Course 1 - From Leipzig to Lake Cospuden

• START: 0,0 km Elstermühlgraben Outer Mole City Harbor

Boarding/disembarking at the pier, parking available

• 0,8 km mouth of the Elster flood bed

Caution: Danger to life at the Palmengarten weir! Keep your distance! Turn left

• 1,7 km horse racing track

Pier at the racecourse, access via the racecourse path, parking available

• 2,2 km division of the Pleiße and Elster flood beds

Continue left into the Pleiße flood bed

• 3,0 km Connewitz lock with boat slide

Self-service; be careful with the technical equipment! Please follow the instructions for use! It is possible to carry the boat.

***This is where the trip on the Pleiße through the southern Leipzig floodplain forest begins. To protect the valuable natural area, please follow the "10 rules for navigating rivers", only land at designated moorings and observe the minimum water level (> 30 cm). During the kingfisher breeding season from March 1st to September 30th, navigating the Floßgraben is only permitted daily from 11 a.m. to 13 p.m., 15 p.m. to 18 p.m. and 20 p.m. to 22 p.m.***

• 4,5 km Floßgraben junction

Keep right, continue through the southern floodplain forest

• 6,7 km division of the Floßgraben

Keep right, after about 50 m pass under the bridge S46

• 6,9 km Waldsee Lauer

Crossing to the inflow of Lake Cospuden (through the Cospuden Landscape Park)

• 8,3 km Cospuden Lock

Self-service, be careful with the technical equipment! Please follow the instructions for use! It is possible to carry the boat.

• 8,6 km Cospudener See

For safety reasons, please pay attention to wind and weather conditions before continuing your journey on Lake Cospuden. There is a possibility to moor on the left and right bank of the north beach.

• DESTINATION: 10,7 km Hafen Zöbigker

investors available

Note: The onward journey to Lake Zwenkau will be possible after the construction of the Harth Canal and the Harth Lock (2022).

The city harbor is located in the city center of Leipzig near the Westplatz stop (TRAM 1, 2, 8, 14). The distance to the main train station is about 1,5 kilometers.

You can reach the port of Zöbigker/Cospudener See by bus 107 (HP Zöbigker, Schmiede) or by S-Bahn (HP Markkleeberg-Großstädteln).

Facts about Course 1

Length: approx. 11 km, fully accessible

Locks: 2, passenger shipping has priority

Transfer: not necessary

Navigability: upstream and downstream

Fully usable for: Canoe / LeipzigBoat or water-adapted boats

Sections can be used for: Rowing boats (Elster and Pleiße flood beds, Pleiße, lakes) / Sailing boats (lakes) / Passenger ships (lakes, Elstermühlgraben, Elster and Pleiße flood beds)

During the kingfisher breeding season from March 1 to September 30, navigation on the Floßgraben is only permitted daily from 11 a.m. to 13 p.m., 15 p.m. to 18 p.m. and 20 p.m. to 22 p.m.

Further water hiking courses and information on the tourist water network in Leipzig’s New Lake District can be found on www.leipzig.travel/wasserwandern.

• Palmgartenwehr: Danger to life! Keep your distance at all costs.


• Lock usage: Please follow the instructions for use!


• Southern floodplain forest: To protect the valuable natural area, please follow the 10 rules for navigating flowing waters and only land at designated moorings and observe the minimum water level (> 30 cm).