Klein Upahl: Lake, Geese and Trails in the Hill Country

Klein Upahl is set in an appealing hilly landscape right beside Lake Upahl. The village therefore combines a lakeside setting with a natural environment that is also remarkable for birdwatchers: 500 to 1,500 geese use the lake as a roosting site. Northern species also occur there during the winter months.

Lake Upahl and the Hill Country

Lake Upahl is designated as a nature reserve and lies right beside the village. Geese use it as a roosting site; the numbers cited range from 500 to 1,500 birds. Northern species also occur there during the winter months. This seasonal feature gives the lake its own significance, without requiring a particular observation point. The surrounding area also offers striking viewpoints: from the slopes of Jasenberg, you can see Lake Upahl and Lake Lenzen, as well as adjacent woodland within the protected area.

Jasenberg lies south of Klein Upahl and is 94 m high. An observation platform on the hill affords wide-ranging views over Lake Groß Upahl. The names of the lakes indicate different viewing directions and should not be confused: from Jasenberg, the views take in Lake Upahl and Lake Lenzen, as well as the woodland; the observation platform offers views over Lake Groß Upahl. Around Klein Upahl, lakes and woodland stand alongside the open, rolling hills as highlights of the landscape.

Trails with Different Starting Points

Walkers will find several route descriptions, each with its own starting point and distance. An 11 km tour from Klein Upahl to Lohmen starts at the Klein Upahl Agricultural Machinery Museum and first leads to Jasenberg. The tour then heads towards Lake Holen; along the way, there are views of the lake, which lies in a deep hollow. On Jasenberg, the observation platform adds views over Lake Groß Upahl. The described route thus leads from its starting point at the museum first to a prominent ridge and then towards Lake Holen.

Another option is a 19 km hike from Boitin to Klein Upahl. It follows woodland, field and meadow paths straight into the village centre. From the trail, you can see part of the difficult-to-access Upahler and Lenzener See nature reserve. The two routes differ in both length and direction: the 11 km tour starts in Klein Upahl and leads to Lohmen, while the 19 km hike starts in Boitin and ends in the village centre.

Out on the Water

In Klein Upahl, Scout Kayak Rental offers kayaks, transport to launch points, pick-up and tour tips. This provides a concrete starting point for a kayaking trip alongside the land-based trails. Those who enjoy switching between activities can plan their stay around the water, viewpoints and hiking trails; the descriptions lead to different experiences without needing to combine them into a single route.

The local summer festival also has its own unusual programme feature: wellington boot throwing was part of the programme in both 2024 and 2025. Klein Upahl was first mentioned in a document in 1263. The village’s history thus brings together an early written record, the lakeside landscape and more recent glimpses of the festival programme.

More village pages: Gülzow-Prüzen, Kuhs, Mistorf, Mühl Rosin, Lohmen, Reimershagen, Glasewitz, Gutow.

For the broader travel overview: Amt Güstrow-Land.