Saxony-Anhalt is a land for hiking. Hikers here will discover varied landscapes and places with history. In the Harz Mountains, narrow paths lead through forests and cliffs, while riverside forests and dykes accompany you along the Elbe. Old monasteries, vineyards and villages often lie directly on the route. Sometimes uphill, sometimes flat - sometimes alone, sometimes in company. Hiking in Saxony-Anhalt is easy: well-marked paths, many starting points, lots of nature to breathe in.
Hiking in Saxony-Anhalt - experience the diversity of the regions
Harz Mountains
Northern Germany's low mountain range: shrouded in legend and rich in variety. Old paths lead through forests and over rocks, past moors, streams and up mountains. The Brocken can often be seen from afar - a destination for all those who love the outdoors. If you like, you can earn your personal "Harz hiking pin" here.
Altmark
If you are looking for peace and quiet, you will find it here. Wide fields, little traffic, lots of nature, for example on the hiking nests. These are certified circular trails throughout the region and lead through varied landscapes: species-rich forests, moors, wide fields and green meadows.
Saale-Unstrut
Hiking with a view. Through vineyards, past castles, along limestone paths. A trail for all the senses. Hiking with a view. Through vineyards, past castles, over limestone paths. A trail for all the senses - and in the middle of it all, the Lower Saale Valley and Saale-Unstrut-Triasland nature parks with quiet paths, rare species and a diverse landscape.
Central Elbe vacation region
Flat, close to the water. The region between Magdeburg and Wittenberg is rich in river landscapes, wide floodplains and quiet paths. The UNESCO Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve forms its natural heart - with riverside paths, boardwalks and a rich variety of birdlife.
World Heritage Region Anhalt-Dessau-Wittenberg
Between UNESCO sites, park landscapes and urban experiences, hiking trails run through historic cultural landscapes - often quiet, often impressive. Hikers here encounter history that lives on in stone and landscape.
Top Hiking Trails in Saxony-Anhalt
A classic among long-distance hiking trails: the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg runs 97 kilometers from Osterode to Thale – right across the Harz Mountains. Those who hike it experience all facets of the low mountain range: deep forests, high moors, steep climbs, and fabulous views. The highlight is the 1,141-meter-high Brocken – often shrouded in clouds, always impressive. Twelve specially designed adventure islands along the route invite you to pause and marvel. Since 2007, the trail has carried the “Qualitätsweg Wanderbares Deutschland” seal of quality.
Tip: The Harzer Wandernadel combines exercise with the joy of discovery. Over 200 stamp points are scattered throughout the Harz Mountains – at viewpoints, natural monuments, and historical sites. Anyone who collects eleven stamps becomes a hiking princess or prince. Those who continue can become a hiking emperor.
The Karstwanderweg trail in the southern Harz Mountains is a paradise for anyone who wants to understand nature. The northern (167 km) and southern (181 km) variants lead through a landscape of gypsum and limestone, past caves, sinkholes, springs, and bizarre rock formations. Over 200 information boards explain geological features – clearly and directly along the trail. The trail is marked in both directions throughout. A trail for explorers with an eye for detail.
The 30-kilometer tour from Bad Düben to Bad Schmiedeberg leads through the Dübener Heide Nature Park. Particularly suitable for families: the route is easy to walk and the topics along the way are presented in a child-friendly manner. Also included: the beaver mascot “Billi Bockert,” who accompanies visitors on information boards and at stations and imparts environmental knowledge. A trail certified as a Quality Trail by Wanderbares Deutschland with plenty of space for shared experiences.
What was once a border is now a national natural monument: the Green Belt. The trail follows the course of the former inner-German border for 90 kilometers—through forests, across meadows, past memorial sites. The route combines nature conservation with remembrance culture. Those who walk here encounter recent history in a quiet way—embedded in a diverse landscape.
Pilgrimages in Saxony-Anhalt
Hiking can also move the soul. In Saxony-Anhalt, four pilgrimage trails lead through landscapes full of history and tranquillity. Whether following in the footsteps of Martin Luther on the Luther Trail, along old trade routes or through monastery landscapes in the Harz Mountains - pilgrimages combine an experience of nature with inner contemplation.
The Luther Trail crosses Saxony-Anhalt for 460 kilometers. It connects the most important places where Martin Luther worked, including Lutherstadt Eisleben, Mansfeld-Lutherstadt, and Lutherstadt Wittenberg. The trail leads through river landscapes such as the Elbe, Saale, and Unstrut, small villages, and historic town centers. Those who walk it discover the history of the Reformation step by step.
The Harz Monastery Trail connects eleven ecclesiastical sites between Goslar and Quedlinburg. It covers 84 kilometers through a legendary landscape, past Romanesque churches, ancient walls, and monastery courtyards. Ideal for anyone who likes to learn about history while walking.
370 kilometers of the Camino de Santiago run through Saxony-Anhalt. From Jerichow to Eckartsberga, hikers follow the old route towards Santiago de Compostela. Churches, monasteries, and pilgrim signs along the way offer space for reflection and orientation.
The Via Regia is part of an ancient trade route. In Saxony-Anhalt, it runs for over 80 kilometers from Horburg-Maßlau to Eckartsberga. Christian hostels, ancient paths, and simple infrastructure make it particularly suitable for quiet walking and communal pilgrimages.