Routes in Oderberg

135 km through the Schorfheide: forests, lakes, Grumsin beech forest, Werbellinsee and the historic Chorin Monastery – nature and culture perfectly combined for one or more days.

8th of 16 stages on my Oder-Neisse route from Zempin to Görlitz Part 042 of my Way of St. James from Saint Petersburg to Santiago de Compostela My adjacent routes: before: Baltic Sea coast after: Bohemia

From the ship lift at Niederfinow to Lunow-Stolzenhagen on the Oder

From Eberswalde station via the Oder-Havel cycle route to the Oder and then on the Oder-Neisse cycle route to Schwedt, from there via the Uckermark circular cycle route to Gramzow.

A beautiful circular route by bike from NABU Blumenberger Mühle via Wolletz to Altkünkendorf and further through the Grumsiner Forest to Althüttendorf. From Althüttendorf via Senftenhütte to Chorin and via Brodowin, Parstein, Herzsprung, Angermünde, and Kerkow back to the starting point at Blumenberger Mühle.

Circular hike in the Chorin terminal moraine arcThis shaded tour leads through a varied terminal moraine landscape with partly rugged elevations located on the southern edge of the Schorfheide-Chorin biosphere reserve to several viewpoints. First, an unusually steep ascent to the Pimpinellenberg must be mastered, later it goes back through shady deciduous forest and fields.

For our trip along the Finow Canal to the Niederfinow ship lift, into the Oderbruch, and along the Neuenhagen Oder Island, we’ve chosen Eberswalde’s main train station as our starting point. Eberswalde – Niederfinow Boat Lift / 12 km / 1 hour 10 minutes

Actually, the Oder-Havel cycle route starts in Oranienburg and then follows the historic Finow Canal from the Havel to the Oder. Along the way, it passes through places such as Eberswalde, Niederfinow with its ship lift, and Oderberg. At the destination Hohensaaten, there is a connection to the Oder-Neisse cycle route.

Short circular hike in Oderberg.

​As we make our way from one nature reserve to the next, we discover the diverse Barnim Nature Park and part of the Schorfheide. Water plays a major role, whether we’re cycling through romantic river valleys, along crystal-clear lakes, or on smooth asphalt past canals and along river bike paths. On our bikes, we experience pure nature with a touch of urban and industrial culture. DAY 1: Just Outside Berlin We set off on Day 1 from Bernau Train Station, about 20 km from Berlin’s city limits. The station is accessible from Berlin via the S-Bahn and is also perfectly connected to the city by regional trains. The historic city center of Bernau is still largely surrounded by a city wall. And we’ll ride right along it as we leave the station plaza at junction 61 to the left and follow the Berlin-Usedom Bike Path. This wonderful bike route accompanies us throughout the day and takes us through the varied landscapes of the Barnim Nature Park. Undisturbed through the nature reserve: We leave the old town through the old mill gate and cycle steadily north along the bike path on Ladeburger Chaussee. Soon we’ve left Bernau and its bustling streets behind and turn left onto the paved bike path. Amid trees, fields, and wind turbines, we head toward Lobetal. From there, we ride through a stunning landscape of wet meadows, marshes, and forests, undisturbed by motorized traffic, through the Biesenthaler Becken Nature Reserve (NSG). Our bikes roll over gentle hills on the nearly perfect bike path, which is partly paved and partly made of firm gravel. Coffee, cake, and a panoramic view of Biesenthal: After just under 12 kilometers, we reach Biesenthal and junction 73, where we turn left onto August-Bebel-Straße. Located on this street is the 2 / Café zum Schloßberg – Bäckerei Franke (Mon–Fri 6 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat–Sun 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Breite Str. 10, 16359 Biesenthal), which is practically a must-stop for cyclists and invites you to take a break with all kinds of fresh baked goods and pastries. Afterward, refreshed and re-energized, we turn right onto a short stretch of cobblestone road and head slightly uphill toward the Schlossberg. Not much remains of the former 13th-century Ascanian castle, but on the left side of the road there’s an observation tower that’s open to the public free of charge from April through the end of October.  Film Set in the Finow Valley But we can also simply keep pedaling and follow the Wehrmühlenweg to the eponymous 3 / Wehrmühle (Wehrmühlenweg 8, 16359 Biesenthal, biesenthal.org). However, following a fire, it’s now only recognizable as a ruin. The historic building next to it, on the other hand, has been extensively rebuilt. Today, it features a charming mix of a historic stucco facade and a modern addition at the rear. We ride past it and continue to the left. Time for a break at the NSG. Along the way, we also pass the Pohlitzbrück shelter, where you can take a wonderful break in the wild natural surroundings, crisscrossed by swamp forests and wetlands. Shortly afterward, at the ramp leading to the bridge over the A-11, a short stretch of rough cobblestones awaits us, but we can mostly ride around it along the edges of the path. From there, the path splits into two through the forest: old cobblestones on one side and an asphalt bike path on the other. It’s a no-brainer which one is more pleasant to ride on. At junction 95, we turn left and now enjoy the wild and romantic landscape of the Finowtal-Pregnitzfließ Nature Reserve with its characteristic wet forests and meadows. A Cycling Break at Germany’s Oldest Government Building After about 22 km, we reach the Grafenbrück Lock, one of the 12 historic locks on the Finow Canal. Right in front of it is the 4 / Schleusengraf restaurant (Grafenbrücker Weg 4, 16348 Marienwerder), which, thanks to its location on the long-distance bike path, offers the perfect spot for a break. Numerous bike racks and a large garden, alongside the lovingly restored historic building—considered the state’s oldest administrative building—invite you to linger. Junction at the IntersectionAfter a short break, we cycle north along the Finow Canal, past Marienwerder, to the Oder-Havel Canal. To cross Federal Highway 167, there is a crossing on the right leading to the bike path. We continue left on the other side of the road and shortly thereafter turn right into the forest. Smooth asphalt awaits us there on the path along the Werbellin Canal to junction 80 near Rosenbeck, where the next lock is already located. The idyllic little village on Lake Rosenbeck immediately evokes a relaxed vacation atmosphere. A fairy-tale tower by the crystal-clear lake. Following the route along the Werbellin Canal, we now arrive in Eichhorst, where there are several places to take a break—whether with fresh fish in the beer garden or ice cream from the small ice cream shop near the Eichhorst Lock. Shortly thereafter, we reach the wooden bridge at 5 / Askanier Tower (€0.50; key available at Café Wildau, Wildau 1, 16244 Schorfheide). For a small fee, you can climb the 12-meter-high fieldstone structure, which commemorates the former Askanier Castle of Werbellin, and feel a bit like Rapunzel while enjoying the view. From there, you have a great view of Lake Werbellin. If you’re looking to cool off, don’t miss the chance to take a dip in the clear, clean water. You can do this, for example, at the swimming beach near the Süßer Winkel campground, which we pass on the route along the southern shore of the lake. Stop south of Lake Werbellin: On the soft forest path—where we have to watch out for roots—we continue cycling to Altenhof and junction 41. From there, we head south on the bike path alongside the road until we reach junction 91, where we meet the Finow Canal again. By the way, the area between Werbellin Lake and Eberswalde is an excellent spot for a stopover. In addition to campgrounds and guesthouses, there are also several nice hotels here, so there should be a suitable place to stay for a wide range of preferences. DAY 2 The State Garden Show for the Whole Family Depending on where we spend the night, our second day starts here or perhaps only after Waypoint 10 in Eberswalde. Once we arrive at the Finow Canal, we’ll see a large site on the south side of the canal that’s definitely worth a visit, though it will take some time. The 7 / Eberswalde Family Garden (April–Nov., 10 a.m.–6 p.m., 4/2 €, Am Alten Walzwerk 1, 16227 Eberswalde, familiengarten-eberswalde.de) was opened in 2002 as part of the 2nd Brandenburg State Garden Show. Spanning 17 hectares and combining artistic garden landscapes, industrial architecture, and a fairy-tale play area, it offers all kinds of recreational and leisure activities for the whole family.