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Contact (Route)

Touristinformation Osterode
Schachtrupp-Villa, Dörgestrasse 40
D-37520 Osterode am Harz
Telefon +49 (0)5522 318360 oder 6855

Contact

Deutscher Wanderverband
Wilhelmshöher Allee 157-159
D-34121 Kassel

Tel.: +49 (0)561-93873-0
E-Mail: info@wanderverband.de





Harzer-Hexen-Stieg



Length, Start/End
92.5km, Osterode - Thale
Highest elevation: 1,142m

Altitude profile
Harzer-Hexen-Stieg

Service


Stages
1. Osterode am Harz - Buntenbock 11,2 km
2. Buntenbock - Torfhaus 21,3 km
3. Torfhaus - Königshütte 23,5 km
4. Königshütte - Altenbrak 23,8 km
5. Altenbrak - Thale 12,7 km


Tip
Why not take a family hiking break on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg from Osterode am Harz to Mount Brocken (35km, 2 stages)? Camp overnight in your own tent in the forest, collect firewood, cook bread and sausages over a campfire and sing along to a guitar. Next morning, a quick dip in a clear, cold stream and then tackle Mount Brocken.



Spellbinding from beginning to end

Our trail begins in Osterode, the former seat of the dukes of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, where the cave-pocked hills of the southern Harz abruptly give way to the forested Harz mountains. Described in historical records as a villa opulentissima - a flourishing town - Osterode has long been an important trading centre. Its status is underlined by the ruined Guelph castle towering high above the medieval townscape. Perched on a rocky spur between the Söse and Lerbach valleys, the castle once ranked among the largest fortifications in central Europe, and continues to watch over walkers on our historical trail towards the Upper Harz.

One of the prettiest of Germany's premium trails, the Harzer Hexen-Stieg cuts right across the Harz mountains from Osterode, climbs up Mount Brocken, runs through the Harz and Upper Harz national parks, before finishing in Thale amid the dramatic scenery of the Bode valley. But its appeal is not limited to the ever-present natural beauty: you also gain an insight into the history and here-and-now of the captivating Harz hills. The trail embraces the historical water management system of the Upper Harz, old-established mining traditions, vast reservoirs and thriving myths and legends. A complete experience of culture and nature. From Osterode, you follow historical trading routes up to the Clausthal-Zellerfeld plateau.

A series of narrow paths guide you through the reservoirs, ditches and tunnels of the Upper Harz, past Torfhaus and up to Mount Brocken following in the footsteps of Goethe. For coal mining heritage, flower-filled mountain meadows and pretty little streams, make a detour around Mount Brocken (the highest mountain in northern Germany) to Braunlage, Schierke and Königshütte. Here, the route divides, leaving you with a choice of dripstone caves or mining heritage. One option takes you north via Rübeland, the other south via Hasselfelde. Both end up at Altenbrak and continue to Thale through the mighty Bode gorge.

Quality-certified trail



Travel Information

Arrival
Public transport: Nearest InterCityExpress train stations: Göttingen, Hildesheim and Braunschweig. From/to Osterode on regional train services.

Departure
Thale train station
Car: To/from Osterode on B243 to Seesen, A7 towards Hannover/Hamburg or A2 towards Berlin, A7 from/to Kassel to junction with B241 at Northeim.

Weather

  • heavy clouds Berlin
    21.2 °F, heavy clouds
  • bright Bremen
    26.6 °F, bright
  • dull weather Dresden
    28.4 °F, dull weather
  • heavy clouds Düsseldorf
    32 °F, heavy clouds
  • cloudy Erfurt
    21.2 °F, cloudy
  • heavy clouds Frankfurt
    28.4 °F, heavy clouds
  • bright Hamburg
    23 °F, bright
  • cloudy Hannover
    28.4 °F, cloudy
  • bright Kiel
    24.8 °F, bright
  • heavy clouds Cologne
    32 °F, heavy clouds
  • bright Magdeburg
    28.4 °F, bright
  • heavy clouds Mainz
    28.4 °F, heavy clouds
  • cloudy Munich
    28.4 °F, cloudy
  • fog Potsdam
    23 °F, fog
  • snow shower Saarbrücken
    30.2 °F, snow shower
  • bright Schwerin
    15.8 °F, bright
  • heavy clouds Wiesbaden
    28.4 °F, heavy clouds
Das Wetter in:
wetter.net