Uckermark weekender: From Oberuckersee to Prenzlau

This is a beautiful one night camping and 17km hiking trip that can be done super easily on a summer weekend from Berlin. My dear hiking and camping friend Carys introduced me to this spectacular campsite and hiking route, and I think this has to be one of the most stunning places I’ve camped at in Brandenburg. Here are the deets so you can go do too!

The campsite

Head out on the RE3 to Warnitz. The train is quite infrequent from Berlin, so make sure to check out times ahead of leaving, and you can book your spot at the campsite in advance. At Warnitz station cross to the other side of the tracks and turn left, walking down the village’s main road towards the campsite Camping am Oberuckersee, which is well signposted. The campsite itself it set over layered terraces with a middle walkway that’s quite steep, a tent ground closer to the lake at the bottom, and another closer to the top and wash house. The hands down most amazing feature of this site, despite friendly staff, peaceful campers and clean facilities, is the beautiful jetty out over the Oberuckersee lake. We got here on a Friday evening around 8pm and got to see this spectacular sunset over the lake, together with families sitting on the jetty and kids getting in their last cannon balls for the night. About as good as summer gets! You can order Brötchen at the front desk for your breakfast, or there’s a baker that turns up in a van on Saturday mornings at 8.15. Told you this place was dreamy!

Sunset over the Oberuckersee

Hike to Prenzlau

After a lovely night’s sleep and an obligatory 7am fresh swim we set out on a hike north to the small city of Prenzlau. From the campsite the route is about 17.5km following train tracks and walking paths along the edges of the Oberuckersee and Unteruckersee, with a few swim spots in between. Both lakes are largely surrounded by reeds and bushes so the paths aren’t often right on the water’s edge. But patient walkers are rewarded with some lovely swims when a small path through the reeds becomes clear. The Unteruckersee is very shallow - we had to wade knee deep for a good 20 metres before we could swim. The very southern point is a bit boggy but much cleaner beaches and almost private swim spots pop up further north along the walk.

Food and water are tricky to find during the walk itself, so make sure to fill up at the little countryside shop in Warnitz (also shout out to the best pain aux raisins I’ve had in yonks) before you set out. The fishing club at the southern edge of Warnitz is the next water stop, which we were quite thrilled to come across after walking 15km in 36 degree heat!

Walking with you camping stuff on your back is something that needs a little getting used to, so I think this length of 17km is about enough to tucker pretty much anyone out. But the good news is that with one night’s sleeping you really don’t need much in the way of clothes or toiletries! I’m really excited to do this route again towards autumn time with cooler nights, chilly lake swims and turning leaves.

You can find the whole route on this link on Komoot (leaving out the city tour unless your legs are made of steel): https://www.komoot.de/tour/30695805?utm_campaign=tour_embed&utm_medium=embed&utm_source=www.wandern-berlin-brandenburg.de#previewMap