Jena – Dornburg

This tour is perfect for beginners and starts in the vibrant city of Jena at the “Gries-Bridge” and goes in the direction of Porstendorf.

Throughout the tour you will experience 2-3 “Pass-around Points” for which you will have to exit the river with your canoe, and re-enter a short distance down stream.

As you make your way down the Saale River and surrounding forests, you may catch a glimpse of several native animals; the turquoise river kingfisher, various types of heron, cormorants and/or nutrias all in their natural habitat. If you are lucky, you may even see turtles and European Otters!

Before you reach Porstendorf the river splits into two branches. You can choose between the shorter, more vigorous branch, and a longer more scenic route. The short tour passes a camping site and beer garden at Porstendorf, and the longer tour goes along the old river branch of the Saale making its way passed the Rabeninsel or “Raven’s Island”.

Nearing Dornburg you can see to your left the Dornburger Palaces: the Renaissance Castle, the Rococo Castle and the Old Castle, where Johann Wolfgang Goethe used to vacation.

Throughout the tour you will paddle by small islands, and experience small rapids, which keep the tour adventurous.

This tour ends in Dorndorf-Steudnitz at the „Wasserwanderplatz” picnic area.