Blankensee between Lake Wanzka and the Railway Trail

Lake Wanzka, bathing area and views

Lake Wanzka is a glacial channel lake formed during the Ice Age, with a water surface area of 2.03 km². There is a volleyball court at Blankensee bathing area, so you can combine a visit to the lake with a game of volleyball. If you prefer views over the water and landscape, the covered Panoramablick Rödliner See viewpoint is located in the wider area around Blankensee. From there, you can look out over Lake Rödlin and the landscape.

Another local landmark is the Am Bahnübergang rest area. It is on a meadow by the railway crossing, right beside State Road 34. The viewpoint and rest area offer different things: one is about views over the lake and landscape, the other about its setting beside a meadow, railway crossing and state road.

Getting to know the Railway Trail on foot or by bike

The Railway Trail is about 40 km long; the actual former railway track is 36.3 km long. These figures describe different measurements and give an idea of the route’s overall length. About 32 km are mostly surfaced with asphalt or paving stones. The remaining section has a water-bound surface and is easy to cycle. The trail mostly follows combined cycle and footpaths, farm tracks and minor roads—a mix that is useful to know when planning a bike tour or deciding to explore individual sections on foot.

A 3.5 km section between Blankensee and Warbende Gras is signposted as a hiking trail. The railway embankment is interrupted at a former bridge, where there are wooden stairs. The signposted section and this feature help you assess the route as a hiking option too. Surfaces and signage can change, so it is advisable to check current conditions before setting out.

More nature experiences in the Mecklenburg Lake District

Beyond Blankensee, the Mecklenburg Lake District offers further opportunities to enjoy nature. Müritz National Park is part of this wider region and is characterized by forests, bogs, lakes and expansive meadows. Its hiking trail covers different landscape types and notable features of the national park in nine stages. The route follows lakeshores, passes through old-growth forests and past inland dunes, and leads to the source of the Havel. The stages and varied landscapes give hikers different ways to include the national park in their plans.

Certified nature and landscape guides offer educational tours in Müritz National Park. These include guided tours in the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest of Serrahn and tours from the water. If you are interested in learning about nature, you can consider these guided activities as a distinct regional experience alongside the trails around Blankensee.

Another nature destination in the Mecklenburg Lake District is the Damerower Werder European bison reserve. It is on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin and the Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park; visitors can observe the animals there. The reserve also has a forest adventure trail with climbing opportunities, an ant house, an exhibition with touch-and-see panels, and a dendrophone. The focus there is on wildlife observation and the various stations in the forest.

Water excursions are another regional option: From Neustrelitz town harbor, waterway travelers can explore Müritz National Park and the Strelitz Small Lakes region via the Upper Havel Waterway. This allows you to extend your travel plans beyond the local lake and Railway Trail to include more of the Mecklenburg Lake District’s natural landscapes and waterways.

Discover more destinations: Grünow, Kratzeburg, Blumenholz, Godendorf, Klein Vielen, Hohenzieritz, Userin, Möllenbeck.

For the wider travel overview: Amt Neustrelitz-Land.