Hiking in the Lüneburg Heath: Discover the Wilseder Berg and the Enchanting Totengrund
In northeastern Lower Saxony lies one of Germany’s most iconic natural landscapes – the Lüneburg Heath. This vast heathland and cultural landscape is known for its gentle hills, mysterious moors, peaceful forests, and the vibrant purple bloom of its heather fields. The core of the region is a protected nature park, accessible only on foot or by bike – making it a true haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
Over 50 well-marked hiking trails run through the area, including a section of the European long-distance trail E1. One of the highlights is the Lüneburg Heath Nature Reserve between Undeloh and Niederhaverbeck. Here you’ll find the largest contiguous heath areas in Germany, along with two iconic sights: the Wilseder Berg, the region’s highest point, and the mystical Totengrund valley.
In this blog post, I’ll take you along on my personal hike through the Lüneburg Heath Nature Park. I’ll share the route, useful hiking tips, and why this unique landscape left such a lasting impression on me. I’m glad you’ve found my travel blog – enjoy reading!
Overview of the hike in the nature reserve Lüneburger Heide
If you click on a link below, you will go directly to the corresponding section of the route. It starts in the village of Undeloh at the edge of the nature reserve and quickly leads into a coniferous forest. It is followed by the Wilseder Berg, which promises magnificent views, and by the picturesque village of Wilsede. The hiking trail continues through extensive heath areas to Oberhaverbeck, from where the route then runs in the direction of Steingrund. Afterwards you will reach the dry valley Totengrund, which is an absolute highlight in the Lüneburg Heath. The way back runs again via Wilsede along a carriage path back to Udeloh.
The entire hike through the Luneburg Heath is 21 kilometers long. I needed about 6 hours for the hike with breaks. However, there are umpteen possibilities to extend or reduce the distance. The route has no significant slope, only briefly at Mount Wilsede and Turmberg. The paths are well developed and signposted, but partly very sandy. Hiking shoes are an advantage here. There are refreshment stops on the hike in Udeloh, Wilsede and Oberhaverbeck. I have marked the route and all important destinations on the map.
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21 km (6 h)
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↑↓ 194 m
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Medium
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Parking lot in Undeloh
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Sandy nature trails, forest paths
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Heath only blooms in August/September
How to get to Lüneburg Heath
Travel by car
The starting point of my hike and many other hiking trails in the Lüneburg Heath is Undeloh. By car you can reach the village best from the highway no. 7. The drive from Hamburg to Undeloh takes 40 minutes and from Hannover about 75 minutes. There are several parking lots in Undeloh, but you have to pay for them. The price for parking is 3 euros per day.
An alternative starting point is Oberhaverbek. There is also a parking lot for hikers. I have marked the parking spaces on the map.
By bus to the Lüneburg Heath
In Undeloh there is a bus stop called “Osterdiecksfeld”, which is served by buses from Buchholz train station or Handeloh train station. The stations can be reached with the Heidebahn, which commutes hourly between Hannover and Buchholz. On the website of the HVV or the Deutsche Bahn you can find timetables and tickets. My tip: Use the cheap DB regional day tickets* (Niedersachsen-Ticket).
Shuttlebus in the Lüneburg Heath
There is also a free shuttle bus within the Lüneburg Heath in the summer months, which goes to the region’s popular sights. You can find the timetables and the route network on the nature park website.
If you want to learn more about traveling by car or public transportation in Germany, check out my travel blog about Germany and Lower Saxony.
The most underrated hiking region in Germany – hiking tour in the Lüneburg Heath
The hike starts at the large parking lot in Undeloh. Directly from here, tens of hiking trails lead in all directions of the Lüneburg Heath. I follow the European long-distance hiking trail E1, which leads me directly into the forest. This hiking trail, also called Herrmann Röhrig Weg, leads through a coniferous forest, along green meadows, and finally through the first huge area of heath.
The sights of the Lüneburg Heath: Wilsede and Wilseder Berg
After an easy climb, I finally reach the picturesque Wilseder Berg. At 169.2 meters, it is the highest elevation in the Lüneburg Heath. From the summit you have a great view of the surrounding heathland and in good weather even a view as far as Hamburg and Lüneburg. Not far away is the beautiful Wilsede, where essential features of a pre-industrial heath village have been preserved. Accordingly, there are several sights, museums, restaurants, and hotels in the village. Wilsede can only be reached on foot, by bike or carriages, which are available in Undeloh or Oberhaverbeck.
Short Facts for your Trip
Since the heather only blooms in summer, I recommend visiting Luneburg Heath in August or September. An old rule says that the flowering period lasts from 08/08 to 09/09. You can find the current flower status on the nature park website. In summer, the temperature can rise to over 30 °C. But July and August are also the months with the highest rainfall. On the following page you can find a climate table.
You can tackle the presented hiking route in about 6 hours. Nevertheless, I recommend you to spend several days in the Lüneburg Heath. Take a look at the area and discover natural spectacles such as the Pietzmoor, the Osterheide or the tree top walk “Heide-Himmel”.
I have never stayed in the Lüneburg Heath myself, as it is close to my home. However, there is a variety of accommodations to suit all tastes. For the presented hike there is suitable accommodation in Undeloh*
In the summer months, a free shuttle bus runs within the Lüneburg Heath, which goes to popular destinations in the region. You can find the timetables and the route network on the nature park website. For bus and train I recommend booking DB regional tickets* (Niedersachsen-Ticket).
The heath areas has little shadow, which is why I definitely recommend sunscreen and a hat in summer. Sturdy shoes are recommended for the sandy paths. You should also think of a rain jacket. Along the route there are restaurants in Undeloh, Wilsede and Niederhaverbeck, so it is not necessary to think of provisions.
The Lüneburg Heath is perfect for landscape or macro photography. But you will also meet Heidschnucken here, if you like animal photography. The best motif here are the extensive heather areas.
Flowering season in the Lüneburg Heath – hike from Wilsede to Oberhaverbeck
I leave the travel destination Wilsede in a southwesterly direction and first hike through the Oberhaverbecker Holz forest. At the clearing, extensive heath areas await me, which accompany me the rest of the way to Oberhaverbeck. Shortly before reaching the village, I climb the 135-meter-high Turmberg, which guarantees great views of the heath areas interspersed with juniper bushes. If you don’t want to eat, stay overnight or rest in Oberhaverbeck, you can hike directly from the Turmberg in the direction of Steingrund.
If you are looking for a travel guide to Lower Saxony, check out this book. The authors give great travel tips for the most beautiful sights in Lower Saxony. Moreover, not only the well-known sights are described, but also more unknown places are mentioned.
Through the heath to the Steingrund
The hiking trail from Oberhaverbeck leads me to the right behind the Turmberg again through beautiful heath areas. Then I walk on the forest path O2 through the Oberhaverbeck Holz. At the clearing I reach the worth seeing Steingrund: a typical dry valley of the heath landscape.
Lüneburg Heath nature experience – hike through the Steingrund
The Steingrund dry valley is surrounded by 40-meter-high ridges and contains typical features of a heath landscape. In the Steingrund you will find heath, wild juniper bushes, and countless erratic blocks. The Steingrund is a beautiful attraction in the Lüneburg Heath, but is overshadowed by the popular Totengrund. Both a hiking trail and a carriage trail lead around the Steingrund.
According to a legend, the Steingrund was created during the quarrel of hostile giants, who fought each other with stones and sand. One group hurled sand at their opponents. The second group of giants could not see anything due to the cloud of dust that was raised and hurled the stones blindly in the direction of the enemy. But the stones flew much too far and crashed to the ground in what is now the Steingrund.
The Totengrund: The Highlight of the Lüneburg Heath
Coming from the Steingrund, the hiking trail leads me directly to the number one sight of the Lüneburg Heath. The Totengrund is a second dry valley, which is about 30 hectares in size. At the upper edge of the valley runs a great circular trail around the Totengrund. This hiking trail guarantees magnificent views of the valley, which resembles a purple sea of heather when it is in bloom. Rightly, the Totengrund is one of the most visited heath areas in the Lüneburg Heath. The valley is the nucleus of the nature reserve and is one of the first nature reserves in Germany.
If you are looking for more hikes in the Lüneburg Heath, then take a look at this book. The book is in German, but I think the hiking routes are understandable even without knowledge of German. I personally like this series of hiking guides very much. The book is small and handy, offers useful information about hiking and detailed descriptions of the hikes. It has already enabled me to discover great hikes that I would not have found without these books.
Old German hiking trail via Wilsede back to Undeloh
The last stage of the hike leads me back to Wilsede. On the way (W2) there is a sheep pen, and with a little luck you can observe a herd of Heidschnucken here. You can taste Heidschnucke in one of the restaurants in Wilsede. Heidschnucke is considered a delicacy in this region of Germany and is served with cranberries. I hike back to Undeloh via the Wilsede road, which again runs through heath areas.
Beautiful Hike Through the Lüneburg Heath: A Pure Nature Experience
This 21-kilometer circular hike through the Lüneburg Heath offers an unforgettable experience for nature lovers. The diverse landscapes of forests, heathlands, hills, and valleys make the hike a special adventure. A highlight of the route is the Totengrund, a stunning natural feature that will captivate hikers. The trail is suitable for most hikers, requiring no special expertise, but a certain level of fitness is needed due to the length of approximately 6 hours.
Important Tips for Hikers
Sturdy shoes and hiking boots are highly recommended for this hike. While the tour can be completed in 6 hours, there is an option to shorten it by skipping Oberhaverbeck. Additionally, part of the trail can be comfortably covered by carriage. If you want to experience the heathland in full bloom, plan your hike between early August and early September, a time when sunny and hot days are common, though occasional rain showers can occur.
I can highly recommend the Lüneburg Heath Nature Park with its attractions. For me, the Lüneburg Heath is an absolute highlight in Lower Saxony. Directly adjacent to the featured hike is the Osterheide, another area that I can highly recommend. In my blog post I show you a beautiful hike through the Osterheide.
Hotels and accommodation in Lüneburg Heath
The best starting point for the hike is Undeloh. In the village there are sights, bus connections, restaurants, and many accommodations. You can find a selection of accommodations under this link* Alternatively, you can also find suitable accommodations in the village of Niederhaverbeck*
Of course, there are countless other places in the region that offer accommodation. Below you will find a selection for the entire Lüneburg Heath.
I hope you enjoyed my travelogue about Lüneburg Heath. On my Lower Saxony Blog I show you other beautiful travel destinations in Lower Saxony and share valuable tips and experiences for your trip to Germany. Did you like my blog post? Was I able to help you? Then I would be happy if you recommend my travel blog, leave a comment, or follow me on Instagram. Thanks for reading and have fun on your vacation in Germany.
The references marked with an asterisk (*) are so-called commission links. If you click on such a referral link and buy something, I get a small commission from the provider. For you, the price does not change! I see it as a small thank you for my work and look forward to any support.
