Stage 6 Circular Hiking Trail Around the Schorfheide

Deep and High at the Oder River - from Oderberg to Niederfinow: Water and industrial culture characterize this section of the tour with its historical sites. 135 km in 7 stages - Around the Schorfheide to experience and discover. The circular route reflects the region like no other path. Together, you will experience many sights and learn a lot about the region around the Schorfheide, with the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve, the district town of Eberswalde, the Barnim Nature Park, and the Schorfheide itself with the UNESCO World Heritage Site Buchenwald Grumsin. The silence in the forest, the rushing of the water, and the beautiful open landscapes reflect the region at its best.Length: 15 kmWalking time: approx. 4 hoursStart / Finish: Oderberg to Niederfinow StationMarking / Logo: Blue TreeArrival: Eberswalde with RE 3 and RB 24 from Berlin - continue with BBG Line 916, by car via the A 10/A 11 motorwayDirections: From the old town of Oderberg, we set off through gently rolling forest and open countryside. The Oder-Havel Canal, which we briefly encountered in Oderberg, still has a highlight in store for us today, but first Oderberg lives up to its name and we reach the highest point of our 7-day hike at 112 meters above sea level.Heading downhill, we arrive easily in Liepe, where interesting brick buildings lead us through the village, before a gigantic structure suddenly appears before us. The Niederfinow Boat Lift is a technical masterpiece - but wait: there are actually two of them, right?When completed in 1934, the Niederfinow Boat Lift was the worlds largest of the ten existing lifts at that time and continues to serve to this day, making the 36m height difference between the end of the canal and the Niederoderbruch navigable.With the construction of the Niederfinow North Boat Lift, the future of the link between the Oder, Havel, and Elbe rivers was secured. This is currently nearing completion, with its larger-sized trough designed to lift even larger ships of the large motor freighter specification in minutes. During visits to the visitor exhibition and guided tours, not only technology enthusiasts will be amazed!Our water- and history-rich stage ends comfortably along the Finow Canal, which was first built in the early 17th century as the oldest still navigable artificial waterway in Germany.Points of Interest and Information: Old town of Oderberg, Oder-Havel Canal, Liepe, Niederfinow Boat Lifts, Finow Canal, NiederfinowTrail Conditions: Cobbles, Asphalt, Forest PathsNote: In the Niederfinow (Atomill) section towards Lieper Schleuse, there is regularly an increased groundwater level due to weather conditions in the winter half-year, which affects the path along the canal. Please follow the local signs.Map Recommendation: Pharusplan Schorfheide with the hiking trail Around the Schorfheide and the node system for cyclists, Scale: 1:42,000, Publisher: Pharus Plan, 5th edition 2021, ISBN: 978-3-86514-142-2, Price: 5 € and free accompanying booklet