NORDPFAD Hinzel
- 4:45 h
- 14.10 km
- 29 m
- 29 m
- 15 m
- 37 m
- 22 m
- Start: 27432 Oerel station, parking lot at the waterworks, K 116 (starting point 1)
- Destination: 27432 Oerel station, parking lot at the waterworks, K 116 (starting point 1)
The Hinzel forest area, which is a protected landscape, is one of the largest forests between the Elbe and Weser rivers. A hike through the Hinzel is "pure forest life", away from the background noise that otherwise surrounds us and accompanied by the feeling of walking through a forest steeped in history.
Restaurants and accommodation: You can find the location and information on restaurants and accommodation along the NORDPFAD in our HikingNavigator. Click on the map at the top right. You can find more accommodation in the Samtgemeinde Geestequelle in our accommodation search by selecting the location "Geestequelle".
Stories between magic and Döntjes
Immerse yourself in the story "Keepers of Memory - Lost Places in Hinzel".
Good to know
Pavements
Asphalt
Best to visit
suitable
Depends on weather
Directions
We begin our hike through the Hinzel National Forest at the parking lot at the waterworks, which is located north of the main town of Oerel on the K 116, west of the Oerel train station district. Just a few meters after we enter the forest on the well-surfaced "Postweg" - an ancient traffic route once used by stagecoaches - the sound of the occasional passing car fades away. We can now relax and enjoy the tranquillity of the forest. We soon reach the former Forstgebäude Hinzel, where a small rest area has been set up for hikers. From time to time, cattle keep the meadow in front open. We leave the wide forest path and turn left onto the near-natural path along the small clearing. At the end, the path leads back into the denser forest. On this section, we repeatedly encounter small mounds of earth on both sides of the path. Parts of the path are also paved.
Let's take a look back at this point: since the 1930s, Hinzel was home to a so-called "Naval Ordnance Office", which was the largest naval weapons arsenal of the German navy with an ammunition factory and storage facility. Due to its shielded location in the forest, it was not discovered by the Allies until the end of the war. After the end of the Second World War, the Allies blew up many bunkers and buildings. Some were left standing. As the decaying structures posed a danger to children playing there and to wildlife, they were gradually removed and disposed of. A few mounds and the paved roads have been preserved as witnesses to the past.
We follow the path through the dense coniferous forest and return to the "Postweg", which now leads along the former Sperrzeugamt, now the headquarters of the Vollmer poultry farm, to the Hindenburg-Eiche car park, the starting point 2 of this hiking trail. Here we can take a break at the listed oak tree before the NORDPFAD leads us back into the denser forest.
Passing a clearing where a bench invites us to take a break, we reach the Heinschenwalder Weg. From there, the NORDPFADE markings lead us in a zigzag course deeper and deeper through the forest, alternating between denser and looser coniferous stands during our hike. With a bit of luck, you may also spot various wild animals on the hike. And if you listen carefully, you can hear the singing of numerous songbirds or the tapping of woodpeckers. Tree remains, so-called "deadwood", are deliberately left standing to provide food and breeding grounds for woodpeckers, bats, cave-nesting birds and various insects. Many of the inhabitants of dead wood, insects as well as birds, have bark beetles at the top of their menu. In other words, the more these bark beetles, which cause the spruce in particular to die off through their feeding, are destroyed, the lower the risk of infestation of valuable timber.
Although coniferous spruce clearly predominates in the forest, the Forest edge Hinzel is increasingly home to mighty and deeply beech trees. Today, it is the declared aim of Lower Saxony's forestry offices to increase the proportion of deciduous trees, particularly in heavily coniferous forests. In spring in particular, the foresters are out and about carrying out the necessary planting work. Shortly before we leave the forest, there is a small rest area with a table and bench at an exciting "climbing tree".
We follow the forest edge path until we see the wide landscape of the Trümmenmoor. The NORDPFAD now leads through fields and meadows and past the Sylvester Nursery to the Old Church Path. This was once used by the inhabitants of the village of Ebersdorf as a connecting path to get to Oerel church. The road leads past the fenced-in, former NATO air defense position "HawkFlaRak Ebersdorf", which was in operation from 1969 to 2002. Once again, we plunge into the dense forest until we reach the starting point, the parking lot at the waterworks.
Link with other NORDPFADEN
A 4.5 km long access path leads from the Hindenburg-Eiche parking lot to starting point 2 of the NORDPFADES Hölzerbruch-Malse.
Disturbance reports
Before your hike, find out about possible detours and trail disruptions caused by storm damage or flooding, for example, on www.nordpfade.de may occur.
Let's take a look back at this point: since the 1930s, Hinzel was home to a so-called "Naval Ordnance Office", which was the largest naval weapons arsenal of the German navy with an ammunition factory and storage facility. Due to its shielded location in the forest, it was not discovered by the Allies until the end of the war. After the end of the Second World War, the Allies blew up many bunkers and buildings. Some were left standing. As the decaying structures posed a danger to children playing there and to wildlife, they were gradually removed and disposed of. A few mounds and the paved roads have been preserved as witnesses to the past.
We follow the path through the dense coniferous forest and return to the "Postweg", which now leads along the former Sperrzeugamt, now the headquarters of the Vollmer poultry farm, to the Hindenburg-Eiche car park, the starting point 2 of this hiking trail. Here we can take a break at the listed oak tree before the NORDPFAD leads us back into the denser forest.
Passing a clearing where a bench invites us to take a break, we reach the Heinschenwalder Weg. From there, the NORDPFADE markings lead us in a zigzag course deeper and deeper through the forest, alternating between denser and looser coniferous stands during our hike. With a bit of luck, you may also spot various wild animals on the hike. And if you listen carefully, you can hear the singing of numerous songbirds or the tapping of woodpeckers. Tree remains, so-called "deadwood", are deliberately left standing to provide food and breeding grounds for woodpeckers, bats, cave-nesting birds and various insects. Many of the inhabitants of dead wood, insects as well as birds, have bark beetles at the top of their menu. In other words, the more these bark beetles, which cause the spruce in particular to die off through their feeding, are destroyed, the lower the risk of infestation of valuable timber.
Although coniferous spruce clearly predominates in the forest, the Forest edge Hinzel is increasingly home to mighty and deeply beech trees. Today, it is the declared aim of Lower Saxony's forestry offices to increase the proportion of deciduous trees, particularly in heavily coniferous forests. In spring in particular, the foresters are out and about carrying out the necessary planting work. Shortly before we leave the forest, there is a small rest area with a table and bench at an exciting "climbing tree".
We follow the forest edge path until we see the wide landscape of the Trümmenmoor. The NORDPFAD now leads through fields and meadows and past the Sylvester Nursery to the Old Church Path. This was once used by the inhabitants of the village of Ebersdorf as a connecting path to get to Oerel church. The road leads past the fenced-in, former NATO air defense position "HawkFlaRak Ebersdorf", which was in operation from 1969 to 2002. Once again, we plunge into the dense forest until we reach the starting point, the parking lot at the waterworks.
Link with other NORDPFADEN
A 4.5 km long access path leads from the Hindenburg-Eiche parking lot to starting point 2 of the NORDPFADES Hölzerbruch-Malse.
Disturbance reports
Before your hike, find out about possible detours and trail disruptions caused by storm damage or flooding, for example, on www.nordpfade.de may occur.
Route markings
Marker
The marker shows a white "N" on an orange background with the name of the NORDPFAD Hinzel.
Signposting
Destination signposts supplement the markings and are placed at prominent points. The signposts list places that are on the route or branch off from it, together with the distance in kilometers. The logo of the respective NORDPFADES is located underneath.
The marker shows a white "N" on an orange background with the name of the NORDPFAD Hinzel.
Signposting
Destination signposts supplement the markings and are placed at prominent points. The signposts list places that are on the route or branch off from it, together with the distance in kilometers. The logo of the respective NORDPFADES is located underneath.
Directions & Parking facilities
It is around 60 minutes from the A1 and A27 freeways to the starting points, each of which has an information board and parking facilities.
- Starting point 1: 27432 Oerel station, parking lot at the waterworks, K116
- Starting point 2: 27432 Hipstedt Löh, Hindenburg-Eiche parking lot, K116
There are two parking options available at the NORDPFAD. The respective starting points can also be found there.
- Parking lot 1: 27432 Bahnhof Oerel, parking lot at the waterworks, K116
- Parking lot 2: 27432 Hipstedt Löh, parking lot Hindenburg-Eiche, K116
Arrival by train
NORDPFAD train stations: Oerel and Heinschenwalde, approx. 1.0 km from starting point 1 and approx. 2.0 km from starting point 2 of the NORDPFAD.
Train "EVB": runs daily between Bremerhaven, Bremervörde and Buxtehude, in Buxtehude there is a connection to an S-Bahn to Hamburg
Further information: www.fahrplaner.vnn.de
NORDPFAD train stations: Oerel and Heinschenwalde, approx. 1.0 km from starting point 1 and approx. 2.0 km from starting point 2 of the NORDPFAD.
Train "EVB": runs daily between Bremerhaven, Bremervörde and Buxtehude, in Buxtehude there is a connection to an S-Bahn to Hamburg
Further information: www.fahrplaner.vnn.de
Additional information
Komoot
We have compiled all 24 circular hiking trails in a separate NORDPFADE collection in the well-known outdoor app. The tours can also be found in the portal under the "Northern Heath" region.
Not yet on Komoot?
There is a free voucher code for new customers.The code is ROW and can be redeemed via "Redeem voucher" at komoot.de/g or via the link https://komoot.com/de-de/g?code=ROW.
We have compiled all 24 circular hiking trails in a separate NORDPFADE collection in the well-known outdoor app. The tours can also be found in the portal under the "Northern Heath" region.
Not yet on Komoot?
There is a free voucher code for new customers.The code is ROW and can be redeemed via "Redeem voucher" at komoot.de/g or via the link https://komoot.com/de-de/g?code=ROW.
Literature
The following brochures are available free of charge at the local tourist information offices and under brochure order. They are also available for download.
- NORDPFADE tour guide
This small brochure contains everything you need to know about the hiking region. - NORDPFADE overview map
The handy leaflet is a small planning aid for the environmentally conscious. - NORDPFADE hiking pass
The stamp-free version for collectors.
- My NORDPFADE
Or: "It doesn't always have to be the Way of St. James!"
Contact person
Touristikverband Landkreis Rotenburg (Wümme) e.V.
- Ihr Ansprechpartner für die NORDPFADE und die Region
Harburger Str. 59
27356 Rotenburg (Wümme)
License (master data)
Touristikverband Landkreis Rotenburg (Wümme)
Social Media
Nearby
Download GPX file