Forests, Geest and moorland shape the Wingst hiking area. Other destinations include Lake Balksee and two observation towers, each offering a different perspective on the landscape. There are also circular cycling routes and attractions focused on forest wildlife and knowledge about the forest. When planning, consider whether you want to focus on trails, individual places to visit or different nature-related themes.
Hiking Between Forest, Geest and Moorland
The hiking area brings together forest, Geest and moorland. Wingst has a network of more than 100 kilometres of hiking trails. Lake Balksee is at the heart of the Balksee and Marginal Moors Nature Reserve; the observation tower at Lake Balksee is about 150 metres on foot from the car park. This short distance gives you a specific reference point if you want to include a viewpoint in your plans.
Another viewpoint is the observation tower at Deutscher Olymp. From there, the view extends from the Elbe estuary area to BrunsbĂĽttel and Cuxhaven-Altenbruch. Deutscher Olymp is connected to the Wingst hiking trail network via the family adventure trail. The two observation towers can therefore be distinguished by different features: at Lake Balksee, the walking distance from the car park is known, while Deutscher Olymp stands out for its expansive panorama.
Forest Wildlife and Knowledge
At Wingst Forest Zoo, themed tours introduce five forest ecosystems and the zoo animals that belong to them. The adventure tour combines entertainment, information and interaction between people and animals. The forest zoo also has two playgrounds, and visitors can use a wheelchair free of charge. The different activities each offer a distinct focus, from learning about forest ecosystems and animals to taking the adventure tour.
Wingst Forest Museum complements these themes with a modern exhibition covering the many aspects of the forest. It spans just under 75 square metres. If you would like to explore the area around Wingster Olymp with an expert guide, guided walks are available year-round on request. They focus on native animals and plants. The exhibition and walks therefore offer different experiences: one presents its subject in a museum, the other explores the nature around Wingster Olymp.
Cycling and Horse Riding Around Wingst
There are circular cycling routes around Wingst ranging from 27 to 75 kilometres in length. When planning, treat these figures as the distances of individual circular routes, rather than equating them with the length of the hiking trail network. This lets you distinguish cycling and hiking days according to the relevant type and length of route, without assuming a specific duration for the tours.
Horse riding around Wingst includes forest trails, sand tracks, a large indoor riding arena and numerous riding stables. Most riding trails are privately owned. Some riding trails run along public roads. When planning a ride, take into account the difference between private trails and public roads.
More Places to Visit
Wingst Adventure Park covers more than 50,000 square metres. Its area is a notable point of reference when considering this separate destination. Along with the forest zoo and forest museum, it expands the range of places to visit without confusing their individual offerings. Depending on whether you would prefer to visit an exhibition, take a tour with animals or spend time at the adventure park, you can make different destinations the focus of your stay.
Discover more destinations: Mulsum, Osterbruch, Nordholz, Steinau, Hemmoor, Flögeln, Geestland, Wurster North Sea Coast.
Back to the main travel overview: Cuxhaven.
