The best walks and hikes around Mittleres Innerstetal mit Kanstein

The Innerste is a right tributary of the Leine in Lower Saxony, approximately 97 km long. ​Key Data & Geography ​Source: The Innerste-Sprung southeast of Clausthal-Zellerfeld in the Upper Harz (at approx. 605 m above sea level). ​Mouth: Flows into the Leine near Ruthe (town of Sarstedt, district of Hildesheim) at an altitude of about 58 m. ​Elevation difference: Approx. 547 meters. ​Catchment area: Approx. 1,265 km². ​Course & Places ​River course: Originates in the Upper Harz, flows northwest through the Harz foreland and the Hildesheim Börde, and finally flows into the Leine south of Hanover. ​Important riparian communities: Wildemann, Lautenthal, Langelsheim, Salzgitter (Ringelheim), Baddeckenstedt, Holle, Bad Salzdetfurth (district Groß Düngen), Hildesheim, and Sarstedt. ​Important tributaries: Grane, Neile, Nette, Lamme, and Beuster. ​Usage & Special Features ​Innerste Valley Dam: Between Lautenthal and Langelsheim, the river is dammed in the Upper Harz. The dam serves for flood protection, low water augmentation, power generation, and as a local recreation area (water sports, fishing). ​Heavy metal pollution: Due to historical mining in the Harz, the Innerste carries dissolved heavy metals (e.g., lead, zinc, cadmium) to this day, which places special demands on soil and floodplain protection along the lower course. ​Leisure & Nature: The valley offers popular routes such as the Innerste Cycle Path (from the Harz to the mouth), hiking trails in nature reserves (e.g., Mittleres Innerstetal), and sections for canoe sports (including a whitewater course in Hildesheim).

Innersteradweg but also for pedestrians. Very nice with the newly built footbridge with platform over the Innerste, further towards Listringen there is also a nicely located bench with a view of the Innerste between 2 fir trees. In total there are 2 benches between Heinde and Listringen along the Innersteradweg. If necessary, you can also sit on the concrete blocks of the Maschbrücke. Very nice place to enjoy the river landscape in the Innerstetal.

Nice bench mostly in the shade directly on the Innerste between Listringen and Heinde upstream.

The former railway bridge, also known as Maschbrücke, is used in many ways. Often as a viewpoint overlooking the Innerste river, or by young people who like to use the bridge as a diving platform to cool off. Hikers and walkers can easily cross between the riverbanks here.

The bridge with the viewing platform on the Innerste near Heinde (municipality of Bad Salzdetfurth) is part of the upgraded Innerste cycle path between Heinde and Hockeln. Function & Structure: The wooden or plastic plank path leads dryly through a damp hollow in the river valley directly to the riverbed and ends in an integrated viewing platform over the water. Purpose: It serves as a connecting link for the cycle and hiking path and offers a protected view of the nature reserve and the floodplain landscape of the Middle Innerste Valley.

It's nice when the small paths through the nature reserves are ridden. These are predominantly narrow hiking trails and only suitable for the "experienced". The official Innerste cycle path mostly runs past on the side.

Old building built on a bridge over the river.

There is a small natural dam here, but no weir.