Whenever we want to escape the city for a few hours, our current favorite route takes us into the Müggelberge and through the Köpenicker Forst. It’s for anyone who wants to feel far from it all without a long journey. The trails are visually interesting: boggy wetlands, dense forest, and quiet waterways all in one walk.

Our route starts on the newly built Müggelberge Teufelssee nature trail. Where a summer retreat once drew day-trippers out of the city, a nature reserve now provides a habitat for a wide range of species. The narrow path winds through sun-dappled forest and skirts the edge of the Teufelsmoor bog. Eventually, a long flight of steps branches off to the right, climbing up to the Müggelturm — the hike’s first real highlight. On a clear day, the viewing platform rewards you with a spectacular panorama over the countryside surrounding Berlin.

After the descent, the flight of steps continues down to the Dahme, where the water glimmers in the distance, drawing you towards the shore. Benches here, with a view across to Bammelecke in Grünau (a popular swimming spot), make the perfect place for a short break and a first taste of whatever you’ve packed. The lakeside path stretches on for many kilometers, opening up one lovely swimming cove after another all the way to the F21 ferry landing at Krampenburg–Schmöckwitz. This stretch in particular is easy to extend as far as you like. Look closely, and you’ll spot gnaw marks left by the local beavers — a good sign of healthy water quality.

We, however, turn off earlier onto a side path to the left, heading back into the forest and up towards the Großer Müggelberg. The terrain gets noticeably hillier here, and the paths start to test your legs. Eventually, following the well-known downhill trails, we reach the summit. At 115 meters above sea level, we stand on the city’s highest natural point. The summit cross gives a genuine sense of mountaineering, right in the middle of a metropolis.

From there, the path winds back down past shelters and the outdoor learning stations of the Teufelssee forest school, returning to the bog. A wooden boardwalk carries you across the marshland and the lake, opening up views of water lilies swaying gently in the wind and dragonflies humming past. Among the reeds, birches and mud, one bench offers a last chance to sit, listen to the birdsong, and take in the surroundings with full attention. From there, the route leads directly back to where we started.

A few meters of elevation, a handful of forest paths, and the reassurance that Berlin’s next adventure is often only a few stops away. The Müggelberge proves that you don’t need monumental peaks to earn a proper break from everyday life. Tip: The free Wald-Zeit-Reise app offers quizzes, historical images, and information about the plants and animals of the Müggelberge hills.
Text: Julia Spindelmann & Flavia Lamprecht Photos: Walking on the Wild Side

Julia and Flavia are close friends from Berlin who share a passion for being outdoors and exploring. On their adventures around Berlin and Brandenburg, they kept discovering hidden gems and places off the beaten path. That’s how their guide “Walking on the Wild Side – Streifzüge durch Berlin und Brandenburg” came to life. Inside, you’ll find more than 70 sustainable routes for walks, little adventures, and weekend escapes. You can find the book at independent bookstores and selected local shops.

Rübezahl bus stop (bus 169), Rübezahl hiking car park, 12559 Berlin–Köpenick; map

@walkingonthewildsideofberlin