Germany's finest autumn hikes

Jasmund National Park on Rügen appeals to hikers with its colorful beech forests along windswept coastal paths. On trails above the white cliffs, you can hike from one vantage point overlooking the Baltic Sea to the next. The route between Sassnitz and Lohme is considered one of the most beautiful and spectacular along the entire Baltic Sea.

Vast, open spaces are typical of this special Lower Saxony moor landscape. A contributing factor is the grazing by moorland sheep, which have lived there for centuries and form a part of the conservation plan. The "Moorpadd" path through the conservation area offers hikers numerous opportunities to get to know this extraordinary landscape in more detail and to observe its beauty from all angles.

Yes, you can discover nature in the middle of a city. North of Berlin, located between the Lübars district and Lake Tegel, you will discover a little stream called the Tegeler Fliess. Many endangered and rare animal and plant species have settled in this rustic-looking marshland. You might even encounter a water buffalo on your hike!

Near the town of Bad Schandau in eastern Saxon Switzerland there's a dramatic rock formation: the Schrammsteine. A hiking path, named after robin redbreast birds, leads along the southeastern edge of the rock. Steps are carved into the rock, with wooden stairs and steep climbs to overcome. But this effort is rewarded by a stunning view.

Wartburg Castle towers above the city of Eisenach at the northwestern tip of the Thuringian Forest. The UNESCO World Heritage Site features various hiking tours: Over a thousand kilometers, the Luther Trail connects the essential Martin Luther sites in Thuringia. One route leads from Wartburg Castle to Glasbachsgrund, where Luther was held in protection from enemies.

Near Niedersfeld in the eastern Hochsauerland region, situated at an altitude of more than 800 meters (2,625 feet), lies a rare heath. The vast, treeless landscape turns into a carpet of purple heather blossoms in late summer. To explore the area, there is a signposted circular trail that also leads along the Rothaarsteig hiking trail in Germany's Rothaargebirge mountains.

The Mayen-Koblenz region features hiking paths through the vineyards of Rhineland Palatinate. It is well worth trying out one of the 24 stages of the Moselsteig Trail. Stretching over a total of 365 kilometers (227 miles), it covers the entire German course of the Moselle River — from Perl to Koblenz. The paths lead through forests and vineyards but can occasionally become extremely steep.

At 879 meters, Hesse's second-highest mountain is located in the Rhenish Massif, which is part of the Taunus mountain range. During the cold months, its slopes attract winter sports enthusiasts, but in autumn, hikers can enjoy the tranquility of its serene forests. The major European long-distance hiking trails E1 and E3 also meet on the Grosser Feldberg mountain. Truly a hiker's paradise.

On the northern shore of Lake Constance, the Birnau Basilica rises high above the lush vineyards. In the past, Cistercian monks used the Prälatenweg hiking trail as a service road. Once you reach the top of the hill, you are rewarded with a magnificent view of Lake Constance. This baroque church has long been a popular pilgrimage spot and one of the biggest tourist attractions on Lake Constance.

For many, autumn is the best time for hiking in Germany's mountains. You can expect to encounter a spectacular vista across the Allgäu Alps if you climb to the Zeigersattel (which translates as pointer saddle) near Oberstdorf. From a height of 1,900 meters, you can admire the Seealpsee lake, the Oytal valley and many regional peaks. If you are lucky, you might even spot a golden eagle in the sky.