Hike to Germany’s North Sea coast – Ostfriesland Hiking Trail

days

1-6 h

/ day

68.1 mi

650 ft

In East Frisia in Germany, time passes differently. If you hurry, you don’t have time to listen to the constant murmur of the North Sea. The landscape is flat and somehow calmer. The cosy tea rooms are ever peaceful. Nature, on the other hand, is lively. In summer, it hums and buzzes in the moors of the Geest landscapes. To experience this idyll, the best thing to do is to follow the Ostfriesland Hiking Trail.

90 kilometres (56 mi) lie between the Lower Saxon towns of Rhauderfehn and Bensersiel, directly on the North Sea coast. I included some nice detours so this Collection is just under 100 kilometres (62 mi). I still divided the long-distance hike into six stages as per the official route. The stage destinations have suitable accommodation, as well as train and bus connections.

You can reach Rhauderfehn, your starting point, by bus from Papenburg or Leer. Both cities also have train stations. If you arrive by car, you can park in Rhauderfehn or Leer and take the bus the short way to the start. Alternatively, you can start the hike directly in Leer. At the end of your hike, you can return home from Bensersiel by bus. Aurich and Leer have connections across Germany.

The six Tours are all completely different. You explore bustling cities, impressive mills, relaxing landscapes and the sensitive ecosystems of the moors. The Ostfriesland Hiking Trail soon shows you just how much northern Germany’s flat landscapes have to offer. After the hike, I’m sure you'll be an expert in fish rolls and feel completely relaxed thanks to the salty coastal air.

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Ostfriesland Hiking Trail

56.1 mi

525 ft

Last updated: May 10, 2023

Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.

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Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 1: Rhauderfehn to Leer – Ostfriesland Hiking Trail
05:21
13.2 mi
2.5 mph
125 ft
100 ft
Expert
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Instead of in one of the larger cities in the north, the first stage of the East Friesland hiking trail begins in tranquil Rhauderfehn. Although the place does not have a train station, you can travel by bus from Papenburg, for example. You then take the first steps of the 21-kilometer stage directly…
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Stage 2: Leer to Hesel – Ostfriesland Hiking Trail
06:05
14.9 mi
2.4 mph
200 ft
200 ft
Expert
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Leer is the largest city you visit on the Ostfriesland hiking trail. The second stage already takes you beyond the city limits into the East Frisian Geest landscape. Not only the watery, green plains with small wooded areas, wide views and manageable villages are waiting for you. The typical North German…
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 3: Hesel to Großefehn – Ostfriesland Hiking Trail
03:35
8.82 mi
2.5 mph
75 ft
75 ft
Intermediate
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Each of the six stages of the Ostfriesland hiking trail takes you through a slightly different landscape and to a different type of highlight. You could therefore call the third stage the "mill stage". But not only two beautiful mills await you on the route, but also cozy rest stops and the small but…
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Stage 4: Großefehn to Plaggenburg – Ostfriesland Hiking Trail
05:20
13.1 mi
2.5 mph
100 ft
100 ft
Expert
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
With a good 20 kilometers, a longer stage of the Ostfriesland hiking trail awaits you today. In the morning you start at the Großefehn canal and follow the long-distance hiking trail along small hamlets to Aurich. At the beginning it goes on the street Bahnhofsplatz to the right out of Großefehn, you…
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 5: Plaggenburg to Esens – Ostfriesland Hiking Trail
06:03
14.8 mi
2.5 mph
150 ft
150 ft
Expert
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The fifth stage of the Ostfriesland hiking trail takes you to just before the North Sea coast. A total of almost 24 varied kilometers await you. If you hiked to Plaggenburg yesterday, you start your hike there. The tour is particularly characterized by moor areas with small lakes and an unobstructed…
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Stage 6: Esens to Bensersiel – Ostfriesland Hiking Trail
01:20
3.30 mi
2.5 mph
25 ft
25 ft
Ferry
Easy
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The Tour includes a crossing by ferry.
The sixth and last stage of the Ostfriesland hiking trail is only about five kilometers short and very easy to manage. This is especially practical because you have enough time in Bensersiel if you want to start your return journey on the same day. In addition, such a subsequent beach afternoon is the…
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