Beaver Route

2:33 h
37.29 km
60 m
60 m
15 m
70 m
55 m
Start: Tourist information Gartow, Springstraße 14, 29471 Gartow
Destination: Tourist information Gartow, Springstraße 14, 29471 Gartow

Limitlessly in the land of beavers and sea eagles - on the Beaver Route, fascinating river landscapes and memories of the former inner-German border history await you.

Between Gartow, Lenzen, and Schnackenburg, not only are beavers active again but also the sea eagle has its hunting grounds here. On the family-friendly Beaver Route with two Elbe crossings by ferry, you can get very close to them and perhaps spot one or the other! An ideal viewpoint for wide views over the river landscape is Höhbeck near Gartow, a Geest island preserved from the Ice Age, which rises 67 m above the Elbe glacial valley and drops steeply to the north and east. The cross-border Beaver Route offers not only a variety of fascinating nature experiences but also the former inner-German border situation is still palpable here at the tri-border area of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt. Along many places on the route, there are reminders and memorials to ensure this part of our history is not forgotten. The Border Museum Schnackenburg, located about halfway along the route, is also recommended.

Start

Tourist information Gartow, Springstraße 14, 29471 Gartow

Ausstellung Biosphärenreservat Niedersächsische Elbtalaue

Museum

Wendland-Therme Gartow — CC-BY-SA | Urlaubsregion Wendland.Elbe

FamilienTherme Gartow

Thermal springs

Pavements

Street

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Trail

Path

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suitable

Depends on weather

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Directions

Starting from the tourist information in Gartow, you begin the route along Gartower See. At the settlement Binnenfeld, turn left towards Restorf, which you pass through. The path now takes you directly to Höhbeck, from where you have a great view over the Elbe river landscape. Upon reaching the highest point, turn right and then enjoy a relaxed downhill ride to Pevestorf. When you reach Fährstraße, turn left and circle around Höhbeck until the road leads you to the ferry terminal on the Elbe. Take the ferry across the Elbe, then follow the river to the right through the Elbe lowlands until just before Lütkenwisch. Another ferry takes you to Schnackenburg. Follow the path, which winds through the Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve, past Stresower See to Aulosen. Here turn right, go through Bömenzien, and pass Nienwalde. Soon you will see Gartower See again in front of you, marking the starting point of your bike route.

Equipment

You should always carry a pump and repair kit with you in case your tire loses air!

Directions & Parking facilities

From Hamburg, drive via the A1 (signposted towards Bremen), A39 (signposted towards Lüneburg) to Lüneburg. There take the B216 (signposted towards B216/Dannenberg/Dahlenburg/Bleckede) to Dannenberg and follow the B191 to Gartow.

From Berlin, take the A10 (signposted towards Hamburg), A24 (also towards Hamburg) and continue on B189 (towards Pritzwalk/Heiligengrabe). Then follow the B493 to Gartow.

Parking at the tourist information Gartow
Springstraße 14, 29471 Gartow

Coordinates:
Geographical: 53.027064, 11.461147
UTM: 32U 665051 5878114

The train stations Salzwedel and Dannenberg (East) are easily accessible by train from all directions.

From Salzwedel, take bus 8040 to Lüchow and then bus 8060 to Gartow. Get off at the stop Gartow (Elbe) Church.

From Dannenberg (East), take bus 8070 (towards Schnackenburg ferry / Border Museum) to Gartow. Get off at the stop Gartow (Elbe) Altenheim.

At certain times, these buses operate as on-call buses. You can reach the on-call buses by phone at +49 5841 977 377.

License (master data)

Steffen Gebbeken

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

Climbing the observation tower on Höhbeck is always worth it!

Safety guidelines

Always pay attention to your safety and wear a bicycle helmet!

Map

Cycling region Wendland.Elbe