Edersee: The best hiking trails for your holidays!
In Northern Hesse lies the Edersee, one of the largest reservoirs in Germany. Swimming, pedal boating, or long bike rides are really fun here. But hiking enthusiasts also get their money's worth. A lush forest landscape with gentle hill ranges and the forest-rich Kellerwald-Edersee National Park surround the lake and offer hiking opportunities together with your four-legged friend.
Table of contents
Edersee - 8 special hiking trails
Waldecker Hiking Trail W8
There are 10 special and signposted Waldeck hiking trails that convey the advantages of the area in various ways. While the hiking trail W1 is more of a small walk of 1.5 kilometers with information boards, the hiking trail W8 offers a varied mix of forest and lake views over a good 7 kilometers. The Waldeck hiking trail W8 is also known as the Kanzelrundweg and starts at the market square in Waldeck. It leads over the impressive Urwaldsteig, which boasts mighty trees, over the Hexenkopf and to the Kanzel, which promises a great lake view and further magnificent views over the region.
Knorreichenstieg
The Knorreichenstieg is a magnificent nature trail about 17 km long near the small community of Asel in Lower Saxony. It leads through the beautiful forests on the northern edge of the Edersee, which boast particularly old and impressive stands. Some parts of the last primeval forests of Central Europe are located here. The Knorreichenstieg owes its name to the over 800-year-old, very gnarled oaks. This uniqueness is accompanied on the route by steep rock slopes with great gorges and views over the beautiful Edersee, as well as a partially Mediterranean plant world that is rare in this form in Central Europe.
Hochstein Route from Herzhausen to Hochstein
The hiking trail on the Hochstein begins in the small village of Herzhausen on the western shore of the Edersee. The so-called Hochstein route initially leads along shady forest paths high above the shore to the viewpoint at Hochstein. Take a break and be inspired by the panoramic view over the reservoir. From Hochstein, the trail descends on forest paths back towards the lakeshore. Here, the approximately 11-kilometer-long path leads as a relaxed conclusion of the circular tour always along the shore and back to Herzberg. However, especially on the steep slopes, it is overall a quite challenging hiking route.
Jungle Trail Edersee
The Urwaldsteig winds through the Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, and offers great insights into the geological and landscape history of the region. During your hike, you will repeatedly enjoy magnificent views of the shimmering lake surface and the unique forests. Bizarre growth forms resemble goblins and quirky mythical creatures. Start in the national park at the Edertal-Bringhausen hiking parking lot. The Urwaldsteig is divided into six stages, with a total walking time of around 22 hours. If you only want to take a day trip, short circular routes are available. A great excursion destination is the Edersee Wildlife Park in Edertal with lynxes, wild boars, wild horses, wolves, and birds of prey.
Circular Hike Edersee-Peterskopf Route (alternative name: Hegeskopf Route)
Embedded in the Kellerwald and the Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park, the mountain landscape attracts with extraordinary flora and fauna. Experienced hikers gain a sustainable insight into this special low mountain range region on the 5.57-kilometer Edersee-Peterskopf route: Follow the hiking trail marked with a wild boar and discover wild nature. Up and down, along the Affoldern reservoir, which adjoins the Edersee to the south, you will hike through a diverse landscape. You are always surrounded by a forest in transition, with breathtaking panoramas and a protected diversity of species. Take your time on the route and experience the small and large wonders of this natural region.
Ochsenwurzelskopf Route
The Ochsenwurzelskopf route leads for about 6.9 kilometers through the popular Kellerwald-Edersee National Park in Hesse. It passes through deep beech forests that enchant with a beautiful forest tranquility. The first section leads up to the Großer Hegekopf, from whose height there is a wonderful view to enjoy. The path then leads to the famous Urwaldsteig Edersee, which not only boasts impressive old forest stands but is also one of the most popular hiking trails in the region. Finally, it goes around the eponymous Ochsenwurzelskopf mountain, which also enchants with a dreamy and pretty view as well as a peaceful forest idyll.
Circular hike to Hagenstein
The area around the Edertaler Reservoir is a very popular hiking region in Hesse with a variety of trails. A true circular route around the mighty Edersee is the Urwaldsteig-Edersee with a distance of 65 kilometers. Another option is the approximately 6-kilometer-long circular hike to Hagenstein. The circular hike partly follows the Urwaldsteig and thus offers a nice insight into the mighty tour. It starts and ends at the National Park Center in Kirchlotheim and leads through the beautiful forests to the Hagenstein viewpoint, which offers a great view over the area.
Ederseeweg
The Ederseeweg in Hesse runs for about 49 kilometers from Kassel through the Habichtswald Mountains and the Waldeck Forest to the Edersee. It passes through the beautiful Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park, which boasts magnificent forests and the mountainous area surrounding the vast lake. Along the way, there are plenty of historical sights to discover in addition to the natural idyll. In addition to the Wilhelmshöhe Palace in Kassel, there is also the Bismarck Tower, which promises a beautiful view of the surroundings. In the Habichtswald Mountains, the Hessenturm is another great observation tower.