Edersee Forest Walk: a loop trail around the water sports paradise of Lake Edersee

Narrow woodland paths sloping high above the shore and a rich variety of woodland are the features of Edersee Forest Walk, which goes once around Lake Edersee, one of the largest and most beautiful reservoirs in Germany.

A good place to start this multi-day circular walk is Waldeck Castle, which sits in splendour high above Lake Edersee in northern Hessen and continually looms into view during the walk. Around the lake, the trail weaves across country through the beautiful scenery. The way in which nature and the elements produce a riot of colour and the constant switching between water and woodland are typical of this walk. The enduring impression is of extensive beech forests in the national park, ancient wooded hillsides sloping down towards the shoreline, rural countryside and the lake itself with its deep-blue waters. But there is more to the trail than beautiful scenery. A host of attractions en route including the breathtaking dam wall, the treetop walk, the wildlife park and a bat nature trail. Those who don't want to walk the entire trail can take a scenic shortcut across the lake on a ferry or boat. There are several landing stages for this along the route. A mountain cable car soars from Lake Edersee up to Waldeck Castle, and a funicular railway climbs 300 metres from the shore to the Petersberg reservoir used by the underground power station.

Tip

Eder Dam
This gigantic structure from the time of imperial Germany is 47 metres in height and 400 metres long. It was built between 1908 and 1914 to regulate water levels in summer for the Mittelland Canal and for shipping on the Weser river. Power generation and flood protection are its other main benefits. It is possible to walk right across the top of the dam.

At a glance

• Starts and ends: Waldeck
• Length: 68km
• Number of stages: 6
• Altitude variation (approximate values): Ascent 5,300m, descent 5,300m
• Terrain: 75% unmade, 7% asphalt, 18% other, e.g. gravel