At the Kiel Canal and Lake Kudensee, Averlak reveals two sides: the village lies beside the canal on a natural sand dune, and Lake Kudensee is also part of the local landscape. When planning, it is worth deciding on your main focus first: should your outing take you to Lake Kudensee, include the canal, or combine both?

Between the lake and the nature reserve

The Kudensee and Surroundings nature reserve covers 246 hectares in Averlak and Kuden. Lake Kudensee itself has a water surface of about 40 hectares. This gives you two different figures for context: the area of the nature reserve and the lake’s water surface. Lake Kudensee is considered the last remaining lake in Dithmarschen formed from former sea bays. Its history of formation offers a distinct perspective on the landscape, alongside its present-day extent.

Lake Kudensee provides a habitat for a variety of marsh and water birds. Which birds you can observe varies by season. So if you are mainly visiting for the birdlife, it is worth considering the timing of your visit, without counting on seeing any particular birds.

Trails by Lake Kudensee and the canal

The “Around Lake Kudensee” trail starts at a restaurant in Averlak. It is considered easy and flat, and is about 12.06 kilometres long. At this distance, it is an outing in its own right, not a short detour; check local conditions before setting out. Along the way, an observation platform offers panoramic views of Lake Kudensee and the surrounding landscape. Hikers also come close to large ships on the Kiel Canal along the route.

Circular Hiking Trail No. 2 follows part of the Kiel Canal. A route through Kuden continues on to Lake Kudensee. This information can help you choose between the described section of the canal and a route that passes through Kuden.

Getting there and finding your way

Roadside parking is available in Averlak for the route. Check the local parking situation before setting off. Bus 2572 connects Averlak and St. Michaelisdonn via Eddelak. If you are travelling by bus, check the current timetable before your journey. This lets you plan practical travel arrangements separately from your choice of route.

More things to explore in the wider destination of Dithmarschen

The wider destination of Dithmarschen also offers cultural and historical attractions and practical activities. The Dithmarschen State Museum in Meldorf takes visitors through 1,200 years of Dithmarschen: from the wealth of the peasant republic to rural everyday life in the 1960s. This offers a different way to explore the destination’s history than Averlak’s focus on landscape and hiking.

The Dithmarschen Stone Age Park offers hands-on activities such as flint knapping, archery, making Stone Age jewellery, fire-making and bread-baking. The specific programme may vary; check the programme information if you are planning a visit. This gives you the choice between museum history and hands-on activities in Dithmarschen, while Lake Kudensee and the canal form the local focus in Averlak.

Discover more destinations: Norderwöhrden, Schmedeswurth, Lunden, Hörst, Marne, Wöhrden, Stinteck, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Koog

Back to the wider travel overview: Dithmarschen.