From the Löcknitz to the Spree: round tour from Erkner - tour for late riser

This late riser tour leads from the Löcknitz to the Spree. The tour leads through a beautiful landscape with winding rivers, clear lakes, wide meadows and fragrant forests. Always along the meandering Müggelspree, you can watch the gentle current during a break and then get back on the saddle. This late-riser tour on the outskirts of Berlin will leave you feeling particularly refreshed.

Start / Finish: Erkner train station
Length / Duration: 44 kilometers, 2 - 3 hours
Nature of the route / route development: mainly paved and asphalted paths
Course: Erkner, Fangschleuse, Grünheide (Mark), Altbuchhorst, Hangelsberg, Mönchwinkel, Hartmannsdorf, Steinfurt, Neu Buchhorst, Erkner
Arrival/departure:

• RE1 or S3 from Berlin main station, to Erkner Bahnhof (S)/ZOB
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  Tip: When you arrive at Erkner station, keep right to cross the Flakenfließ and then follow Freidrichsstraße until you reach the left-hand turn into Fürstenwalder Straße. From there, your cycling adventure begins on the way to the purest natural paradise.
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  Departure tip: On the way back, take the S-Bahn and relax. The RE1 is particularly full of bikes at weekends in the afternoons and evenings.
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  Note: Follow the tips on taking bicycles from the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB).

Route description
Out to the lakes A quick train ride to Erkner, where the late riser tour begins. Following the Europaradweg R1 and the Oder-Spree-Tour in an easterly direction, the route heads north along Werl and Peetzsee to Grünheide (Mark). If you want to head straight into the forest, take the Oberförstereiweg through the Löcknitz valley from Erkner as an alternative to the official cycle path and cycle south towards the lakes on a good gravel track.

Between the two lakes, you can take your first break in the Grünheide (Mark) civic park - or in the idyllic beer garden. There is a beautiful view from the church on the Kellerberg. If you want to jump into the water first, the gently sloping sandy beach on the northern shore of Lake Werl offers a particularly beautiful view of the lake and the island of love in front of it.

At the trout on the Löcknitz In Altbuchhorst, the tour turns south and leads through the fragrant forest to Klein Wall. Once you arrive at the old watermill, you can even fish for yourself at the trout farm. Even easier: order a delicious fish sandwich at the snack bar.

Here you are right in the Löcknitz Valley nature reserve. The Löcknitz flows through this natural paradise in pronounced meanders and, with its near-natural bank zones, forms a biotope for many rare animal and plant species. It is home to 100 bird species and over 450 butterfly species. At the idyllic resting place at the Löcknitz crossing, you can watch the dragonflies dance and listen to the soothing splashing of the fish ladder.

Continue along the 66 Lakes Trail to Hangelsberg. Countless lilies of the valley bloom in the surrounding forests. The air is particularly fragrant in May.

Magical: the idyllic Müggelspree In Hangelsberg, once a popular summer residence for Berlin's upper classes, you turn onto the Spree cycle path. There are repeated detours directly to the Müggelspree, which meanders leisurely back and forth. Here you can cool your feet, take a dip or marvel at what the beaver is up to in the idyllic floodplain landscape.

The Mönchwinkel bivouac site, located directly on the river, is particularly beautiful. From the striking wooden bridge, you can watch the aquatic plants swaying in the clear river water. Other idyllic spots can be found in Neu Hartmannsdorf, further along the route at the Jägerbude campsite and in Hohenbinde.

Holly's Kuchenparadies In Hartmannsdorf, Holly's, which is particularly popular with racing cyclists, invites you to take a coffee break with cake. The owner Doris welcomes you to feast and chat. Her cakes enjoy cult status. Although Doris hardly sees anything, she bakes a huge variety almost every day with a lot of love and dedication - there is even a vegan and gluten-free version.

Dämeritzsee on the outskirts of Berlin Finally, you roll back to Erkner, where the tour ends at the station and the train takes you back to the big city. If you still have energy left, you can cycle a good 20 kilometers further to Berlin on the Spree cycle path. Or you can simply enjoy the sunset at Dämeritzsee and treat yourself to a sundowner in a deckchair at the Erkner beach bar. 

Swimming tips & Co:

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  Werlsee: North beach, wide beach with beach bar and climbing forest in Grünheide
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  Peetzsee: bathing area with a fine sandy beach, great view of the lake only on the southern circuit
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  Mönchwinkel: small bathing area at the bivouac site on the Müggelspree
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  Hohenbinde: small hidden bathing area on the Müggelspree
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  Dämeritzsee: Erkner lido, bathing bar also with SUP rental

Refreshment tips

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  Grünheide: Eiscafe Eiszauber, Heydewirth with beer garden, Il Borgo, Flügel's Hof
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  Klein Wall: snack bar at the trout farm
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  Hangelsberg: Spreecurry
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  Hartmannsdorf: Hollies Kuchenparadies
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  Erkner: Restaurant at the Jägerbude campsite, Badebar Erkner, Dekaffee roastery and café, Bürgerle ice cream parlor