Döberitz Heath circular hiking trail

The Döberitz Heath, covering over 3.500 hectares, is a unique natural paradise and an oasis of untouched wilderness just outside Berlin. This former military training area – owned by the Heinz Sielmann Foundation since 2004 – is home to over 6.700 animal and plant species, many of which are displaced elsewhere, and is a protected nature reserve.

The circular trail through the sandy dunes leads along extensive heathland, characterized by the distinctive heather, past the Ferbitzer Bruch wetland, and through light woodlands with their stands of oak and birch. With a little luck, you might spot bison, Przewalski's horses, or red deer during your hike. About halfway along the route is the Finkenberg observation tower. Built on the highest point of the Döberitz Heath, the 13-meter-high tower offers a magnificent panoramic view stretching as far as Berlin and across the Havelland region.

Length: 25 km (6-7 h)

Start finish: Elstal train station or visitor parking lot at the Döberitzer Heide Nature Experience Centre.

Marking / Logo: The hiking trail is signposted; the path is marked with a red dot.

Arrival and departure:
By car: The Sielmanns Nature Reserve Döberitzer Heide is easily accessible via the A10 (Spandau exit) and via the B5 (Elstal/Olympic Village/Sielmann Foundation exit).
Drive towards the bus turnaround, turn left there, after about 600 m the visitor parking lot is on the left-hand side.

By train: Take the RE 4 regional train (towards Rathenow) and get off at Elstal station. From there it's about a 20-minute walk: coming out of the station, turn left onto Bahnhofstraße and walk to the next intersection (passing Eduard-Schewe-Allee), then turn right onto Rosa-Luxemburg-Allee, then left onto the main road to the B 5 and continue over the bridge to Sielmann's Nature Reserve Döberitzer Heide.

Directions: From the parking lot, walk towards the nature experience center, then follow the signs ("To the circular hiking trail"). There are a dozen rest areas along the route, but no restaurants or cafes along the entire hike. Therefore, please bring sufficient water and food. For the sake of nature conservation and your own safety, please observe the rules of conduct in the area.

Sights: Observation tower at Finkenberg

Road condition/route development: nature-oriented paths

Maps / Literature:
Cycling and hiking map Döberitzer Heide, Spandau, Grundwald, published by Dr. Andreas Barthel, 1:35.000, 4,90 euros