Lower Saxony is Germany's second-largest state by area, stretching from the North Sea coast and the East Frisian islands down through rolling farmland to the forested Harz mountains on its southern border. Its capital, Hannover, is best known for the Herrenhausen Gardens and a compact, walkable Old Town, but the state's UNESCO credentials lie elsewhere: the Romanesque churches of Hildesheim, the thousand-year Rammelsberg silver mine above Goslar, and the vast tidal mudflats of the Wadden Sea along the coast. Half-timbered towns like Celle and Lüneburg preserve centuries of Hanseatic and salt-trading wealth, while Wolfsburg's Autostadt and the university town of Göttingen add an industrial and academic counterpoint to the state's historic core.
Top trails
Routes worth lacing up your boots for.
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1
Brocken Summit via the Goetheweg from Torfhaus
The classic ascent of the Brocken, the highest point in northern Germany at 1,141m, following the wide gravel Goetheweg from the Torfhaus visitor center across open moorland to the summit plateau and its weather station.
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2
Schierke to Brocken via the Eckerloch Route
A steeper alternative ascent of the Brocken starting from the village of Schierke, climbing through the Eckerloch ravine's spruce forest before joining the open summit plateau near the historic Brockenbahn narrow-gauge railway line.
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3
Baumwipfelpfad Harz Treetop Walkway, Bad Harzburg
A 1,000-meter elevated boardwalk through beech and spruce canopy on the Burgberg above Bad Harzburg, reached by cable car, ending in a spiral tower with panoramic views over the northern Harz foothills.
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4
Wilseder Berg Loop from Undeloh
A loop through open heathland to the Wilseder Berg, at 169m the highest point of the Lüneburg Heath, passing the car-free village of Wilsede and offering wide views across heather-covered hills at their most vivid during the late-August bloom.
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5
Totengrund Heather Valley Walk
A short circuit through the Totengrund, a steep-sided glacial valley within the Lüneburg Heath known for its dense juniper stands and dramatic heather color, considered one of the most photographed corners of the nature park.
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6
Ith Ridge Trail (Ith-Klippen)
A ridge walk along the exposed limestone cliffs of the Ith, a narrow shell-limestone range in the Weserbergland popular for its rock outcrops, cave openings, and views across the rolling farmland toward the Weser valley.
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7
Hamelin Weser Riverside Walk
A flat riverside walk along the Weser through Hamelin's old town, passing the Pied Piper-themed half-timbered Altstadt and the Weser Renaissance architecture of the Rattenfängerhaus before continuing along the towpath south of the town.
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8
Guided Wattwandern — Norddeich to Norderney
A guided mudflat walk across the exposed seabed of the Wadden Sea at low tide, crossing tidal channels and sandbanks from the mainland harbor of Norddeich to the East Frisian island of Norderney with a certified Wattführer guide.
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9
Deister Ridge Walk to the Annaturm
A forested ridge hike through the Deister hills southwest of Hannover, climbing to the Annaturm lookout tower near the range's high point for views over the Deister's beech woods and the Calenberger Land below.
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10
Süntel Hohenstein Cliffs Walk
A forest walk through the Süntel hills to the Hohenstein, a dramatic limestone cliff face and former quarry near Bad Münder, with a viewing platform overlooking the wooded ridge and the Süntel-Buchen beech trees known for their twisted trunks.
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11
Solling Große Blöße Forest Loop
A forest loop across the Solling plateau to the Große Blöße, at 528m the highest point in the range, passing the Sollingturm lookout tower through mixed beech and spruce forest that gives the Solling its reputation as one of Lower Saxony's quietest hiking areas.
Trail difficulty levels
Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.
Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.
Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.
Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.
Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.
Local hazards
What to watch out for on the trail.
Sudden weather changes — always carry rain gear and warm layers.
Wildlife encounters — make noise on the trail and store food properly.
Trail conditions can deteriorate after rain — check recent reports before setting out.