Difficulty

I tried my best to plan this route as remote as possible, but the track doesn’t venture off too far from civilization, and resupply points and easy options for resting overnight come frequently.
The route is easily accessible by train every 100–150km without major detours and emergency
services are available everywhere.

Taking all this into account, the difficulty rating of the route is mainly a testament to the physical demands of riding the route, which is why I decided to rate it 5 out of 10 as a whole.

A 6–8 for physical difficulty: If you ride the route in one go, it will be very demanding as it is not only long, but some sections are heavy with single trails or segments of sand. Other sections however, can sometimes be more than 50km of “gravel autobahn,” which means easy and fast riding.

A solid 4–6 for the technical challenge: As said before, this too depends on the part of the route you are riding as it varies a lot between the sections. Everything can be ridden on a gravel bike, however I wouldn’t recommend a tire choice smaller than 45mm. Trails, rugged logging roads, and sandy bits make up for the easier sections of fast-rolling gravel.

And finally a 1–2 for the route’s straightforward logistics and accessibility. In the end, all of the above is very much dependent on your riding skills and expertise.

Route development

I created this route out of my own desire to connect adventurous off-road riding with nature’s most giving places in Brandenburg. I also felt that the local bike community was missing a route to get back to for either individual overnight adventures or a longer journey to venture further from Berlin’s border than they are used to and to learn more about the State surrounding the German capital.

This project took me almost two years of very slow but rewarding work of scouting and could not have been done without the help of friends and the Berlin cycling community. Thank you! 

Fore more Information, updates and community rides, follow @brandenburg.odyssee on Instagram

FAQ

When to go?

From spring to fall everything will be greener, the forest will be most alive, and you will see more wildlife. The ability to take a bath in the many lakes is a must for me, and sleeping outside is more enjoyable without a tent. Taking this into account, I recommend riding the route earliest from May until the end of September.

Political Situation in the whole of Germany, specifically in the east:

As right-wing parties and politics are on the rise, both nature conservation as well as a democratic and multicultural population is under threat. Taking this into consideration, please inform yourself via the additional resources and consider a donation. If you see fascist stickers along the way, remember you can get stickers of the Brandenburg Odyssee via Instagram ;)

Logistics:

Most of the route is easily accessible by regional trains from Berlin or other parts of Germany. Train stations come frequently, with many more in reach by taking small detours. In summer, pack more water than you think you’ll need. Brandenburg can be hot and dry. Graveyards are your best friend, as they usually have tap water to refill your bottles!

What bike to take?

For me, this is more about tire choice. The route can be done on both gravel or mountain bikes. You are fine if your tires are wider than 45mm! If you are limited to 45mm and don’t have any kind of suspension, the route will at times be demanding and rugged but still mostly rideable!

Camping and Lodging:

Wild camping is a grey zone in Brandenburg, so please inform yourself before you go out and stick to local regulations and environmental guidelines. Legal camping sites and bivy places are marked along the route. Additionally please make sure to read through the disclaimer via. “Route” for detailed information about camping!

Food/H2O:

Food won’t be a big issue as resupply points come frequently alongside the track, and all the big ones are marked on the GPX link. Water can be sparse on some parts of the route, so pack more than you think. Again, look out for graveyards!