Nature Reserve Guide
Lower Saxony is home to more than 100 nature reserves, protecting a significant portion of the state's diverse landscapes. These conservation areas span from the coastal mudflats and islands of the North Sea to expansive inland heathlands, dense forests, and vast moorlands. The varied terrain provides a network of trails suitable for a range of outdoor activities. The most popular activities across the nature reserves in Lower Saxony include hiking, jogging, mountain biking, and various forms of cycling.
This collection aggregates more than 23,000 routes through the best nature reserves in Lower Saxony, with over 614,000 visitors sharing their experiences. Among the most significant nature reserves is the Natural Park Lüneburger Heide, one of Germany's largest, offering dozens of dedicated hiking and cycling routes through its iconic heath. The Totes Moor provides a different experience, with trails and boardwalks crossing one of the Hanover region's most valuable raised bog landscapes. Along the Weser river, the Natural Park Kamm des Wesergebirges features numerous hiking and mountain bike trails along its forested ridge. These reserves offer well-maintained paths that allow for low-impact exploration of sensitive and protected ecosystems.
23757
Routes
4.5
(130423)
Average rating
610K+
Explored with komoot
Last updated: April 23, 2026

4.7
(16739)
56,832
hikers
Natural Park Lüneburger Heide is a significant nature reserve in northern Germany, known for its vast heathland, forests, and diverse routes for hiking and cycling.
Hiking
Running
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(3046)
15,577
hikers
Naturschutzgebiet Elbeniederung Von Avendorf Bis Rönne is a nature reserve along the Elbe River, offering diverse routes for cycling and hiking through its unique floodplain landscapes.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.5
(2511)
12,852
hikers
Huntebruch Und Huntebruchwiesen is a nature reserve offering diverse wetlands and woodlands, ideal for hiking, cycling, and jogging routes. Explore varied terrain from wet meadows to ancient forests.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(2923)
12,719
hikers
Domäne Stolzenau/Leese is a nature reserve with diverse habitats, offering routes for cycling, hiking, and mountain biking across its flat terrain.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(1763)
12,269
hikers
Totes Moor is a nature reserve in Steinhuder Meer Nature Park, offering extensive peatlands and moorland for hiking, cycling, and jogging on well-maintained paths.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(2495)
10,700
hikers
Mittleres Innerstetal mit Kanstein is a 563-hectare nature reserve offering diverse terrain for hiking, cycling, and mountain biking along the Innerste river and Kanstein rock formations.
Hiking
Running
Mountaineering
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(2911)
10,597
hikers
Heiden Und Magerrasen In Der Südheide is a Lower Saxony nature reserve with diverse heaths, forests, and water bodies, offering routes for hiking and cycling.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.5
(2066)
10,424
hikers
Obere Allerniederung Bei Celle is a 239-hectare nature reserve near Celle, offering diverse landscapes and numerous routes for cycling, jogging, and hiking along the Aller and Lachte rivers.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.5
(2405)
10,423
hikers
Naturschutzgebiet Unteres Estetal is a nature reserve shaped by the Este river, offering diverse terrain from riparian forests to wetlands for hiking and cycling routes.
Hiking
Running
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.5
(2025)
9,885
hikers
Hasenburger Bachtal is a 530-hectare nature reserve near Lüneburg, offering diverse landscapes for hiking, cycling, and jogging through forests, meadows, and along streams.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(2171)
9,512
hikers
Schweineberg is a nature reserve near Hameln, Germany, known for its ancient beech forests and spring snowdrop bloom. It offers routes for hiking, cycling, and jogging.
Hiking
Running
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(2437)
9,419
hikers
Natural Park Kamm des Wesergebirges is a nature reserve in Lower Saxony, Germany, offering diverse routes for hiking and cycling through its unique geology and forests.
Hiking
Running
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(1424)
9,292
hikers
Meerbruchswiesen is a flat, wet meadow nature reserve on Lake Steinhude, offering numerous routes for hiking, jogging, and cycling through its diverse wetland landscape.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(1243)
8,326
hikers
Natural Park Ilmenau-Luhe-Niederung is a marshland nature reserve offering diverse routes for cycling and hiking through its flat, tidal river landscapes.
Hiking
Running
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.5
(1158)
7,878
hikers
Bornhorster Huntewiesen is a 350-hectare nature reserve in Oldenburg, Germany, offering diverse routes for road cycling, hiking, and mountain biking across its wet grasslands.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(1304)
7,052
hikers
Alte Leine is a nature reserve south of Hanover, offering diverse terrain with floodplains and forests for hiking, cycling, and jogging routes.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.6
(1467)
6,901
hikers
Naturschutzgebiet „Riddagshausen“ is a 526-hectare nature reserve in Braunschweig with ponds, reed beds, and forests, offering diverse routes for cycling, hiking, and jogging.
Hiking
Running
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.5
(1448)
6,887
hikers
Untere Allerniederung Im Landkreis Verden is a nature reserve with riverine habitats, grasslands, and oxbow lakes, offering routes for cycling, hiking, and jogging.
Hiking
Running
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.7
(1889)
6,839
hikers
Ith is a nature reserve with varied topography, offering diverse routes for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor pursuits amidst forested hills and geological formations.
Hiking
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Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling

4.4
(1148)
6,379
hikers
Hochwasserrückhaltebecken Alfhausen-Rieste is a nature reserve in Lower Saxony, offering diverse terrain for jogging, cycling, and hiking routes across lowlands, grasslands, and forests.
Hiking
Running
Mountain biking
Gravel riding
Road cycling
Cycling
Nature reserves in Lower Saxony are protected areas designated to conserve specific landscapes and ecosystems. The state has over 800 official reserves, covering habitats from coastal mudflats and islands to inland heathlands, forests, and moorlands. This page aggregates routes through more than 180 of these protected areas.
Some of the most significant nature reserves include the Natural Park Lüneburger Heide, one of Germany's largest and oldest reserves, and the Totes Moor, a vast raised bog landscape. Other notable areas are the Naturschutzgebiet Elbeniederung Von Avendorf Bis Rönne along the Elbe river and the forested ridge of the Natural Park Kamm des Wesergebirges.
The most popular human-powered outdoor activities are hiking, cycling, and mountain biking. The varied terrain offers a network of trails suitable for these sports, with over 23,000 routes available across the reserves. Jogging and road cycling are also common in many of these protected areas.
The Natural Park Lüneburger Heide offers a dense network of trails for various activities. There are more than 60 hiking trails and over 30 touring bicycle routes through its heathlands and forests. It is also a popular destination for mountain biking, road cycling, and jogging.
The Totes Moor features well-maintained paths and boardwalks that cross its restored raised bog landscape. These trails are suitable for hiking and cycling, offering a peaceful experience through a unique ecosystem. Observation towers along the routes provide panoramic views of the moor.
The Mittleres Innerstetal mit Kanstein nature reserve protects a diverse landscape along the Innerste river. It features riverine habitats, forests, and the prominent Kanstein rock formations. This varied terrain provides routes for hiking, cycling, and mountain biking.
There are thousands of hiking trails across the nature reserves in Lower Saxony, ranging from easy walks to more challenging routes. For example, the Natural Park Lüneburger Heide alone contains over 60 distinct hiking trails. The famous Heidschnuckenweg long-distance trail also crosses through this reserve.
Yes, cycling is a popular activity with numerous routes available. The reserves feature trails for touring bicycles, road bikes, and mountain bikes. For instance, Domäne Stolzenau/Leese offers over 30 road cycling routes and more than 20 touring bicycle routes across its flat terrain.
Many nature reserves in Lower Saxony offer trails suitable for families and beginners. These are often shorter, flatter routes, such as the boardwalks in moorland reserves or dedicated paths in areas like the Lüneburg Heath. Some reserves also feature interactive 'experience trails' designed for all ages.
The Lüneburg Heath is known for its vibrant purple heather bloom, which typically occurs from late July to September. This period is a very popular time to visit for hiking and cycling. However, the reserve's network of trails through heath, forest, and moorland can be explored year-round.
Access via public transport varies by reserve. Many larger and more popular reserves, such as those near urban centers or major parks like the Lüneburg Heath, have bus or train connections nearby. It is recommended to check local transport schedules when planning a visit to a specific trailhead.
Generally, no special permit is required for individuals to access nature reserves for activities like hiking or cycling on marked trails. However, all visitors are expected to follow posted rules, which typically include staying on designated paths, not disturbing wildlife, and adhering to leash laws for dogs.

