Germany’s Ederseeweg trail — three stages from the city to the lake

When the Edersee was dammed at the beginning of the 20th century, a new and exciting destination was created in the mountainous region of North Hesse. The enchanting mix of old beech forests and the large lake with its shimmering water surface has attracted hikers and weekend walkers ever since.

This is why a hiking route from Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe to Lake Edersee was established as early as 1928, enabling stressed city dwellers to reach the popular destination over the course of several stages. This makes the Edersee Trail one of the oldest hiking trails in northern Hesse and, thanks to its beauty, it’s long since become a destination itself.

At about 47 kilometres (29 mi) long, the trail is perfect for a weekend adventure. I’ve divided it into three stages so that you have plenty of time to visit the small villages and historic sites along the way, enjoy the green low mountain range of northern Hesse and take one or two side trips if you like.

You start in Kassel, at the historic Wilhelmshöhe (Park) railway station. The station stands next to the internationally famous Bergpark, at the western end of which the mighty Hercules statue towers. On the edge of the Habichtswald forest, and with beautiful views of the Kassel basin, the route continues through woodlands, across green meadows and along open fields. Small villages with lovingly maintained half-timbered houses lie along the trail and you might even see the Hessen-Courier, a museum train that regularly puffs through the countryside in summer. Finally, with a view of Waldeck Castle, you reach the Edersee lake at Nieder-Werbe.

You'll find cosy accommodation and places to stop for refreshments at all the stage destinations. Make sure you book in advance so that you can be sure of getting a place to stay. These are often small, family-run establishments with limited capacity. If you don't have any ideas yet, just check the Grimm Heimat portal (grimmheimat.de – in German).

You can easily reach Wilhelmshöhe (Park) station by tram and the other places on the trail are regularly served by public buses. Perhaps you prefer a short hike or would like to tailor the length of the routes differently? No problem: the closest train stations to the Way are Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe, Bad Wildungen, Korbach and Vöhl-Herzhausen. For the subsequent bus transfers to the towns on the Ederseeweg, you can find information at the Nordhessischer Verkehrsverbund (nvv.de – in German).

Now, let's get going! Pack your rucksack, lace up your shoes and don't forget your camera: you’ll be amazed at how many shades of green there are to discover in North Hesse.