Sixth Stage “66-Lakes Hiking Trail”: Silence and Idyll

Length: 28 kilometres (7 hours)

Start: Melchow, Finish: Leuenberg

Logo/route sign: blue spot against a white background

How to get there: From Berlin central station, take the RE3 (Angermünde) to Biesenthal. From here, continue on the RB24 (Eberswalde) to Melchow (about 45 minutes).

Return journey: From Leuenburg, take bus no. 887 to Werneuchen. From here, continue on the RB25 to Berlin Ostkreuz (about 1 hour).

Route: Melchow, Schönholz, Trampe, Neugersdorf, Leuenberg

Route description: This tour is one of the most wooded stages. It is very varied and you are surrounded by a delightful silence throughout. This includes the quietly situated and romantic Gamengrund area. Hikers are greeted along the way by pristine lakes in a swamp and forest landscape as well as small towns. The trail starts at Melchow railway station. Here you can visit a station that looks after wild animals. In Schönholz you will find lovingly restored farmhouses typical for the Mark Brandenburg region. In Trampe there is a former castle on spacious grounds. There is a great place to take a break behind the castle grounds next to the old excavation site of Breydin castle. Then you reach the shore areas of several lakes in the Gamengrund area. The path then meanders along the shore and surprises you with beautiful views over the water.

The Gamengrund area was virtually unknown until a few years ago, but its remote location means that it is still very quiet and romantic. There are pristine strings of lakes, three of which still without a name and embedded in a swamp and forest area, parts of which are very rugged, wild and romantic.

Alternatively, or in addition, you could take a hike to Falkenberg, which will be easy to find.

Sights:

• Melchow: Station that looks after wild animals
• Schönholz: typical Mark Brandenburg farmhouses
• Trampe: Castle, Brydin castle ruin

Possible combinations:

• Hiking tour through Barnim Nature Park
• Turmwanderweg Hiking Trail
• Oderlandweg Hiking Trail

Trail conditions/surface: mostly unpaved paths

Maps/Literature:

• “66-Seen-Weg, Hikeline Wanderführer”, 1:50,000, Verlag: Esterbauer, Auflage: 2 (2012), ISBN-13: 978-3850005012, Euro 14.90
• “Wander- und Radwanderkarte 66-Seen-Weg: Zu den Naturschönheiten rund um Berlin”, 1:50.000, Verlag: Barthel, A., Auflage: 2 (1. Oktober 2011), ISBN-13: 978-3895911552, Euro 7.90
• Reschke, Manfred: “Die 66-Seen-Wanderung. Zu den Naturschönheiten rund um Berlin”, Trescher Verlag; Auflage 8, aktual. A. (2017), ISBN 978-3-89794-369-8 (www.trescher-verlag.de/reisefuehrer/deutschland/66-seen-wanderung.html)