Nature Reserve Guide
Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees is a nature reserve situated along the eastern shore of the Ratzeburger See, extending towards the state border with Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This region features a landscape shaped by the last ice age, characterized by extensive reed and wetland zones along the shore, which transition inland to narrow fen forests and natural forest communities like Seebruch and Steinort. The area's varied topography includes numerous springs, ponds, stream gorges, and steep slopes, providing a diverse environment for several…
155
Routes
4.6
(2036)
Average rating
10508
People visited

4.8
(636)
2,275
hikers
7.62km
02:00
60m
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(40)
144
hikers
11.5km
03:00
80m
80m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(366)
1,356
hikers
26.4km
06:56
210m
210m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(46)
253
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.3
(24)
95
riders
44.7km
03:07
270m
270m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(27)
101
riders
26.4km
02:02
190m
190m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(91)
363
riders
36.6km
02:19
120m
120m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(17)
78
riders
45.6km
02:58
330m
330m
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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4.9
(17)
1,044
runners
26.5km
02:50
190m
190m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(7)
114
runners
4.53km
00:28
20m
20m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
55
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

43
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(47)
216
riders
42.0km
03:01
410m
410m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.7
(135)
478
riders
33.3km
02:18
260m
260m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(12)
45
riders
64.4km
03:44
240m
240m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(16)
65
riders
33.0km
02:01
110m
110m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(9)
61
riders
60.5km
02:37
330m
330m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.2
(5)
98
riders
22.5km
00:55
80m
80m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.6
(7)
74
riders
44.9km
01:51
210m
210m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.8
(37)
345
riders
49.4km
02:01
200m
200m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.7
(39)
170
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(14)
70
riders
52.5km
02:52
220m
220m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
13
riders
45.4km
02:40
280m
280m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
13
riders
8.26km
00:31
60m
60m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees is a nature reserve offering a variety of outdoor activities. These include hiking, touring cycling, jogging, mountain biking, road cycling, and gravel biking. The region features diverse terrain with forests, gorges, and lakeside paths.
Popular hiking routes include the Farchauer Mill Canoe Dock – Farchau Mill loop, an easy 4.7 mile (7.6 km) trail. Another option is the View of the Cathedral – View of Lake Ratzeburg loop, a difficult 16.4 mile (26.4 km) route. More hiking options are available in the Hiking in Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees guide.
Yes, several easy hiking routes are available. The Farchauer Mill Canoe Dock – Farchau Mill loop is an easy 4.7 mile (7.6 km) trail. Another easy option is the View of the Domsee, Ratzeburg – Ratzeburg — Island Town loop, which is 3.7 miles (6.0 km). More easy routes can be found in the Easy hikes in Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees guide.
The region offers various cycling routes, including touring, road, and gravel biking. A popular touring cycling route is the Elbe-Lübeck Canal Path – Ratzeburg Lake loop, a difficult 28.6 mile (46.1 km) ride. The Cycling in Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees guide provides more options.
Yes, the hilly landscape and forest trails are suitable for mountain biking. The View of Ratzeburg Cathedral – Ratzeburg Lake loop is a moderate 20.5 mile (33.1 km) trail. Additional routes are detailed in the MTB Trails in Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees guide.
The reserve's landscape was shaped by the last ice age, featuring extensive reed and wetland zones along the shore. Inland, narrow fen forests and natural forest communities like Seebruch and Steinort are present. The area includes numerous springs, ponds, stream gorges, and steep slopes, contributing to its varied topography.
Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees is a popular destination, with more than 10,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The 126 available routes have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, indicating high satisfaction among users.
Komoot offers several guides for the region, including Hiking in Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees, Cycling in Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees, and MTB Trails in Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees. Guides for road cycling, gravel biking, running, and attractions are also available.
The Ostufer des Großen Ratzeburger Sees is part of the Naturpark Lauenburgische Seen. For information, contact Frank Hadulla at +49 4541 861517 or hadulla@kreis-rz.de. The ranger team can be reached at naturparkranger@kreis-rz.de. General tourist information is available from Tourist-Information Ratzeburg at +49 4541 8000-886.
Yes, the nature reserve provides opportunities for jogging. An example is the Küchensee Beach – Barlach-Blick Viewpoint loop, an easy 2.9 mile (4.6 km) route. More options are listed in the Running Trails in Ostufer Des Großen Ratzeburger Sees guide.
The region's highlights include the Ratzeburger See itself, with its scenic views and lakeside paths. The ice-age sculpted landscape, featuring steep slopes, deep gorges, and ancient forests, is a significant natural attraction. The area is also recognized as a crucial habitat for various waterfowl.

