It’s not just pumpkin season—it’s also the perfect time for beautiful outings in nature. But where should you go for a varied hiking tour? We’ve already introduced you to some beautiful routes, such as the Havelhöhenweg and the tour around Groß Köris. Today we’re heading out on a hike that offers not only forest trails but also stunningly blue water: The Four Ponds Tour in the Lusatian Lake District near Großkoschen and Senftenberg is a roughly 9-kilometer loop hike, making it perfect for a day trip from Berlin.
The route leads through pine forests and past four special bodies of water. The start and finish are at the Senftenberger See Family Park in Großkoschen. According to the official tourism website, the hike takes about three hours and is designed as a loop. The route is marked with a yellow bar on a white background. Along the way, the trail passes through both forest and paved paths, so no special hiking experience is required.
The tour owes its name to the four bodies of water: Großer Sandschacht, Kleiner Sandschacht, Petermannsteich, and Fabiansteich. The Großer Sandschacht, in particular, is a highlight of the route, as the water here glows a striking turquoise-green. The two “Sandschächte” (sand pits) are a reminder of the region’s former quartz sand mining. The sand extracted was used, among other things, by the Lusatian glass industry. Even though the water in the Großer Sandschacht looks particularly inviting, swimming is not permitted there.
After the Großer Sandschacht, the hike continues to the Kleiner Sandschacht, where there’s a small rest area. The trail then winds through the forest to the Petermannsteich before continuing on to the Fabiansteich. From there, you’ll hike through the pine forest back to the family park.
In addition to the various bodies of water, the route has another special feature in store. It passes by the Frisian horse farm in the Lake District. With a little luck, you can spot the horses grazing in the surrounding pastures. If you’d like to hike a bit further, you can extend the tour with adetour to the observation tower at Lake Senftenberg, known as the “Leaning Tower.” The tower is located about one kilometer from the main route and offers a panoramic view of Lake Senftenberg and the surrounding forests.
You can reach the Four Ponds Tour by car from Berlin via the A13 heading south. The Großräschen exit is recommended. From there, take the B96 toward Senftenberg or Hoyerswerda and then on to Großkoschen.
The official starting point is at the parking lot of the Senftenberger See Family Park. According to the tourism website, the daily parking fee is 8 euros. After the hike, you can enjoy a variety of snacks at the Großkoschen Family Park from May through October. Another option for a break is the Café and Restaurant Sonnenhof 1864 in Großkoschen, which is reportedly open year-round.
