On your hike on the Harz-Witches-Trail you will cross mystical beech and spruce forests and discover the world cultural heritage ‘Oberharzer Wasserregal’. Ponds, streams and numerous ditches accompany you on your way towards Thale. Through the high moor you will reach the famous ‘Brocken’ and can enjoy the unique view of the green surroundings high above. On a length of almost 100 km from west to east you will experience the diversity of the low mountain range Harz. It is not for nothing that the Harz-Witches-Trail has received the certificate ‘Quality Path’ of the German Hiking Association for the third time. The best way to convince yourself!
At first you will go uphill along old trade routes, where you will discover the first harbingers of the Upper Harz water shelf, before you reach the university town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld. Marvel at the largest wooden church in Germany.
Leaving the mountain town, you now walk at the same altitude, mainly on forest paths and narrow trails, along the fascinating system of dams. You pass the iron spring and end in the town of Altenau with its herb park.
Today the highlight of your hiking tour awaits you: the ascent to the Brocken in the middle of the core area of the transnational Harz National Park. On well developed and varied paths you climb the summit. Down to Schierke you will take the Harz narrow-gauge railroad.
On the ‘Pfarrsteig’ you reach the hiking trail again. Passing the ‘Trudenstein’ with its distant view you walk downhill to the Königshütter waterfall. Now you meet the small river Bode and a new landscape appears, here the limestone mining is still going on above ground.
Your companion on this day tour is the small river Bode. Sometimes on small paths, on wide trails or high above the Wendefurth dam you follow the course of the river to Altenbrak or Treseburg.
On the last day you hike through the mythical and legendary Bodetal. Between towering granite rocks the narrow path always leads along the river. The hiking tour ends in the village of Thale, below the famous witches' dance floor.
ca. 4,5 Stunden
15 km
280 m
350 m
Day
8
Departure or extension
Characteristics of the route
A good basic fitness level and surefootedness are required. However, the hiking trail is also suitable for beginners, as it is well developed for tourism. You almost always hike on well passable paths such as forest or shore paths and through less populated regions. More demanding ascents and descents can only be mastered in the area of the Brocken.
Detailed travel and tour documents 1x per room (German, English)
Service-Hotline
Optional extras:
Organized return transfer to Osterode EUR 190 per fare up to 3 people, EUR 230 up to 8 people, reservation required, payable in advance.
Infos
Arrival / Parking / Departure:
Arrival by train to Osterode at Harz. From the station in a few minutes on foot to the hotel.
Parking: limited number of free hotel parking spaces, pre-booking possible directly through the hotel. At the entrance of the Harz-Witches-Trail public unguarded parking lot ‘Bleichstelle’, no pre-reservation possible.
Things to note:
Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
Harz narrow-gauge railroad Brocken, about EUR 30 per person
Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
Contact & booking
Do you still have questions about the tour? We are happy to help and look forward to your inquiry.
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