From the Geopark Visitor and Information Centre through the Grumsin Beech Forest World Natural...

Grumsin Beech Forest was added to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site list in 2011 along with four other beech forests and is therefore one of the most important forests in the world. Whereas the core zone of the district is strictly protected, you can explore no less impressive areas of the forest.Length: 7 kilometres (2-3 hours)Start/finish: Geopark Visitor and Information Centre, Groß ZiethenLogo/route sign: green beech leafHow to get there:Train: Take the RE3 (Stralsund) from Berlin central station (Hauptbahnhof) to Angermünde. From here, take Bus 920 (Joachimsthal) to Klein Ziethen. Then another 100 metres on foot to Ziethen to the Geopark Visitor and Information Centre (about 2 hours).Car: From Berlin, take the A114, A11 and the B198 to Ziethen to the Geopark Visitor and Information Centre (about 1 hour).Route: Groß Ziethen, Lake Großer Schwarzer See, Sperlingsherberge geological adventure site, Groß ZiethenRoute description: The comfortable hike, which can also be accompanied by various nature guides from the region, starts at the parking area at the Geopark Visitor and Information Centre, which is easy to see from a distance because of the large mammoth outside the exhibition.
First, the path takes you through the undulating fields of the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve – be sure to follow the marking with the green leaf. After about 20 minutes you come to the edge of the forest, which immediately draws you in. Initially, the hike alternates between forest and field but after a few minutes you delve into the deep beech forest. The water of Großen Schwarzer See Lake sparkles through the trees. The path goes around the lake at a distance from the banks. Every so often, you can spot the magical, shimmering alder forests. After 45 minutes you come to Sperlingsherberge geological adventure site. You can clearly follow the effects of the Ice Age at various installations at this former stone quarry. After about 20 minutes, you come back to the starting point at the Geopark.Sights: Sperlingsherberge geological adventure sitePossible combinations: From the Grumsin Beech Forest info-point to Grumsin Beech Forest World Natural Heritage SiteTrail conditions/surface: not specifiedMaps/Literature: "Schorfheide - Uckermark - Barnim: Wanderkarte mit Aktiv Guide und Radwegen", 1:50.000, KOMPASS-Karten, Auflage: 2 (1. Februar 2015), ISBN-13: 978-3850265393, Euro 9.95