Along the Brisetal from Wensickendorf to Birkenwerder
This hike is an absolute Certified Cutie my friends. Making up half of Stage 4 of the 66-Seen-Weg, this walk is 14.6km along leafy, swampy, level-grounded nature goodness. I did this hike in 3.5 hours which is quite surprising for the sheer amount of pictures I took. It’s easy to navigate as you follow the Brise stream for most of the way, and stops by a gorgeous woodland farm, which serves homemade cakes and hot drinks in their garden. I’ll definitely be coming back to this route for its varied natural beauty, easy reach with public transport, and fun wildlife spotting opportunities. Ever wondered what a pointy spear is doing sticking out from the ground? It’s probably a tree that’s been chewed off by a beaver. :)
You can follow the route directions on Komoot here, and read my instructions below!
Getting there
From Friedrichstrasse Station in central Berlin get the S2 train to Karow. From there catch the RB27 regional train to Wensickendorf. Trains run hourly.
The route:
Exiting the train station Wensickendorf turn right towards the main road, and turn left once you reach it, walking through the small town. Shortly before reaching a pretty village church turn left into Zühlsdorfer Strasse - which you will follow all the way through the outer edge of the town and onto a woodland track.
The Wensickendorf village church was built from natural stone in 1438.
The path leads through a peaceful and tall pine forest, with small and quaint woodland cabins popping up along your right side. Follow signs for the Zühlsdorfer Mühle, or mill, which is located at the end of the road.
Instead of walking towards the old mill location, turn right on the Brisesteig asphalted road, which leads past house entrances for the next 200 metres. Cross the larger street and continue straight along the woodland track. From here you can start to see views of an abundant meadow cropping up on the left side of the path. The Brise stream is located between trees in these fields you are now passing.
The valley is named after the Brise stream, which originates in Wandlitzsee and ends 16km further away in the Havel. The Brisetal has been a popular destination for Berliners looking for a nature break not far from the city for years for its diverse woodlands and wildlife, including bats, rare frog and bird species, as well as snakes and, more recently, a beaver.
Continue for several kilometres until you reach the Forsthaus Wensickendorf, a lovely restaurant and smallholding farm which offers outdoor seating, homemade cakes, local dishes and coffee (upon request also “mit Schuss” which means a shot of whiskey!). This gorgeous farm with its views and friendly atmosphere makes for a lovely break spot a third into your hike.
Once you’re ready to leave, take a small woodland track opposite the restaurant’s picknick area. Follow the track into the woods, and turn left once you meet a T-junction. From here, the path follows the border of the Brise stream, with swampy, stagnant waters creating beautiful reflections of trees. The valley continues through dense, mixed woods, across a stone bridge and road, and back down to the stream. Keep on the right, or west, side of the stream.
Making your way along the path by the waterside towards and past the Hubertusbrücke, first signs of the educational nature path will emerge, which have been placed there by the “woodland school” near Birkenwerder. Pay special attention to teeth marks on sharply nibbled tree stumps, left by the local beaver.
Once you reach the woodland school Waldschule Kolonie Brise, stay north of the waterway and turn left into the street Am Waldfriedhof, eventually continuing onto the street Wensickendorfer Weg. Pass a railway bridge and then a highway bridge and then turn left along the Boddensee.
The Boddensee makes for a good swim spot along this route.
Pass the lake along the side with a small restaurant into Flora Strasse. Next, turn left into Akazienstrasse and follow the railway tracks until the S-Bahn Station, from which you can take the S1 back to central Berlin.
The Kaffeehaus Birkenwerder is a highly recommended coffeehouse which sells delicious cakes and a local baked dish called Kaiserschmarrn, complete with baked apple. A wonderful post-hike treat!
