Blankensee: Wanzka Lake and Railway Trail

In Blankensee, water and trails come together as very different reasons to visit. Wanzka Lake represents the landscape shaped by the Ice Age, while the Railway Trail offers a long route to explore. There is also Blankensee bathing area and a covered viewpoint in the surrounding area. Which accommodation is right for your trip also depends on whether you mainly want to explore the town or include other destinations in the Mecklenburg Lake District.

Wanzka Lake and Blankensee bathing area

Wanzka Lake is a glacial channel lake formed during the Ice Age, with a water surface of 2.03 km². This makes it a defining natural feature of Blankensee. Blankensee bathing area has a volleyball court. As well as offering a place to spend time by the water, the bathing area also provides an opportunity to be active. The lake and bathing area offer different options if you want to divide your time between experiencing the landscape and taking part in activities.

The Railway Trail: route, surface and hiking section

The Railway Trail is about 40 kilometres long; the track itself is 36.3 kilometres long. About 32 kilometres are surfaced mainly with asphalt or paving blocks. The remaining section has a water-bound surface and is easy to ride. For the most part, the route follows combined cycle and footpaths, farm tracks and minor roads. The details on length, surface and types of path give you different factors to consider when planning a tour.

A 3.5-kilometre section between Blankensee and Warbende Gras is signposted as a hiking trail. There, the railway embankment is interrupted at a former bridge; wooden steps are located at this point. The hiking signs apply to this section. When choosing between cycle and footpaths, you can take the different route sections and their respective features into account.

Views and orientation in the area

The covered Panoramablick Rödliner See viewpoint is located near Blankensee. From there, you can see across Lake Rödlin and the surrounding landscape. It adds a view of the wider area to your exploration of the town. The Am Bahnübergang rest area is in Blankensee, on a meadow by the railway crossing, directly beside the L34 state road. Its location can therefore be identified by two clearly named landmarks: the railway crossing and the road.

More nature and cultural experiences in the Mecklenburg Lake District

You can also find a variety of attractions in other parts of the Mecklenburg Lake District. The Müritz National Park is characterised by forests, bogs, lakes and broad meadows. Its hiking trail covers the landscape types and special features of the national park over nine stages: the route leads past lakes, through primeval forests, by inland dunes and to the source of the Havel. Certified nature and landscape guides offer informative tours there, including guided visits to the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest at Serrahn and tours from the water.

The Damerower Werder bison reserve offers a different kind of nature experience. It is situated on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin, in the Mecklenburg Lake District and the Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park. Visitors can observe bison there. The reserve also has a forest adventure trail with climbing activities, an anthill house, an exhibition with touch and viewing panels, and a dendrophone. The combination of wildlife observation and various activity stations offers a different focus from the landscape of trails and lakes around Blankensee.

For a cultural addition, the Rechlin Aviation Technology Museum is located in Rechlin Nord. Neustrelitz also offers a different perspective on the region: from the town harbour, canoeists and other waterway travellers can explore the Müritz National Park and the Strelitz Small Lakes District via the Upper Havel Waterway. The regional destinations therefore differ in focus—from hikes and guided tours to wildlife observation and exploring from the water.

Choose the right focus for your accommodation search

If you are also planning to visit destinations such as the Müritz National Park, the bison reserve or the museum in Rechlin, take their respective locations into account when choosing where to stay. This will help you decide whether to focus your stay on local experiences or include various places in the Mecklenburg Lake District in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations

Blumenholz, Userin, Klein Vielen, Godendorf, Wokuhl-Dabelow, Carpin, Kratzeburg, Grünow

Return to the regional travel overview: Amt Neustrelitz-Land.