miles
The North-South Trail connects existing paths to form a unique long-distance hiking trail through Germany. On 2249 mi it goes from the northernmost point of the Federal Republic on Sylt to the southernmost, the Haldenwanger Eck. The NST is thus Germany’s longest long-distance hiking trail.
CERTIFIED TRAILS
guarantee maximum hiking enjoyment through Germany’s most beautiful landscapes. Enjoy the probably most varied long-distance hiking trail in Europe on wonderful predicate and premium hiking trails. Included are the European Long Distance Trail E1, Heidschnuckenweg, Sigwardsweg, Weserbergland-Weg, Märchenlandweg, Kassel-Steig, Habichtswaldsteig, Urwaldsteig-Edersee, Waldecker Weg, Diemelsteig, Rothaarsteig, Lahn-Dill-Bergland-Pfad, Westerwaldsteig, Natursteig Sieg, Rheinsteig, Soonwaldsteig, Saar-Hunsrück-Steig, Fünf-Kreise-Weg, Panoramaweg Sankt Wendeler Land, Jakobsweg, Veldenz Wanderweg, Pfälzer Höhenweg, Westpfalz-Wanderweg, Pfälzer Weinsteig, Saar-Rhein-Wanderweg, Rheinauenweg 3, Odenwald Vogesenweg, Nordrandweg, Westweg, Main-Neckar-Rhein-Weg, Schluchtensteig, Querweg and the Bodensee-Rundwanderweg.
National parks
Natural landscapes as they could not be more different. Cross Germany’s national parks and nature reserves with respect and please follow the established rules.
Nationalpark Wattenmeer
KM 0
Naturpark Schlei
KM 170
Naturpark Hüttener Berge
KM 190
Naturpark Holsteinische Schweiz
KM 310
Naturpark Lauenburgische Seen
KM 450
Biospährenreservat Schaalsee
KM 490
Naturpark Lüneburger Heide
KM 650
Naturpark Südheide
KM 750
Naturpark Steinhuder Meer
KM 880
Naturpark Weserbergland
KM 1000
Naturpark Solling-Vogler im Weserbergland
KM 1140
Naturpark Reinhardswald
KM 1260
Naturpark Teutoburger Wald/Eggegebirge
KM 1300
Naturpark Sauerland-Rothaargebirge
KM 1360
Naturpark Lahn-Dill-Bergland
KM 1490
Naturpark Bergisches Land
KM 1600
Naturpark Siebengebirge
KM 1760
Naturpark Rhein-Westerwald
KM 1850
Naturpark Nassau
KM 1900
UNESCO-Welterbe Oberes Mittelrheintal
KM 1950
Naturpark Rhein-Taunus
KM 2000
Naturpark Soonwald-Nahe
KM 2030
Nationalpark & Naturpark Saar-Hunsrück
KM 2200
Biosphärenreservat Pfälzerwald
KM 2450
Naturpark Schwarzwald Mitte/Nord
KM 2700
Nationalpark Schwarzwald
KM 2900
Naturpark Südschwarzwald
KM 3000
Bodensee
KM 3180
Naturpark Nagelfluhkette
KM 3300
Alpen
KM 3330
ft
Over 295275 ft of ascent and descent
provide a sporting challenge. While the NST’s 295275 ft of altitude is not quite on par with the other major long-distance trails, don’t let that fool you. The first 560 mi run through the North German Plain with relatively little to no climbing. This means that the elevation gain is only spread out over 1666 mi.
%
Only 15% of the trails are on asphalt and roads. This may seem very high compared to the Wilderness Trails, but consider that Germany is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. On the other hand, this also shows how dense the network of natural hiking trails still is in Germany.
NST ENTHUSIASTIC
Over 1700 people virtually followed the NST’s first Thru-Hike in 2020, and even then it was apparent what a success the NST would become and the general interest in a national long-distance trail.
FEDERAL STATES
10 federal states are crossed or touched by the North South Trail. Experience many different landscapes, architecture, dialects, local food and drink, villages and towns and the different mentality of the people.