Adlerhorst und Reihersee

The start and end point for this tour description is on the grounds of the Salzgitter-Gebhardshagen moated castle.

This tour is a circular route that can alternatively be started and finished at any other point along the route described.

From the parking lot, the tour heads north past the manor house and leaves the moated castle through the historic gatehouse.

Past the Ritterburg playground, the hike leads along the Mühlengraben to the Mühlenteich pond, where the Gebhardshagen rock nature trail is also located.

The pond is walked around on the northern side, a steep ascent is mastered and the path leads along the sports facilities into the Salzgitter Höhenzug range.

After around one kilometer, the path leaves to the right and a wide forest path leads north.

The initially moderate gradient continues to increase and after just under two kilometers there is a short steep section to climb to reach the next crossroads.

The path running uphill to the left leads to Adlerhorst.

On reaching the highest point of the hike, you can see the Heerter See lake between the leaves to the east.

The tour now follows an idyllic path in a southerly direction to the shell limestone wall west of Gebhardshagen. A short detour to this abandoned quarry is obligatory and the refuge located there invites you to take a break.

After crossing the L670, the next energy-sapping climb to the Reihersee lake follows. The lake is circumnavigated on the southern side and shortly afterwards the refuge at the Reihersee is reached with stamp point 18 "Reihersee" of the Nördliches Harzvorland tourism association.

You can enjoy a picnic here and watch the birdlife.

From the refuge, the forest path leads north to Gebhardshagen and after approx. 1.9 km you will reach the starting point at the moated castle again.