WWF Tour Beltringharder Koog: Nature experience area

In only 30-40 min walk along a nature trail you will get to know the Beltringharder Koog nature reserve at close range and observe a variety of birds from two observation cabins.

The Beltringharder Koog, which is directly adjacent to the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site, is a former Wadden Sea area that was diked in 1987. After the diking, the area was developed into a transition area between land and sea and was again placed under nature conservation. The Koog plays a very important role for breeding as well as for resting waders and water birds.

The walk takes you along wet grassland, past fresh and salt water areas and through a reed belt. You will discover numerous bird and plant species and learn interesting facts about the origin of the koogs.

Combine this tour with a hike "from the inland to the Waterkant" along the nearby Lüttmoordamm to the North Sea.

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We start at the former Arlau pump station, which today houses a small national park station. Walk left of the pumping station through the sheepfold up the dike and let your gaze wander into the distance. Keep to the right as you descend, where after a few meters a large information board marks the beginning of the nature trail.

Along the way, there are small wooden posts that mark some of the special features of the Beltringharder Koogs. The most important information is compiled here for you. An accompanying brochure with further background information is available at the National Park Station.

After a few hundred meters and a right-hand bend, a narrow path on the left leads over a small bridge to the first of two observation huts. Through hatches you can look into the salt water lagoon, which - depending on the water level - often attracts a large number of waders. By hiding in the hut the animals are not disturbed and so you can sometimes get quite close to them. Information signs in the hut explain some of the bird species that can be found here.

We continue on a slightly elevated dam along the saltwater lagoon to your left. The marginal salt marshes soon turn into wet grassland. At the end of the dam you turn right on a crossing of the ditch dortm and walk towards the dike. Shortly before you reach the dike, you dive into a reed area on the right hand side and follow the now curvy path through the rushing stalks. The further way leads you along a hedge to a second observation hut, from which you can overlook a freshwater lake. Shortly after, the circle of the round path closes and you follow the path back to the old Arlau pump station.