The Hankensbüttel Otter Trail is around three kilometers long and starts at the Otter-Zentrum. It connects the nature experience center with the town of Hankensbüttel and includes a hike through the "Hagen" forest and the nature experience bridge. A total of ten nature experience stations invite you to explore the lake habitat. For example, you can find out how an otter feels in its hiding place in an oversized reedbed. Or visitors to the bridge can go to the "stork's nest", three meters above the surface of the water, and use a telescope to observe the behaviour of the white storks breeding within sight. Small animals can be netted on an observation platform. Two rotating disks with small drawings of the animals reveal which organism is involved. Wobble zones, a water feeling point and animal peepers complete the extraordinary offer. The bridge is accessible all year round and is designated as a public path.
A total of four otter trails invite you to experience the landscape from the perspective of an otter. The otter is a very rare and secretive animal. It reacts very sensitively to changes in its habitat. In other words, if streams, rivers, ponds and lakes are in a good ecological condition, they will sooner or later be colonized by otters as habitats. The otter has returned to the lowlands of the Ise, a small river in the district of Gifhorn, thanks to extensive nature conservation measures. Wild otters and their tracks have even been spotted near the Otter Center in Hankensbüttel.
The Otter Trails lead into these areas to raise awareness of otter habitats. A total of 24 stations with steel otters invite visitors to learn about the life of the water otter and nature conservation directly on site.
Further information on the otter trails and an accompanying brochure are available from the Otter Center.
A total of four otter trails invite you to experience the landscape from the perspective of an otter. The otter is a very rare and secretive animal. It reacts very sensitively to changes in its habitat. In other words, if streams, rivers, ponds and lakes are in a good ecological condition, they will sooner or later be colonized by otters as habitats. The otter has returned to the lowlands of the Ise, a small river in the district of Gifhorn, thanks to extensive nature conservation measures. Wild otters and their tracks have even been spotted near the Otter Center in Hankensbüttel.
The Otter Trails lead into these areas to raise awareness of otter habitats. A total of 24 stations with steel otters invite visitors to learn about the life of the water otter and nature conservation directly on site.
Further information on the otter trails and an accompanying brochure are available from the Otter Center.
Good to know
Best to visit
suitable
Depends on weather
Directions
The Otter Trail begins at the back of the Otter Center parking lot. There, a footpath leads along the cycle path parallel to Wittinger Straße. Turn left here and follow the cycle path towards the town center (station 1).
Continue in the direction of the town center. Turn left onto the next road (Bohldamm) and then take the first right onto the concrete path along the Hankensbütteler Bach stream. At the end of the sports field, the concrete path turns left (station 2).
Behind the bridge, turn left and follow the meadow path along the stadium. Follow the right-hand bend of the meadow path to the edge of the forest. Now go diagonally straight ahead onto the main path into the Hagen forest (station 3).
The Otter Trail follows the main path through the forest to the end. Turn left there (station 4).
Now it goes slightly uphill past the monastery. Then turn left across the 2nd parking lot to the parking lot of the forest pool. At the edge of the forest, a footpath leads off to the right in the direction of the Otter Center. The Otter Trail now follows the shore of Lake Isenhagen on the right parallel to Sudendorfallee in the direction of the Otter Center (station 5).
The nature experience bridge (station 6), which crosses Lake Isenhagen, begins at the lake terrace of the Otter Center. Turn left on the opposite shore. At the forest pool, you will rejoin the circular trail that leads you back to the Otter Center.
Continue in the direction of the town center. Turn left onto the next road (Bohldamm) and then take the first right onto the concrete path along the Hankensbütteler Bach stream. At the end of the sports field, the concrete path turns left (station 2).
Behind the bridge, turn left and follow the meadow path along the stadium. Follow the right-hand bend of the meadow path to the edge of the forest. Now go diagonally straight ahead onto the main path into the Hagen forest (station 3).
The Otter Trail follows the main path through the forest to the end. Turn left there (station 4).
Now it goes slightly uphill past the monastery. Then turn left across the 2nd parking lot to the parking lot of the forest pool. At the edge of the forest, a footpath leads off to the right in the direction of the Otter Center. The Otter Trail now follows the shore of Lake Isenhagen on the right parallel to Sudendorfallee in the direction of the Otter Center (station 5).
The nature experience bridge (station 6), which crosses Lake Isenhagen, begins at the lake terrace of the Otter Center. Turn left on the opposite shore. At the forest pool, you will rejoin the circular trail that leads you back to the Otter Center.
Equipment
Proviant für unterwegs ist empfehlenswert.
Directions & Parking facilities
The journey can be easily planned with https://www.google.de/maps/place/Landkreis+Gifhorn/.
Sufficient parking spaces are available at the Otter Center.
Reiseauskunft Deutsche Bahn: https://www.bahn.de
Busverbindungen Verkehrsgesellschaft Landkreis Gifhorn GmbH: https://vlg-gifhorn.de
Bitte beachten Sie, dass es regionale Unterschiede bei der Fahrradmitnahme gibt. Daher sollten Sie sich vor Fahrtantritt über besondere Bestimmungen informieren.
Busverbindungen Verkehrsgesellschaft Landkreis Gifhorn GmbH: https://vlg-gifhorn.de
Bitte beachten Sie, dass es regionale Unterschiede bei der Fahrradmitnahme gibt. Daher sollten Sie sich vor Fahrtantritt über besondere Bestimmungen informieren.
License (master data)
Südheide Gifhorn GmbH
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
Safety guidelines
Cyclists, horse riders, joggers and walkers like to use paths and areas that are primarily used for agricultural and forestry purposes. This often leads to misunderstandings between recreationists and farmers. Observing simple rules of conduct can facilitate relaxed coexistence in fields and meadows. Please show consideration for one another!
Map
Weitere Infos zu den Otter-Pfaden und eine Begleitbroschüre gibt es hier:
https://otterzentrum.de/natur-hautnah-erleben/otterpfade/
https://otterzentrum.de/natur-hautnah-erleben/otterpfade/
Nearby
