Not only in Canada and the USA can you marvel at the “Indian Summer”. In Germany, too, the spectacular autumn forest glow in deep red, glowing orange and rich yellow lures people out into nature. On these six tours from the Baltic Sea to the Allgäu, nature lovers experience the colorful splendor at its best.
View of the chalk cliffs of Rügen
The old beech forests in the Jasmund National Park are among the last intact forests in Europe. In autumn, the red-brown and golden colored leaves transform the largest German island into a unique riot of colour.
Hikers experience this natural spectacle particularly impressively along the “White Rügen” themed trail. In a good seven and a half hours, the path leads through meadows and forests, through hamlets and to the spectacular Jasmund high bank path. The wind blows the hikers vigorously along the coast and rewards them with a wide view of the mighty chalk formations.
On the way, a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Forum in the historic forest hall, in the middle of the national park, invites you. There, big and small nature lovers can immerse themselves in the secrets of the old beech forests. At the end of the hike, freshly caught fish dishes await in the port city of Sassnitz.
The chalk cliffs on Rügen are also enchanting in autumn
Quelle: pa/Zoonar/LIANEM
Duration/Length: 26 kilometers, shortcuts are possible.
Best hiking time: depending on the weather conditions until the beginning of November.
Tipp: Think of sturdy shoes, weatherproof clothing and daily provisions; If you have one, bring binoculars with you.
Suitable for: trained hikers in good physical condition
Infos: Tourist office Rügen: ruegen.de
Collect and taste chestnuts in the Palatinate Forest
Brown, round and shiny, the chestnuts roll through the rustling leaves on the Palatinate Keschdeweg. When the ripe fruit falls from the trees, the most beautiful hiking time begins for young and old. The approximately 60-kilometer hiking trail leads through the biosphere reserve of the Palatinate Forest Nature Park, past chestnut trees that are up to 300 years old and through shimmering golden beech forests.
The Palatinate Keschdeweg also leads via Trifels Castle
Quelle: pa/Zoonar/LIANEM
The well-signposted path leads from Hauenstein to bizarre rock formations, via Trifels Castle to Hambach Castle and to Neustadt an der Weinstraße. The path can be shortened at any time, but also lengthened by variants.
Hikers should definitely take bags with them for the chestnuts they find along the way, with which they can then make cute chestnut men at home. Along the way, chestnut lovers are spoiled with culinary rarities such as the Palatinate Keschdesupp, the hearty Palatinate Chestnut Saumagen, chestnut liqueur and even Keschdepralines.
Hikers should take a bag to collect the chestnuts along the way
Those: pa / Martina Raedlein
Duration/Length: 56 kilometers, depending on endurance three to five daily stages.
Best hiking time: until about mid-November; the harvest time of the Palatinate sweet chestnuts begins on October 1st.
Tipp: Many festivals take place around the chestnut, for example the Keschdefeschd in Annweiler am Trifels from October 1st to 3rd, the chestnut market in Edenkoben on October 8th and 9th.
Suitable for: Families and chestnut lovers
Infos: Southern Wine Route: suedlicheweinstrasse.de and keschdeweg.de
Hiking to vantage points in the Teutoburg Forest
The maple leaves on the Ahornweg in the south of the Osnabrück region glow fire red, wine red, brown-red and even pink. The approximately 100-kilometer-long circular hiking trail leads through the Teutoburg Forest in the form of a figure eight loop. The path is divided into a small and a large loop.
The starting point for both routes is Bad Iburg. The small round of 40 kilometers goes steadily uphill and downhill on narrow paths through orchards and beech and maple forests. The highest point of the round marks the 331 meter high Dörenberg with the Hermannsturm.
But on the longer round of the Ahornweg, which continues in a south-eastern round for 60 kilometers, there are more lookout towers and numerous vantage points with ever new far-reaching views. Hikers cross two nature reserves on demanding climbs and climb the hilly landscape of Borgloher Schweiz.
With a bit of luck you can find shells of primeval sea creatures in the limestone cliffs. Because millions of years ago, an ocean rushed against the cliffs of the Teutoburg Forest.
Duration/Length: A total of 100 kilometers, about three days depending on your condition.
Best hiking time: till the end of November
Tipp: The 600 meter long treetop path with spectacular views is located near Bad Iburg, directly on the Ahornweg.
Suitable for: Experienced hikers who are not put off by a demanding incline.
Infos: Tourism association Osnabrücker Land: osnabruecker-land.de/tour/ahornweg/
Primeval forest in the Thuringian National Park Hainich
Maple, beech, ash and the rare ice berry with its fiery red leaves, but also dead wood covered with fungi and moss characterize the Hainich National Park in autumn. This piece of primeval forest is in the middle of Thuringia. It is also the largest contiguous deciduous forest area in Germany. No wonder that autumn is not stingy with colors there.
Many species of birds, rare bats, numerous beetles and lizards and even wild cats feel at home in this wilderness. If you want to thoroughly explore the Hainich, you should set off on the large, approximately 29-kilometer tour from Weberstedt.
The round is considered demanding, but touches on the most beautiful parts of the national park, such as the Feensteig, the Wildkatzenschleichpfad and the hiking trail to the Craulaer Kreuz. It is reassuring to know that the route can be shortened in many places.
You can also explore the jungle in the Hainich National Park on a treetop path
Those: pa / imageBROKER / Frank Sommariva
Duration/Length: 29 kilometers, about eight to nine hours.
Best hiking time: until the end of October.
Tipp: The jungle opens up impressively along the treetop path at a height of 44 meters with its wide views.
Suitable for: persevering hikers and on some sections well suited for families.
Infos: National Park Administration, nationalpark-hainich.de.
Allgäu Alps for romantics
A red-brown leaf slowly tumbles to the surface of the water. Mountain peaks are reflected in the lake. One almost thinks one is sitting somewhere in the vastness of Canada by a dreamy mountain lake. But this is the Freibergsee in the Allgäu Alps above Oberstdorf.
During a three-hour circular hike, hikers can experience the colorful autumn in an almost untouched mountain landscape. The tour starts and ends in Oberstdorf. Over roots and stones and through rustling leaves, nature lovers overcome the approximately 230 meters in altitude to the lake.
The beer garden of the Freibergsee restaurant offers refreshment and relaxation. Romantics can paddle out onto the lake in a rowing boat until mid-October. If you want to extend the hike, you will find a variety of different tour variants with viewpoints of the Allgäu High Alps.
Romantics can paddle out onto the Freibergsee in a rowing boat until mid-October
Source: pa/imageBROKER/Martin Siepmann
Duration/Length: about seven kilometers, about three hours from and to Oberstdorf without breaks.
Best hiking time: depending on the weather until the end of October.
Tipp: The steepest ascents and descents can be avoided on a leisurely ride on the inclined lift at the Heini-Klopfer ski-flying hill not far from Oberstdorf.
Suitable for: experienced and sure-footed hikers.
Infos: Tourismus Oberstdorf: oberstdorf.de.
There is wine along the way on the Moselsteig Trail
When the grapes are harvested on the Moselle, the best time for a hike on the Moselsteig begins. In the warm autumn sun, the vines shimmer golden yellow and the ancient beech and oak forests are covered in brightly colored leaves.
The Moselsteig is one of the most varied long-distance hiking trails in Germany. It runs 365 kilometers in 24 daily stages from the German-French-Luxembourg border town of Perl to the confluence at the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz. The well-marked path is suitable for long walks as well as hikes lasting several days.
Relaxed it goes through pretty wine villages and to venerable monasteries, sporty up over the terraces of the very steep vineyards and on serpentine paths down into the valleys. The almost vertical views of the Moselle and its picturesque Moselle loops are fascinating. The breaks in the many rustic taverns and wine taverns are relaxing.
Duration/Length: a total of 365 kilometers with 24 stages.
Best hiking time: until the end of October.
Tipp: Multi-day hiking arrangements are offered with overnight stays, meals, hiking maps and, in some cases, luggage transfers.
Suitable for: trained hikers in good physical condition.
Infos: Moselle tourism: visitmosel.de/wandern
The Moselsteig is one of the most varied long-distance hiking trails in Germany
Source: pa/Zoonar/Alexander Ludwig