7th stage of the "66-Lakes Hiking Trail": The chain of lakes in Gamengrund - Leuenberg to Strausberg

The 7th stage of the 66-Lakes hiking trail is the continuation of the hike through the Gamengrund that began on the 6th stage. On this hike you follow the chain of lakes in the Gamengrund and hikes about 25 km from Leuenburg to StrausbergThe Gamengrund, which begins in the north with the Gamensee, merges into the Strausberg lake landscape in the south. Although most of the route runs through forest, the hike is very varied: the forest constantly changes its character, you pass nine lakes, hike along riverside paths that in many places offer views of the respective bodies of water. On this stage you can start your hiking adventure particularly close to nature and escape the hectic city life practically on your doorstep. 

Start / Finish: Leuenberg/Strausberg train station
Length / Duration: 25 kilometers / about 6 hours
Logo / route sign: Blue solid circle on a white background
Road condition / route development: largely unpaved trail through the southern Gamengrund
Course: Leuenberg, Langer See, Mittelsee, Gamensee, Wesendahler Mühle, Fängersee, Bötzsee, Strausberg
Arrival/Departure:

• Arrival: From Berlin Hauptbahnhof take the S75 (Wartenberg) to Berlin-Lichtenberg. From here take the RB25 to Werneuchen and then bus 887 to Leuenberg (approx. 1,5 hours).
• Check out: From Strausberg take the S5 (Spandau) to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (approx. 1 hour).

On this stage, you only have to climb 89 metres and descend 123 metres, making this route very pleasant to hike. You reach a maximum altitude of 102 metres above sea level and a minimum altitude of 60 metres above sea level.

Directions
As you walk along the Gamengrund in both directions, it becomes particularly clear that a glacial meltwater channel has left a long incision in the landscape. It stretches almost as far as Strausberg. And because this channel was not suitable for any use and is also far away from larger centers, you will find largely untouched nature here with no trace of settlement. 

The tour begins in Leuenberg, a typical Brandenburg village with an old fieldstone church and old farmsteads. The area of ​​the Kesselsee and Paradiessee was once a large moor lake that silted up over the millennia and formed peat. The particularly attractive Paradiessee, which is clearly different from the other lakes, was created from a peat mining area that was no longer used. It offers particularly impressive motifs if you walk around it on the somewhat boggy path. 

The Wesendahler Mill is an old water mill that is very romantically located in the forest. Only the name remains of the other former water mill, the Spitzmühle. 

The end point of this stage is Strausberg, a beautifully situated small town. Once you arrive in Strausberg, you can either walk straight into the old town or take a stylish trip across the Straussee on Europe's only still operating passenger cable ferry.

This stage of the 66-lakes hiking trail is the continuation of the hike through the Gamengrund, which begins in the north with the Southern Gamensee and merges into the Strausberg lake landscape in the south. 


Attractions

• forest kingdom: Through the fragrant, mystical forest, which constantly changes its character
• Watery: Past eight lakes and many natural bathing spots. There are no motorboats and no noise here. 
• Climate-friendly: The electrically operated Straussee ferry takes you to the historic old town of Strausberg
• Idyllic: Start at the village bakery in Leuenberg in the Höhenland
• forest kingdom: Through the fragrant, mystical forest, which constantly changes its character
• Watery: Past eight lakes and many natural bathing spots. No motorboats, no noise!
• Climate-friendly: Take the electrically operated Straussee ferry to the historic old town of Strausberg

refreshment tips

• Restaurant Steinbeck
• Restaurant amiceria
• Restaurant am Fischerkietz
• Café Tortenduft 

Maps / Literature:

• "66-Seen-Weg, Hikeline hiking guide", Publisher: Esterbauer GmbH, Edition: 3 (2019), ISBN: 978-3-85000-760-3, 11,90 Euro
• "Hiking and cycling map 66-Lakes-Weg: To the natural beauties around Berlin", 1:50.000, Publisher: Barthel, A., Edition: 2 (1 October 2011), ISBN-13: 978-3895911552, 7,90 Euro
• Reschke, Manfred: "The 66-lake hike. To the natural beauties around Berlin", Trescher Verlag; Edition 8, current edition (2017), ISBN 978-3-89794-369-8