Between the Alps and the sea
Experience nature: These are the most beautiful hikes in autumn
When the trees turn bright: autumn is the perfect season for hiking
© Franz Pritz / Picture Alliance
In times of Corona the motto is: Don’t travel far away. The season is ideal for an active holiday in your own country. The journey to the low mountain ranges is short, and when the weather is golden in October, being outside is particularly fun. Tips for seven hikes.
Hiking has established itself as a trend sport, whether with or without sticks, the lively Nordic walking. We make seven route suggestions for autumn hikes that are particularly worthwhile.
On the wings of the hawk through northern Hesse Fairytale: the 85-kilometer Habichtswaldpfad leads through northern Hesse © Imago Images
This route through the Habichtswald can be called “Premiumweg”. The certification by the German Hiking Institute guarantees a clearly marked and eventful route through a fairytale landscape, in which the Brothers Grimm once collected their stories.
The 85-kilometer hiking trail in the Kassel district connects the largest Hessian juniper heaths on the Dörnberg with the last primeval forests on the steep slopes of the Edersee and explains a lot about culture and nature on the boards along the way. Several of the 26 guest houses and hotels along the route, which leads to bizarre rocks, decaying castles and through places with neat half-timbered houses, entice you with low-cost packages.
Info: www.habichtswaldsteig.deExperience nature: autumn hiking week in the Black Forest
Autumn mood in the Wutachsschlucht in the Black Forest
© Picture Alliance
When the first fog hangs in the plains of the Rhine Valley in the morning, the sun can already be seen in the Southern Black Forest Nature Park. Small towns between the mountains of Belchen and Feldberg, such as Wieden, are known for climate-neutral holidays: You can travel there by public transport, you can stay mobile with the inclusive guest card, which includes free use of buses and mountain railways in the Black Forest, to get to the starting point of the hikes. We recommend the 18-kilometer tour from Wieden to the Feldberg. In order to overcome the difference in altitude of 500 meters, however, a minimum level of fitness is required.
Info: www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info and www.zumo-schwarzwald.de
With only a slight gradient through the Upper Harz The “Oberharzer Wasserregal” cultural monument, with its ponds and harrow house, is part of the world heritage of mankind © Picture Alliance
Most visitors to the Harz want to go to the Brocken because the bald summit at 1141 meters is the highest point in northern Germany. In its shadow lies a part of the Harz in the west, the places of which have suffered a decline in tourism many years after reunification.
The ingenious system of small reservoirs, ditches and tunnels that the miners developed to generate energy has only just been recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. The paths along these man-made watercourses are particularly pleasant. On the old dam ditch between Altenau and Torfhaus you can learn a lot about the more than 300 year old structures of the Upper Harz water shelf in the Harz National Park.
Info: www.harzinfo.de and www.hexenstieg.de
It doesn’t get any flatter: mudflat hike to Neuwerk In the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park: walk barefoot on the seabed exposed at low tide. © Bodo Marks / DPA
There are people who like to run, they just don’t like steep climbs. No hills will get in the way of anyone who is out and about on the German North Sea coast. But instead of walking straight along the sea on a dike, a hike in the sea is much more entertaining. When the tide sets in, it goes from Cuxhaven-Duhnen through the gray-black silt to the island of Neuwerk. For safety reasons, the twelve-kilometer route through the Wadden Sea National Park should be covered in a group. From Neuwerk you can either return to Cuxhaven by ship at high tide or stay in one of the few accommodations such as the historic lighthouse. It is also possible to continue the mudflat hike the next day to the bird island of Scharhörn.
Info: www.cuxhaven.de and www.nationalpark-wattenmeer.de
All-German high trail: on the Rennsteig The R marks the Rennsteig © Imago Images
A white “R” marks the way: the most traditional Rennsteig begins at the lowest and most northerly point of the route in Hörschel near Eisenach on the middle course of the Werra. Over the main ridge of the Thuringian Forest, the adjacent Thuringian Slate Mountains and the northern Franconian Forest, it goes to the upper reaches of the Saale to Blankenstein – a total of 168 kilometers. Directions divide a Rennsteig hike into six stages between 20 and 30 kilometers in length. The starting point for the “Runst”, as a Rennsteig hike is called, is Eisenach, other places that offer overnight accommodation are Oberhof and Neuhaus.
Info: http://rennsteig.wordpress.com and www.rennsteiglauf.de
Up and down in the arena: around Lake Zurich Well signposted: the 124-kilometer hiking trail around Lake Zurich © Till Bartels
At the gates Zurichs an extremely varied circular route begins. The 124-kilometer, well-signposted path around Zurich and Obersee is divided into ten daily stages, some of which run parallel to the shore, but also lead to panoramic mountains such as the 1096-meter-high Etzel. From there you have a view of the Swiss postcard landscape with its hills, forests and the perfect infrastructure that hikers can use for themselves: the paddle steamers, trains and S-Bahn transport you quickly to the desired section of the route or bring you back to the city. Part of the trail is on the route of the European long-distance hiking trail and the Jacob trail to Santiago de Compostela. Another advantage: At the beginning of autumn, hiking can be combined with a swim: the current water temperature of Lake Zurich is still 17 degrees at Utoquai in the middle of Zurich.
Info: www.zuerich.com
Without luggage to the summit: through the Bregenz Forest Fog covers the landscape of the Bregenz Forest © Voralrberg Tourismus
In the far west of Austria, in Vorarlberg, lies the Bregenz Forest with its 2000 kilometers of signposted hiking trails. On themed trails, hikers can find out more about nature and history. If you want to get to know the hiking area with an expert guide, you can take part in a guided hike. The local offer includes culinary hikes, herb hikes, summit tours and also high-altitude trails without luggage, for example through the foothills of the Alps near Sulzberg far to Schönenbach and Au. A tip: Those who stay three days receive the Bregenzerwald Guest Card, the door opener for the free use of many chair lifts, mountain railways and the Wäderbus.
Info: www.bregenzerwald.at
Also read:
– Hiking apps: According to Stiftung Warentest, these are the best
– Wanderable Germany: These are our most beautiful long-distance hiking trails
– Between heaven, water and earth – hiking from Airolo to the upper Valle Maggia