Süderhöft lies between marsh and geest. A bridge over the Treene leads into the Stapelholm landscape. This makes the town an interesting starting point for deciding which part of the surrounding area appeals to you most: the river and canoeing, routes through the landscape, or churches and traces of history in nearby towns.
Landscape and routes around Süderhöft
The wider Eider-Treene-Sorge landscape is characterized by extensive low-lying grasslands, moors, reed beds, wet meadows and shallow lakes. Numerous rare animal and plant species adapted to wetlands live there. Further across the region, the Treene flows through embanked marshland and can reach a width of 25 meters. These landscape features belong to the wider surrounding area; they are not all features of Süderhöft’s town center.
If you prefer to explore on foot, consider the Stapelholmer Weg: this hiking route is approximately 100 kilometers long and follows the Treene through small villages and places of cultural and historical significance. Stapelholm also has an extensive network of routes through wet meadows and gently rolling geest ridges, open to cyclists and nature enthusiasts. The two options have different focuses: the Stapelholmer Weg is a longer hiking route, while the network also opens up the landscape for cycling tours.
Canoe trips on the Treene
A canoe trip follows the Treene through Hollingstedt and Fresendelf. Paddlers can extend the trip beyond Süderhöft. Nearby Stapel has landing sites on both the Eider and the Treene. The Eider-Treene-Sorge canoeing area also has numerous rest stops and clear tourist signage. In this context, the Treene is considered a family-friendly paddling river—a description of the river in the canoeing area.
The current restriction on motorboats is also important when planning a trip on the water: on the Treene, they are permitted only between Friedrichstadt and the old Süderhöft NATO bridge on the K56. Check the regulations again before setting off. This helps distinguish from the outset the different conditions for a canoe trip and a motorboat trip.
Churches, views and history in the surrounding area
In nearby Schwabstedt, you can swim in the Treene at the Treenebad. During the day, St. Jakobi Church opens its richly decorated nave to visitors; inside is an intricately carved altar dating from the 16th century. Check current access arrangements before visiting. Schwabstedt also offers a special opportunity for nature watching: storks nest on the church roof and can be observed from a short distance. A path to the bell tower offers views across the Treene towards Friedrichstadt.
A megalithic tomb from the Neolithic period points to people who lived in the area around 5,000 years ago. Alongside this is a story from local tradition: old books report that Meye Muhl was burned as the “Witch of Süderhöft” in Schwabstedt in 1619. This story should be understood as a traditional account. It adds another, explicitly reported part of local history to the archaeological evidence.
Nearby Süderstapel’s St. Catherine’s Church dates back to the 12th century and is visible from the river. There is also a natural beach with sports facilities, fishing opportunities and a children’s playground. Two harbors in Süderstapel serve as stopping points for touring yachts. Check the current status of the facilities before visiting the natural beach.
Plan your stay to suit you
The destinations mentioned are spread across Süderhöft and several neighboring towns. This overview helps you organize the attractions by their respective locations and character, rather than treating them as a single sightseeing destination. If you want to combine several themes, you can plan your outings accordingly and distinguish the approximate length of the Stapelholmer Weg from shorter visits to individual places.
Discover more destinations: Humptrup-Krakebüll, Husum, Schwesing, Gröde, Hattstedt, Lütjenholm, Sankt Peter-Ording, Wittdün.
Go to the main travel overview: Nordfriesland.
