Twelfth Stage “66-Lakes Hiking Trail”: The Glubig-Seenkette Chain of Lakes - Wendisch Rietz to Neuendorf am See

Length: 20 kilometres (5 hours)

Start: Wendisch Rietz

Finish: Neuendorf am See

Logo/route sign: Blue circle against a white background

How to get there: From Berlin central station, take the RE2 (Cottbus) to Königs Wusterhausen. From here, take the RB36 (Frankfurt/Oder) to Wendisch Rietz (about 1.5 hours).

Return journey: From Neuendorf am See, take bus no. 506 to Lübben. Continue from here by taking the RE2 (Wittenberg) to Berlin central station (about 2 hours).

Route: Wendisch Rietz, Großer Glubigsee, Springsee, Grubensee, Godnasee, Neuendorfer See, Neuendorf am See

Route description: This stage is particularly suitable for hikes in July: Many bathing areas which are only easily accessible to hikers are located at clean lakes along the way, and some birds can only be observed in summer. You will pass four regularly populated stork’s nests, a sea eagle has its nest in the region around Leibsch and can often be observed in flight from the vast expanses between Neuendorf and Köthen. You can also occasionally see cranes in this area, grey herons by the streams and cormorants around Lake Köthener See. This route features wide views, different kinds of secluded forest areas, some very large, beautiful spots that are perfect for dreaming, a strong bubbling natural spring and an old windmill. You will pass the Spree, wide meadows, lots of forests as well as numerous lakes. 16 of them are visible, you hike along 8 of them, and 9 are uninhabited. You will come across at least five bathing areas, some very quiet, and Lake Glubigsee, Lake Springsee, Lake Godnasee and Lake Köthener See have very clean water and no boat traffic. And there are many more lakes hidden away in the woods. The suggested route offers such a wealth of scenic variety and amazing sights that a two-day tour with an overnight stay would make sense. And that is easy to do, because there is plenty of overnight accommodation along the route.

Trail conditions/surface: not specified

Maps/Literature:

• “66-Seen-Weg, Hikeline Wanderführer”, 1:50,000, Verlag: Esterbauer, Auflage: 2 (2012), ISBN-13: 978-3850005012, Euro 14.90
• 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)