Blankensee offers two different starting points for planning a day out: Wanzka Lake, with the Blankensee bathing area, and the railway trail between Rödlin and Blankensee. At the lake, the focus is on the water and a volleyball court; on the railway trail, you can choose between the longer full route and a signposted hiking section. This comparison can help you plan your stay around your own interests, without treating both destinations as the same kind of outing.
Water, bathing area and views
Wanzka Lake is a glacial channel lake formed during the Ice Age, with a surface area of 2.03 km². The Blankensee bathing area is located on its shore, and there is a volleyball court there. If you want to centre your stay around the water, you will find a bathing area and a sports facility in one place.
Further afield from Blankensee is the covered Rödliner See panoramic viewpoint. From there, you can look out over Lake Rödlin and the surrounding landscape. The viewpoint adds a perspective on the wider area to the local connection with the lake.
Getting to know the railway trail
The railway trail is about 40 km long; the track itself is 36.3 km long. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the two lengths: one refers to the trail, while the other refers specifically to the track. The railway trail runs mostly along combined cycle and footpaths, farm tracks and minor roads.
About 32 km of the trail is mostly paved with asphalt or concrete paving stones. The rest has a water-bound surface and is easy to cycle on. The route and surfaces may change as maintenance is carried out, so it is advisable to check the current route and surface before setting out on a specific trip.
A 3.5 km section between Blankensee and Warbende Gras is signposted as a hiking trail. The railway embankment is interrupted at a former bridge, where there are wooden steps. This distinguishes the shorter section from the full route. If you are planning to walk it, it is worth checking the route and signage in advance.
Getting your bearings in Blankensee
The Am BahnĂĽbergang rest area is in Blankensee, on a meadow by the railway crossing, right next to State Road 34. The viewpoint, rest area and railway trail offer different points of reference: a view over the landscape, a named place to rest, and a longer route with a signposted hiking section.
More nature destinations in the Mecklenburg Lake District
The wider Mecklenburg Lake District destination also includes Müritz National Park and its landscapes among the nature-focused attractions to enjoy on a trip. The national park is characterised by forests, bogs, lakes and wide meadows. The Müritz National Park Hiking Trail covers the park’s landscape types and distinctive features in nine stages: it runs along lakes, through ancient forests, past inland dunes and to the source of the Havel. This is a different scale of planning from the 3.5 km signposted section of the railway trail: one description refers to a single section, the other to a hiking route with nine stages.
Certified nature and landscape guides offer informative tours through MĂĽritz National Park. These include guided walks in the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest of Serrahn and tours from the water. This means that the wider destination offers a choice of both routes through different landscape types and guided nature experiences.
Another distinct nature destination in the Mecklenburg Lake District is the Damerower Werder bison reserve. It is located on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin, within the Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park. Visitors can observe animals there. The reserve also has a forest discovery trail with climbing opportunities, an ant house, an exhibition with touch-and-see displays, and a dendrophone. This makes it different from Blankensee’s focus on water and routes: here, visitors can also observe animals and learn about nature.
Discover more destinations: Godendorf, Grünow, Kratzeburg, Möllenbeck, Hohenzieritz, Carpin, Blumenholz, Klein Vielen.
Back to the main travel overview: Amt Neustrelitz-Land.
