Müggelberge Hills

The Müggelberge, topping out at 376 feet (114.7 meters) on the Großer Müggelberg, are the highest natural elevation in Berlin. The wooded ridge covers roughly 2.7 square miles (seven square kilometers) in the southeast of the city, in the Treptow-Köpenick district, right along the northern shore of the Müggelsee. Geologically these are a push moraine from the Weichselian ice age: about 20,000 years ago glaciers shoved sand and glacial till into this ridge, which stands out clearly from the otherwise flat Berlin landscape.

The area's landmark is the Müggelturm on the neighboring Kleiner Müggelberg, at 290 feet (88.3 meters). The current lookout tower was built between 1959 and 1961 after its wooden predecessor burned down in 1958. Following years of decay and an extensive restoration, the tower has been open to the public again since 2015. On a clear day the view from the platform reaches up to 30 miles (50 kilometers) across the Müggelsee, the forests and the countryside around Berlin. A second viewpoint on the Kanonenberge was restored in 2006.

The Müggelberge are a popular destination for hiking, walking and mountain biking. Well-marked forest paths run over the crests, past the former toboggan run, which is now spanned by a wooden walkway. You can pair the climb with a swimming day at the Müggelsee or a detour into Köpenick's old town. Sturdy shoes help, since the trails are sandy in places and climb noticeably.