Bikepacking is far from being a mass-tourism trend in Germany. Nevertheless, there are regions that are quite in demand and frequented, and therefore have lost a bit of their charm. With our five insider tips for unknown bikepacking tours in Germany, you can discover new regions and experience great adventures along the way. At the bikepacking round table, you can also score points with these tours in terms of insider knowledge.
Tip 1: Haßberge
The 6-day bikepacking route through this (still) relatively unknown region promises one thing above all: bikepacking as it should be. In the region, the highest brewery density in the world meets centuries-old winemaking craftsmanship, as well as the center of the German Castle Corner against the picturesque backdrop of the Haßberge Nature Park. Lots of nature, many ruins, castles, and palaces, good beer, wine, and excellent cuisine await you. Biker's heart, what more could you want?
The "Adventure Haßberge" starts in the small historic district town of Haßfurt. On the first stage, covering 47 kilometers, you first pass through picturesque half-timbered towns and past the Ellertshäuser Lake through the entire "Haßgau," the gently rolling foothills of the actual Haßberge mountain range. The destination of the first stage is the Sulzfeld bathing lake with a campsite, where your tent can breathe fresh air for the first time again. Well warmed up, the second day leads to the former inner-German border and even runs a few kilometers on the large, international Iron Curtain Trail and directly on the column path right along the death strip. Nearly 70 kilometers and a challenging 710 meters of elevation await you on this stage. In Nassach, you can also pitch your tent directly at the Nassach Nature Recreation Lake campsite.
The third stage can definitely be described as the queen stage: 63 kilometers lead through the heart of the German Castle Corner. Bike paths, gravel roads, forest paths, and trails provide variety and plenty of riding pleasure. On the fourth day, it's also over quiet forest paths and fast gravel roads, first up to the Bramberg castle ruins and then over the Rennweg to the southeastern border of the Haßberge. Various breweries in Baunach and the surrounding villages offer a varied selection of isotonic drinks for the evening to replenish the lactate-plagued bikepacking calves with new strength for the last two stages.
The penultimate stage is all about wine: Through the deep forests of the Haßberge north of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg, it goes to the sun-drenched vineyards of the Main Valley. The route winds picturesquely through the vineyards and finally to the Sand am Main campsite on the other side of the Main. The sixth and final stage is a worthwhile excursion into the northern Steigerwald. The highlight of this stage is the summit of the Zabelstein. Relaxed 31 kilometers and around 370 meters of elevation bring you back to Haßfurt and leave enough time for a reward and the return journey.
Provision
Along the route, you will repeatedly pass through larger towns with supermarkets. For example, Hofheim in Lower Franconia, Bad Königshofen, and Ebern. However, there are also smaller villages with bakeries, butcher shops, and beverage markets in between. From the campsites, supermarkets are almost always reachable within a radius of less than 10 kilometers. Some pizzerias in the area also offer a delivery service.
Arrival and Departure
Haßfurt has a very good train connection to Schweinfurt (westward) and Bamberg (eastward). Other starting points are not so easily accessible by train.
Photo: Ralf Schanze
Tip 2: Ebbegebirge
This tour is quite challenging despite its "only" 110 kilometers, mainly due to the over 2,700 meters of elevation gain. For ambitious riders, this bikepacking tour through the Ebbegebirge can be completed in two days. If you prefer to take your time and maybe even take a dip in the Biggesee, you can easily extend this tour to three relaxed days.
Your bikepacking adventure begins in Eiringhausen. At the start, you can warm up a bit along the Lenne until the first big climb comes – and it won't be the last. Through the beautiful tangled Wald, you then ride down from the Rabenkopf and return to Lenne. With a big detour into the Wald, you ride to the borders of Finnentrop. You now encounter the Bigge, which eventually leads you to the reservoir of the same name. Since you have now completed about half of the route, you could look for a nice spot for an overnight stay here.
Along the Biggesee, it doesn't get boring either; it remains nicely varied and quite hilly. Now you ride north again through lots of Wald and nature. The Oestertalsperre offers you another really beautiful view of the water. The last good 20 kilometers have a few really steep climbs again. But they also offer great descents and wonderful views. In the end, you roll back into Eiringhausen via the Hohe Molmert.
Provisions
There are several larger towns on the tour where you can replenish all your supplies at supermarkets, bakeries, and gas stations. These include Finnentrop (KM 33), Attendorn (KM 45), and Valbert (KM 68).
Arrival and Departure
Not only Eiringhausen is suitable as a starting point, but also Finnentrop and Attendorn are suitable for arrival and departure by train. This way, the round can also be ended early.
Tip 3: Müritz
For this tour, we thought of a short weekend bikepacking tour, where you set off to the Müritz National Park on Friday after work and return on Sunday afternoon. Depending on which direction you come from, you can easily travel by train to Wesenberg, Neustrelitz, or Waren and start your bikepacking adventure.
We start the tour in Waren at the Müritz and don't ride around it for long, but go directly into the Müritz National Park. You follow the long and beautiful forest paths, past natural spectacles and other attractions to the source of the Havel. Passing small lakes and along the tracks, you reach a rest area after about 50 kilometers, which would be ideal to call it a day in the saddle and calmly set up your night camp. The next day, you pack everything up calmly and head towards Neustrelitz. There, it's breakfast time first. Afterwards, you ride over a lookout tower to the borders of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage: the ancient beech forests of Serrahn. Now you have already completed half of the bikepacking tour.
Over wide forest highways and sometimes short trails, you now weave between the many small and large lakes further towards Wesenberg. It would be advisable to make a few purchases for the evening there, and then look for a place for your night camp. Since you are riding between Woblitzsee and Großer Labussee, you are sure to find a suitable spot. On the way back to Waren, you ride once more into the beautiful Müritz National Park. Again, a bunch of beautiful lakes and nature trails await you. At the very end, you come directly to the Müritz Lake again. If the weather is right and you have some time, you can refresh yourself in the cool water. You can then use the last ten kilometers of your bikepacking tour to slowly arrive back in the here and now.
Provisions
The already mentioned large towns of Wesenberg, Neustrelitz, and Waren form the main supply points for your tour. If it can't be helped, you have to deviate from the tour to reach one of the towns faster.
Arrival and Departure
Also for arrival and departure, Wesenberg, Neustrelitz, and Waren are optimal (as already mentioned).
Tip 4: Thuringian Slate Mountains
Anyone who has not yet been in the Thuringian Slate Mountains will hardly believe how many meters of elevation you can collect here. On this multi-day bikepacking tour, you can get to know the beautiful quarries, forests, lakes, and rivers of this region.
Saalfeld is the ideal starting point to explore the Thuringian Slate Mountains. After leaving the city limits, you follow the Saale along small paths and forest roads until you reach the Hohenwarte Reservoir. The Saale then leads you further through the beautiful nature of Thuringia until you reach Germany's largest reservoir (by capacity), the Bleilochtalsperre. Here, you navigate along many trails and paths until the reservoir becomes the Saale again, and you turn towards Bad Lobenstein. Now you have already completed half of the journey and can reward yourself with at least a snack in the small town.
Right after that, you dive back into a vast forest area and set course for the Rennsteig and some small idyllic quarries and lakes. Of course, you want to find out where the name Slate Mountains comes from. This is followed by a very undulating section where you are mostly on the Rennsteig cycle path. You continue to follow this path northwest, through quaint little villages and remote forests. Occasionally, you will also be confronted with the former division of Germany, as the former border of Germany crosses your path repeatedly. At the end, there is another tough climb ahead of you, but the corresponding descent will bring you back to Saalfeld.
Provisions
Saalburg (KM 63), Bad Lobenstein (KM 83), and Probstzella (KM 120) are the only larger towns on the tour, so you should take advantage of the supermarkets and bakeries there. For refilling water in between, you can also use the small bakeries, as well as the many inns in the villages.
Arrival and Departure
In Bad Lobenstein and Probstzella, there are train stations that you can use for arrival and departure. By car, Saalburg is particularly convenient as it is close to the A9. Additionally, there is a beautiful campsite at the Saalburg Monastery that you can use as a base.
Tip 5: Emsland
The Emsland is much larger than you might think, and this tour proves it. This nearly 300-kilometer-long bikepacking tour takes you from the southernmost point of the Emsland to the northernmost and back again. But don't worry about so many kilometers. Firstly, it is quite flat the entire time, and secondly, we have kept the off-road portion of this bikepacking tour under 50 percent. So you can cover a good distance.
The start of your bikepacking tour is in Osnabrück. Strictly speaking, this is not part of the Emsland, but it offers a very good connection to the train. You quickly wind your way out of the city along the famous branch canal and continue to follow it for a while. Then you immerse yourself in the typical landscape of the Emsland. Many green areas alternate with forests and small lakes. The small villages you pass through are like something out of a cheese commercial, full of farmhouses and old brick houses. Occasionally, you will even pass through some areas that are very reminiscent of heath landscapes, and you will even see and feel a few hills.
Then, just before halfway through your bikepacking tour, you reach the northernmost point, the city of Papenburg. You completely change direction and join the Dortmund-Ems Canal, then the Hase, and wind your way further south with this small idyllic river. Now a few small lakes appear again, which are ideal for an overnight stay. In the final sprint, you cross the Mittelland Canal and pass through the Haler Field nature reserve. The branch canal takes you back to Osnabrück, gently ending your bikepacking tour.
Provisions
At regular intervals, you pass smaller and larger towns. There is always something available, from the dairy farm to the village shop to the bakery. In the towns of Sögel (KM 88), Papenburg (KM 124), Dörpen (KM 140), Lathen (KM 155), Meppen (KM 176), and Haselünne (KM 198), there is the possibility to visit supermarkets.
Arrival and Departure
Osnabrück is, of course, best connected to the transport networks. But there is also a good train connection in Papenburg at the northern end of the bikepacking tour. In between, there are numerous opportunities to end the route earlier.
Photo: © Emsland Tourism
Tip 6: Swabian Jura
The last tour is quite a blast with a good 280 kilometers and 4,300 meters of elevation. Depending on how fit you are, this bikepacking tour can take three or four days. It does not yet lead through the entire Swabian Jura. The two reference points were Ulm and Rottweil.
That's why the bikepacking adventure also starts in Ulm. You join the Danube and can ease into the first 30 kilometers. "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" is not only a very famous piece of music but also a brilliant entry into the Swabian Jura from a bikepacking perspective. Right after Ehingen, however, the first steep climb awaits you. But you are also surrounded by magnificent nature and repeatedly enjoy beautiful views. You repeatedly ride from the deep forests into small romantic villages, only to dive into the next Wald right after. Occasionally, you also cross small streams and brooks. After exactly 150 kilometers, you reach Rottweil, and with that, you have already mastered more than half of your bikepacking tour.
The next 20 kilometers are likely to be the toughest of the tour. At first, the climb leads you quite acceptably into the high altitudes of the Swabian Jura. But then there are a few really brutal kilometers that you have to master. The Plettenberg rewards you with a breathtaking view and the certainty of having conquered this inner demon. If you can arrange it, there's also a great spot for an overnight stay up here. The subsequent wild descent is definitely challenging and demands your full attention. Over valleys and hills, you now roll further back towards the east. Here too, you repeatedly cross bodies of water and natural highlights. For the last 15 kilometers, you can really enjoy coasting, as it's all downhill until you roll back into Ulm, exhausted but overjoyed.
Provisions
You repeatedly cross larger towns (or their outskirts) where you can find supermarkets. For example, Gammertingen (KM 83), Onstmettingen (KM 103), Tailfingen (KM 190), and Hayingen (KM 233). In between, there are also other small villages with bakeries and village shops.
Arrival and Departure
Ulm and Rottweil are of course the best places to start or end this bikepacking tour. However, there are also train stations in between, such as in Ehingen (Donau) and Gammertingen.
Photo: Swabian Jura Tourism, Photographer: Gerd Eisenschink
