North South Trail

Germany, because of its high population density, lacks true wilderness. If you’re seeking untouched, desolate landscapes, this country might not be your destination. However, Germany has some awesome nature, diverse hiking trails, and a rich history visible at every turn. You’ll encounter ancient castles, medieval towns, and paths walked for centuries. The North South Trail offers the best of both worlds—natural beauty and solid infrastructure.

The NST’s diverse landscapes, combined with Germany’s culture and history, make it a unique trail. Highlights include the North German coastline, the heather fields, rolling hills, the Rhine region, the Palatinate Forest, the Black Forest, Hegau, Lake Constance, and the Alps. It may not be the wildest trail, but it’s certainly one of the most varied.

The NST begins on Sylt, a small North Sea island near the Danish border. This first segment, covering Schleswig-Holstein, may come as a surprise with its many lakes and river landscapes. After 600 kilometers, you’ll cross Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city.

The middle section traverses Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and parts of Hesse. Near Hamburg, you’ll hike through the beloved Lüneburger Heide. In Lower Saxony, you’ll cross Steinhuder Lake, the largest lake in North Rhine-Westphalia at 29.1 square kilometers. Continuing to Porta Westfalica, you enter Germany’s low mountain ranges. Completing this 1,161-kilometer stretch, you pass through the Weserbergland, Rothaar Mountains, and Siegtal. Not too shabby!

In the west, the trail runs through Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. Following the Rhine River from Bonn to Rüdesheim, you cross the Siebengebirge, Lower Middle Rhine Valley, and UNESCO Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The Upper Middle Rhine has lots of medieval castles and ruins. Known for its romantic landscapes, the Middle Rhine will lead you to the Soonwald in Hunsrück and then to Saarland. The NST then crosses St. Wendeler Land, reaching the Palatinate Forest and the famous Palatinate Wine Trail. This path takes you through Germany’s largest forest area and significant wine regions. Arriving in Pforzheim, the “Golden City,” you will begin the final stage.

Finally, the trail covers Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Starting in Pforzheim, the Westweg leads into the Black Forest, Germany’s largest and highest low mountain range with over 100 peaks above 1,000 meters. Traversing the gorge trail, sturdy shoes are a must! The NST then heads through Allgäu and along Lake Constance before climbing into the higher Alps. After 3,582 kilometers, you reach the trail’s end at milestone 147 in Haldenwanger Eck.

A great time to start your hike on the North South Trail is in early to mid-April. By mid-September, snow can fall at the trail’s end point in the Alps. Given the time it takes to complete the entire route, starting even a week later can be risky due to weather. Naturally, this depends on your pace. If you start earlier, between January and March, you’ll need to consider your gear carefully. It can get very cold, especially in the north during this period.

This is not a technical trail, so you won’t need to bring any extra gear. You’ll likely want to pack as light as possible and follow our thru-hike packing list. Because the North South Trail stays low and isn’t technical, it’s suitable as a first thru-hike for beginning hikers. But that doesn’t excuse you from proper training and preparation! Make sure to research the trail before you go, including looking over the maps, planning your daily stages, and sending someone you trust your itinerary.

Because the trail isn’t fully signmarked, you’ll also want to download the GPX to a navigation device (phone works) and have backup charging options for the device. The trail links many other official trails, so sometimes you’ll be following those signs instead of the NST ones.