the coast, and they’re as much a part of a real North Sea vacation as a fish sandwich for lunch.
Starting at the town of Schillig or Carolinensiel, for example, there are a few nice walks for families that take about an hour and are suitable even for kids as young as two. Going with an experienced guide, your kids can learn a lot about the tides, and search with their fingers and hand nets for North Sea treasures such as seashells, crabs, and driftwood – and maybe the ruins of a sunken pirate ship?
Important: Never explore the mudflats on your own! When the tide comes in, the water rises quickly and can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening!
Bärenwald (Bear Sancutary) Müritz
The Bear Sanctuary Müritz is a refuge for brown bears that have been rescued from captivity. The fluffy giants previously lived too long in circuses or zoos and can no longer be released into the wild. The Bear Sanctuary Müritz gives them a chance to live, protected, in a natural environment with an extensive wooded area and a body of water so they can re-discover their own natural instincts.
Visit the bear sanctuary with your kids and try to find the bears in their enclosures. Children can learn all about the animals on the educational trail or even get up close for a day as a bear caretaker.
On the loop trail through the sanctuary, you’ll find plenty of idyllic picnic spots, a lookout point, and a big playground.
Hiking in the city: Niendorfer Gehege
Right in the midst of bustling Hamburg, you’re suddenly surrounded by greenery. The Niendorfer Gehege is a wooded area with 15 kilometers of hiking trails waiting to be explored. It’s a true oasis in what happens to be the most beautiful city in the world (according to people from Hamburg, anyway).
If you’re very lucky, you can see deer when you’re exploring. Bunnies, foxes and mouse weasels live here, too, so… shhh! You must be very quiet! Otherwise, the animals might not feel safe enough to venture out of their hiding spots.
If your kids haven’t burned enough energy hiking, they can still go wild playing at the two forest playgrounds with slides, zip lines, and swings.
You can find a little refreshment in the restaurant, which is set idyllically under some trees right next to one of the playgrounds. There are sweets and savory meals, and a great kids’ menu offering rice pudding and fish sticks with peas and carrots alongside the obligatory chicken nuggets and fries.
Löwenzahn Entdeckerpfad (Dandelion Discovery Trail) in the Harz
In the Harz, Germany’s northernmost low-lying mountain region, explore the Dandelion Discovery Trail in Drei Annen Hohne. Kids learn a whole lot of valuable knowledge about nature in a playful way. You should plan about two hours for the family trail, which, by the way, is named after a beloved German TV show for children about “Fritz Fuchs” and his dog Keks.
Along the way, your kids can learn how to read animal tracks and have a jumping contest with the forest animals. Who can jump further than a rabbit? There’s also a barefoot path to explore. Ideally, bring a towel to wipe the mud and pebbles off everyone’s feet before slipping back into your shoes.
The trail’s destination is the NaturErlebniszentrum (Nature Discovery Center) HohneHof, where a restaurant and big adventure playground await you. When you’re planning a hike here, check the event calendar online first: There are sometimes great offers for families, such as talks with a park ranger.
Very near the trail, by the way, the Brockenbahn (Harz Narrow Gauge Railway) passes through, and sometimes even rushes past toward the summit.
A dream in purple: the Lüneburger Heide (Heath)
When the heather is in bloom, the landscape of the Lüneburger Heath is gorgeous and attracts many hikers every year. The area offers a lot for families with children, too – and not only when the heath is blooming.
For families with smaller children, the Märchenwald (Fairy Tale Trail) in Jesteburg is a great destination. My son walked through it alone when he was three and had fun at the different stations. Along the way, a “trickster” tells a fairy tale that was written by a local school class. This trail is truly for kids, by kids! If your kids love the story as much as mine did, you can even buy the book. At the end of the trail, yummy cake and cool drink await in a small café.
For bigger kids, the Heide Erlebnisweg (Heath Adventure Trail) Schillohsberg is super, with the landscape all in violet when the heath blooms between August and September. At six different stations, you can learn how the heath developed from the ice age to today and enjoy beautiful views along the way.
Northern Germany – full of surprises
So you can see that northern Germany has tremendous potential for hiking! Who knew?! I haven’t found a real family hiking guide like the ones you often find for typical hiking regions, such as those in the Alps. But on the websites for the different vacation regions or in the tourist information offices, you can find a lot of information about wonderful outings and routes that are also suitable for kids. Do you have any more tips for family hikes up north in Germany? Please write us – we’d love to hear them!
