Bike Guide (in English) - Elbe River Trail 2, From Magdeburg to Cuxhaven | Bikeline

Spiral-bound cycle guide covering the Elbe Cycle Route from Magdeburg to Cuxhaven (Germany)

The Elbe Trail from Magdeburg to Cuxhaven stretches for approximately 500 kilometers, with an additional 200 kilometers of alternative routes and excursions covered in this guide. An alternative route is given on the opposite bank of the Elbe from Rogätz to Wittenberge, while two main routes, one on each bank, follow the river from Wittenberge to the North Sea, with the exception of the southern bank via Hamburg. Surface quality and traffic In Saxony-Anhalt, you will mainly ride on quiet back roads and good-quality cycle paths, rarely having to use the old concrete paths. rough. The route in Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania runs mainly on asphalt cycle paths along the Elbe dikes, with only a few short stretches where you have to ride with traffic. After Hitzacker, there is even a surprisingly steep section to master. The route from Hamburg to Cuxhaven runs almost exclusively on asphalt cycle paths and small rural roads. Although this section is completely gradient-free, you will encounter an increased headwind when you come to ride directly west. This westerly wind can become a significant factor, especially since there is otherwise little elevation change along the route, let alone in the coastal regions. It has therefore become popular to cycle the route in the opposite direction, starting in Cuxhaven and cycling up towards Wittenberge or Magdeburg, or even continuing to Prague. For this reason, there is a route description in the opposite direction next to every map in this cycling guide, as well as in the Elbe River Trail 1 guide, which covers the section between Prague and Magdeburg. This makes navigating the route in the opposite direction hassle-free.