natures treasure: the high banks of the Elbe
Between Tesperhude and Lauenburg, the western part of the transnational Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve runs along the Hohe Elbufer. Wooded, steeply rising Elbe slopes with many incisions and notch valleys characterize the landscape and offer magnificent views of the great river from the beautiful hiking and cycling trails. Regularly flooded riparian forests on the banks are the habitat of beavers, which feel at home here again. A two-kilometre-long beaver nature trail invites you to follow in the footsteps of Europe's largest rodent.
Visitors to the "Hohes Elbufer" nature reserve to the west of Lauenburg/Elbe can experience the colossal history of the earth. The wooded steep slopes of the Elbe glacial valley rise up to 40 meters. Deep incisions in the relief and wet and repeatedly flooded bank zones create a variety of different habitats for unique flora and fauna.
Fascinating riverside landscape on the great river
The approximately nine-kilometre Elbe riverside trail between Lauenburg and Tesperhude (approx. 15 km to Geesthacht) is the westernmost part of the "Elbe River Landscape" biosphere reserve, which stretches more than 400 kilometers across five federal states. More precisely, there are two paths. The direct riverside path offers a view from the river up to the wooded steep slopes, washed-out rootstocks and ivy-covered giant trees or the breeding colonies of sand martins in the steep walls.
Above the steep slopes, the Elbe cycle path leads through the hilly forest and offers magnificent views of the banks, river and opposite side. On the banks, steep slopes and in a 50-meter strip above the edge of the slope, nature is left to its own devices. The forest here is not used for forestry.
200,000 years of geological history
The meltwater flows of the Weichselian glacial period changed the Elbe glacial valley between 22,000 and 14,500 years ago. The more than 200,000-year-old moraines of the (previous) Saale glacial period were cut sideways in the process. Meltwater, post-glacial erosion and excavation created the "dry valleys", some of which cut deep into the Elbe slope. The valley incision at Sandkrug led to an Elbe ford and was a medieval trade route for transporting salt from Lüneburg to Lübeck.
Dry and moist-wet habitats side by side
Reeds and willow bushes line the banks of the Elbe. Purple willows stand in near-natural floodplains and black poplars on high sandbanks and embankments. On the steep south-facing slopes, forests of sessile oak, pine, field elm and wild pear alternate with mostly beech forests. The valleys and gorges are home to species-rich dry oak forests. Of the more than 1,000 plant species in the north, around 160 only occur on the Elbe slopes and in the Elbe meadows.
On the trail of the beaver
A beaver nature trail begins at the former ford near Sandkrug. The industrious master builder is returning to our region from Eastern Europe. The site of the early medieval Ertheneburg castle sits enthroned on the steep slope near Sandkrug, of which only the arched, 3.5 meter high, wooded rampart can be seen today.
Along the B5, which runs parallel to the Elbe, there are several hiking parking lots with designated circular hiking trails between Grünhof and Schnakenbek as well as in the "Grüner Jäger" and Krümmel areas. The Elbe cycle path between Lauenburg and Grünhof includes some steep climbs, but the views of the Elbe are always worth the effort.
Hiking trails
Beaver nature trail in Schnakenvek (approx. 2 km)
From Tesperhude to Lauenburg (approx. 9 km) or vice versa
Cycling tours along the way
Technique tour (approx. 65 km): around Lauenburg, around Geesthacht or can be combined
Elbe tour on the Elbe cycle path (approx. 45 km): Lauenburg - Geesthacht - Lauenburg (or vice versa)
Hiking trail & Elbe cycle path: approx. 15 km (Geesthacht - Lauenburg)
Circular trails signposted from the hiking parking lots on the B5
Beaver nature trail: at the "Sandkrug" in Schnakenbek (approx. 2 km)
Visitors to the "Hohes Elbufer" nature reserve to the west of Lauenburg/Elbe can experience the colossal history of the earth. The wooded steep slopes of the Elbe glacial valley rise up to 40 meters. Deep incisions in the relief and wet and repeatedly flooded bank zones create a variety of different habitats for unique flora and fauna.
Fascinating riverside landscape on the great river
The approximately nine-kilometre Elbe riverside trail between Lauenburg and Tesperhude (approx. 15 km to Geesthacht) is the westernmost part of the "Elbe River Landscape" biosphere reserve, which stretches more than 400 kilometers across five federal states. More precisely, there are two paths. The direct riverside path offers a view from the river up to the wooded steep slopes, washed-out rootstocks and ivy-covered giant trees or the breeding colonies of sand martins in the steep walls.
Above the steep slopes, the Elbe cycle path leads through the hilly forest and offers magnificent views of the banks, river and opposite side. On the banks, steep slopes and in a 50-meter strip above the edge of the slope, nature is left to its own devices. The forest here is not used for forestry.
200,000 years of geological history
The meltwater flows of the Weichselian glacial period changed the Elbe glacial valley between 22,000 and 14,500 years ago. The more than 200,000-year-old moraines of the (previous) Saale glacial period were cut sideways in the process. Meltwater, post-glacial erosion and excavation created the "dry valleys", some of which cut deep into the Elbe slope. The valley incision at Sandkrug led to an Elbe ford and was a medieval trade route for transporting salt from Lüneburg to Lübeck.
Dry and moist-wet habitats side by side
Reeds and willow bushes line the banks of the Elbe. Purple willows stand in near-natural floodplains and black poplars on high sandbanks and embankments. On the steep south-facing slopes, forests of sessile oak, pine, field elm and wild pear alternate with mostly beech forests. The valleys and gorges are home to species-rich dry oak forests. Of the more than 1,000 plant species in the north, around 160 only occur on the Elbe slopes and in the Elbe meadows.
On the trail of the beaver
A beaver nature trail begins at the former ford near Sandkrug. The industrious master builder is returning to our region from Eastern Europe. The site of the early medieval Ertheneburg castle sits enthroned on the steep slope near Sandkrug, of which only the arched, 3.5 meter high, wooded rampart can be seen today.
Along the B5, which runs parallel to the Elbe, there are several hiking parking lots with designated circular hiking trails between Grünhof and Schnakenbek as well as in the "Grüner Jäger" and Krümmel areas. The Elbe cycle path between Lauenburg and Grünhof includes some steep climbs, but the views of the Elbe are always worth the effort.
Hiking trails
Beaver nature trail in Schnakenvek (approx. 2 km)
From Tesperhude to Lauenburg (approx. 9 km) or vice versa
Cycling tours along the way
Technique tour (approx. 65 km): around Lauenburg, around Geesthacht or can be combined
Elbe tour on the Elbe cycle path (approx. 45 km): Lauenburg - Geesthacht - Lauenburg (or vice versa)
Good to know
Payment methods
Entrance Free
Directions & Parking facilities
An der parallel zur Elbe verlaufenden B5 liegen mehrere Wanderparkplätze mit ausgewiesenen Rundwanderwegen zwischen Grünhof und Schnakenbek sowie im Bereich „Grüner Jäger“ und Krümmel.
Author
Organization
Herzogtum Lauenburg Marketing und Service GmbH
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