Döberitzer Heide Circular Hiking Trail

Döberitzer Heide, which covers a surface area of over 3,500 hectares, is a unique natural paradise and an oasis of untouched wilderness just outside Berlin. The former military training area – owned by the Heinz Sielmann Foundation since 2004 – is a protected site and home to more than 5,000 species of flora and fauna that have been driven out of many other places.

The circular trail through sandy dune terrain leads along extensive heathland its typical common heather vegetation past the Ferbitzer Bruch wetlands and on through sparse woodland consisting of oak and birch trees. With a little luck you may spot bison, Przewalski horses or red deer.
Finkenberg observation tower is located about halfway along the route. Built on the highest point of Döberitzer Heide, the 13-metre tower offers a magnificent panoramic view stretching as far as Berlin and over the Havelland region.

Length: 25 kilometres (6-7 hours)

Start/finish: Elstal railway station or entrance to Döberitzer Heide (car park).

Marking/logo: The hiking trail is signposted and marked with a red dot.

Directions:

• Car: Sielmanns Naturlandschaft Döberitzer Heide is easily accessible via the A10 (exit Spandau) and via the B5 (exit Elstal/Olympisches Dorf/Sielmann Stiftung).
• Train: Take regional train RE 4 (Rathenow) and get off at Elstal station. From there it is about a 20-minute walk: coming out of the station, turn left into Bahnhofstrasse and walk as far as the next crossroads (past Eduard-Schewe-Allee), turn right here into Rosa-Luxemburg-Allee, then turn left into the main road to the B5 and cross the bridge to Sielmann's Naturlandschaft Döberitzer Heide.

Route description: From the car park, walk in the direction of the Naturparkzentrum, from there follow the signs ("Zum Runderwanderweg"). There are a dozen rest areas along the way, but there is nowhere you can get a meal on this route, so be sure to take food and water with you in sufficient quantities. In the interests of nature conservation and for your own safety, please follow the rules of conduct in the area.

Sights: Finkenberg observation tower

Trail conditions/surface: natural paths

Maps/Literature: Rad- und Wanderkarte Döberitzer Heide, Spandau, Grundwald, Verlag Dr. Andreas Barthel, 1:35.000, Euro 4.90