Information on Water Touring

Please note the navigability of the waters for different types of boats. Marked and cordoned-off side waters must not be navigated.

All routes in the Tourist Waterway Network are navigable for canoeists. Special regulations apply on some sections of the River Weisse Elster to protect nature − please observe them.

To ensure that the River Weisse Elster can be used in harmony with nature, navigation must be avoided on the section between Knauthain and the Großzschocher weir from 15 February to 15 May. Downstream of the TSV 1893 Leipzig Wahren entry point, please observe the requirement to navigate in guided groups from 1 August each year.

Use of the waterways is at your own risk. For your own safety, please put on a life jacket. Please also keep to the right on all waterways and follow the instructions for operating the locks. Pay particular attention to current conditions near weirs and barrages. For your own safety, always keep a sufficient distance here.

Use the places specially provided and marked for this purpose. Avoid the sensitive bank areas with reed beds, waterside plants, wet meadows and dense riparian woodland so as not to enter the habitats of birds, small animals and plants.

Please generally show consideration for nature and for other people, avoid travelling in larger groups, especially on the more natural sections of the waterways, and avoid unnecessary noise. It is also not permitted to enter the bathing areas of the lakes or other areas marked by buoys (e.g. in the southern part of Lake Cospuden). Please note: The regulations on seasonal abstention from navigation in priority nature conservation areas and on refraining from trips during low water levels are voluntary commitments to protect nature and the landscape. As part of monitoring carried out alongside the development of water tourism use in the protected areas, the effectiveness of all regulations is reviewed. If framework conditions change, adjustments can be made. With regard to the existing voluntary commitments, this may range from formal recognition (signing of a rulebook by clubs, commercial providers and local authorities) to being enshrined in nature conservation or water-law regulations.

Before starting a boat trip, find out about the conditions and water levels on the waterways. You can find information about flood warnings and water levels on the relevant websites (see below). In the event of high water levels, poor visibility, or storms, you should avoid taking a boat trip for your own safety or stop it immediately. At the Palmengarten Weir, a special warning is issued when water levels are elevated by means of a red ball, which is clearly visible from afar on the building above the central pillar. You should also avoid navigating the waterways during low water levels (< 30 cm for human-powered boats and < 60 cm for motorboats), not only for reasons of nature conservation and aquatic ecology, but also for your own safety.

Please keep a sufficient distance from the banks, especially in near-natural sections of water, to avoid disturbing animal and plant life.

Motorboat traffic is permitted on sections of the White Elster and the Pleiße, the Elster and Pleiße flood channels, the Karl-Heine Canal, in Lindenau Harbour and also on certain connecting canals between the lakes. Powered boat and raft trips are only permitted with authorisation. This can be obtained from the responsible water authorities of the City of Leipzig and the district offices. Please take care not to interfere with the sporting activities of the many organised rowers and canoeists, or with citizens seeking relaxation, when motorboating.

When motorboating, please observe the general speed limit of 5 km/h on flowing waters, canals and mill races. On the White Elster between Pistorissteg and Palmengarten Weir, as well as on the Elster and Pleiße flood channels and on the lakes, the maximum speed is 10 km/h.

The Floßgraben is an ecologically particularly valuable, but also extremely sensitive, watercourse in the southern Leipzig floodplain forest in the city of Leipzig. It is of outstanding importance as a breeding site for the kingfisher, which is strictly protected under the Federal Nature Conservation Act and is a target species of the European bird sanctuary "Leipzig floodplain forest".

The kingfisher’s breeding season in the Floßgraben can begin as early as the beginning of March. Especially at the start of the breeding phase, the species is particularly sensitive to disturbances, especially as the bond to the nesting site is not yet very strong and the birds need a lot of time to dig their nesting tunnels.

Since 1 March 2015, the general administrative order on special protective measures for the kingfisher has applied to the Floßgraben. Navigating the Floßgraben by kayak or canoe is therefore only permitted daily from 11 am to 1 pm, 3 pm to 6 pm and 8 pm to 10 pm. By contrast, navigating the watercourse with motor-powered watercraft of any kind, entering the 20-metre-wide bank areas on both sides and allowing dogs to run freely along the Floßgraben are prohibited.

Canoeists have the opportunity to navigate the unique natural sections of the River Weisse Elster while observing certain rules of conduct and special protection periods. The regulations on seasonal abstention from navigation in the priority nature conservation areas serve to protect nature and the landscape. Compliance is in everyone's interest and an obligation that every nature lover is happy to fulfil.

You can obtain permits for the River Weisse Elster here:
Saxony-Anhalt State Administration Office, Department of Nature Conservation, Landscape Management
Head of Department: Dr Thalmann,
Dessauer Str. 70, 06118 Halle/Saale

Phone: +49 (0) 345 514-2600
Email: uwe.thalmann@lvwa.sachsen-anhalt.de

According to the protected area ordinance, canoe trips there must be registered three working days in advance.

You can obtain special permits from: 

Water Touring Officer / Recreational Sports
Harald Zeiler
Wilhelm-Schrader-Str. 9a, 06120 Halle
Phone/mobile: +49 (0) 345 7703185 / +49 (0) 172 3651623
Email: zeiler-kunststoffe@gmx.de

The regulations on seasonal voluntary restrictions on navigation in nature priority areas, as well as on refraining from trips during low water, are voluntary commitments to protect nature and the landscape.

As part of monitoring carried out alongside the development of water tourism use in the protected areas, the effectiveness of all regulations is reviewed. If the overall conditions change, adjustments can be made. With regard to the existing voluntary commitments, this may range from formal recognition (signing a rulebook by associations, commercial providers and local authorities) through to statutory incorporation in nature conservation or water law regulations.