Upper Havel: Kratzeburg to the Granziner Mühle and back

Put in at the national park's own canoe launch by the bathing place in Kratzeburg and cross the Käbelicksee, following the marked channel to where the Havel leaves the lake. Only a few kilometres from its source, the river here is a slow, narrow stream winding between reeds, alder and pine, opening out into the Granziner See and the small lakes beyond. Ospreys, white-tailed eagles, cranes and kingfishers live along it. Turn at the old mill at Granzin, where the river below is closed to boats and paddlers going further have to use a hand-pushed boat railway, and come back the same way.

It is 11.4 km there and back; allow about 2½ hours in a canoe or kayak and 3¼ on a paddleboard. The grade is Easy: still lakes and a river with almost no current, which the park says can be paddled both ways.

No permit is needed, but this is a national park. Land only at the signed rest places and launch sites, keep 20 m from birds and reed beds, follow the green buoys and keep out of water marked with yellow ones. No fires, and park only in car parks. In dry summers fire warnings can close the lakes at short notice. Wear a buoyancy aid and check the conditions before you set off.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap waterways (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.