A stroll through the Hochheide is well worth it any time of year. The largest Hochheide in northwestern Germany (Neuer Hagen Nature Reserve) captivates visitors with its unique flora and fauna. Among the birches, mosses, ferns, and dwarf pines, amateur biologists can even find alpine and arctic plants. Rare bird species are native to the area. And when the heather blooms in late summer, a seemingly endless carpet of deep purple heather stretches across vast expanses. It’s an impressive sight and well worth capturing with a camera or cell phone.

Well-marked hiking trails, such as the Uplandsteig or the W4, wind through the purple landscape.
In winter, these trails are packed down so that you can walk comfortably on them and even pull a sled. Well-maintained cross-country ski trails run parallel to them.
In addition to the extensive high heathland in the Neuer Hagen Nature Reserve, you’ll find other heathlands on the Ettelsberg, the Osterkopf, Kahle Pön, and Orenberg.

If you’d rather not hike alone, join one of the guided hikes that lead to the most beautiful spots—and, of course, to the Hochheide.

Please help preserve this habitat and its species by staying on the trails!