Abenteuerliche Mountainbike-Strecke in Strausberg

Twenty-seven Kilometers on Forest and Dirt Roads

This tour is the roughest on the list. Over twenty-seven kilometers around Strausberg, it mainly traverses forest and dirt roads, and the bike should be suitable for off-road use. Two things must be stated upfront: The route is not signposted, and the paths’ passability varies depending on the weather – after prolonged rain, a firm dirt road quickly turns into a muddy affair. Those who factor this in will be rewarded with terrain that is rare in the Berlin area: The eastern part of the district rises significantly towards the Märkische Schweiz, with cobblestone passages, dips, and climbs, and a section of the EuroVelo R1 can be used. Getting there is straightforward because the S5 serves Strausberg multiple times: The stops Strausberg Stadt, Strausberg, Strausberg Nord, and Hegermühle are all within the city area, plus the RB 26 with stops in Petershagen Nord, Fredersdorf, and Herrensee. This makes the loop divisible – it’s possible to abort and return from Rehfelde, Hegermühle, or Strausberg Stadt train station.

Straussee, Herrensee and the Fieldstone Pyramid of Garzau

Strausberg is located directly on the shores of the Straussee, where there are numerous swimming spots, and a passenger cable ferry crosses the water. In the old town, you’ll find the city wall with a watchtower, St. Mary’s Church, the city museum, and the Fischerkietz (fishermen’s quarter), plus a climbing forest, a lakeside resort with boat rental, and an airfield. Heading east, the route lines up more lakes: the Herrensee in the nature reserve of the same name, the Bötzsee, the Stienitzsee, the Fängersee, the Tornow Lakes, and the Langer See near Garzin, which has a swimming area. The surrounding area offers unusual destinations: a fieldstone pyramid and a bunker in Garzau, a Slavic fortified settlement, a GDR and nostalgia museum in Garzin, and the Lange-Damm-Wiesen with the Barnim slopes. Those who extend the loop will reach the Märkische Schweiz Nature Park with its visitor center, the Brecht-Weigel-Haus and the Schweizer Haus in Buckow, Reichenow Castle, the Silberkehle near Pritzhagen, and the artists’ village of Ihlow. Swimming is also possible at the Bötzsee outdoor pool in Eggersdorf and the Stienitzsee lido in Hennickendorf.