Start / Finish: Bad Saarow train station
Length / Duration: 13 kilometers / approx. 3 – 4 hours
Road condition / route development: predominantly natural paths
Course: Bad Saarow, Petersdorf, Rauener Berge, Bad Saarow
Arrival / Departure:
- Arrival: RE1 to Fürstenwalde, then RB35 to Bad Saarow
- Check out: RB35 from Bad Saarow
- Tip: Brandenburg-Berlin ticket for up to five people
Directions
From Bad Saarow to Scharmützelsee
The starting point is the historic train station in Bad Saarow. The route leads along Seestrasse, past small cafés and bakeries, which are ideal for a quick snack before the tour. The route continues through the spa gardens towards Scharmützelsee before the route branches off inland.
Moor meadows and forests – ascent into the Rauen Mountains
The route runs through the Moor and Wierich meadows, where natural moor is still extracted for the spa operation today. The extensive landscape offers open views over meadows and fields. The subsequent ascent leads steadily uphill through dense mixed forest with pines, oaks and larches. Once you reach the observation tower, the climb is worth it: from the 40-meter-high platform you can see a panorama of the Rauen Mountains, the Scharmützelsee and, on a clear day, all the way to Berlin.
The Markgrafensteine – Witnesses of the Ice Age
A short path leads to the Markgrafensteine, the largest boulders in northern Germany. These granite blocks are around 1,45 billion years old and were transported here by glaciers during the last ice age. The largest of the stones still measures 17 meters in circumference and weighs around 280 tons.
Hidden Traces – The Ski Jump in the Forest
A detour leads to the abandoned Rauen ski jump, which is located in the middle of the forest. Ski jumps were still held here in the 1960s before the jump was closed in 1988. Today, the steep terrain serves primarily as a training location for mountain runners.
Return to Bad Saarow – Culinary break at the lake
The path leads downhill back to Scharmützelsee and along the shore to Bad Saarow. There, numerous gastronomic options invite you to stop off - from beer gardens to modern beach bars with regional and international cuisine. The historic architecture of the villas along the lakeshore offers an additional highlight.
Highlights along the tour:
- Landscape: Observation tower in the Rauen Mountains with a view of the Scharmützelsee
- Natural wonders: Markgrafensteine – the largest boulders in Northern Germany
- History: Remains of the ski jump in the forest
- Culinary: Diverse refreshment options in Bad Saarow
- Recreation: bathing areas at Scharmützelsee
Extra tips:
- Bathing areas: Strandbad Mitte on the Promenade, Kleistpark
- Culinary: Strandbar Nobelscharf, Freilich am See, Kaffeerösterei Bad Saarow
- Boat rental: At the pier passenger ships
