--- title: "Harzer-Hexen-Stieg - full route" url: "https://www.braunlage.de/en/tour/harzer-hexen-stieg-full-route" description: "The best way to get to know the full diversity of the Harz is to cross it on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg.Since 2005, the \"Quality Route Walkable Germany\" has connected the towns of Osterode in Lower Saxony and Thale in Saxony-Anhalt. Ninety-four kilometers that lead the hiker through almost all types of landscapes and pick up sights and interesting things in the region:The historic mining has already been mentioned. The Harz was almost treeless at times. The wood was needed for the expansion of the tunnels, but especially for the production of charcoal – the most important energy source for smelting the ores. Charcoal piles and charcoal burners' huts were found everywhere.Water powered the mining, the ditches and ponds accompany the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg over long distances. But water also plays an important role in other ways. For the Harz itself, but also for its surrounding area. Reservoirs collect and secure the vital water, protect against floods, and supply drinking water far into northern Germany.The legendary mountain wilderness of the Harz National Park, Germany’s first and only cross-state national park, transports you to places where nature may still be nature – and also feels like that: inspiring for body and mind. This is the home of dwarfs; witches and devils hide behind gnarled tree stumps.The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg itself is also cross-state. What today is the inconspicuous border between Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt was, until 20 years ago, part of the Iron Curtain. It mercilessly separated East and West and cut right through the Harz. Today, the Green Belt runs along the former inner-German border. A sanctuary for rare plants and animals.The Brocken became a symbol of division. Omnipresent but unreachable was its often foggy and storm-beaten summit. Only the Stasi and Russian military had access to the most important listening post in the West. The Brockenhaus at the summit bears witness to the history of this unique mountain.Once again, nature dominates everything: From the Brocken downwards, the Bode defines the course of the path. Warm and cold Bode rivers spring from the swamps there, unite, flow through dense forests and across open meadows to then flow towards the grand highlight of the hike:the Bode Valley. The deepest rocky valley in Central Europe north of the Alps. Hundreds of meters high rock walls rise, the water rushes through swirling and roaring. What started idyllically ends spectacularly.And here we meet them again. The myths and legendary figures of the Harz. High above the Bode Valley, on the Hexentanzplatz or opposite it on the Rosstrappe, where the hoofprint of Brunhild's horse, fleeing from the knight Bodo, is deeply carved into the rock. She lost her crown during the leap over the Bode Gorge. It still lies today at the bottom of the river ..." language: "en" type: "SportsActivityLocation" image: "https://img.oastatic.com/img2/1791952/max/variant.jpg" breadcrumb: "Root > Braunlage - Das Herz im Harz > Special > Destination.Data Details > Tour" --- GPX Share Harzer-Hexen-Stieg - full route =============================== - 96.23 km long - Difficulty: difficult - Condition: very difficult - Great panorama - Walking / hiking Witch on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg Hotel & Restaurant "Zum Röddenberg" in Osterode - Exterior view Landhaus Meyer - Osterode-Riefensbeek - Terrace Hotel Zum Harzer in Clausthal-Zellerfeld Posterberger\_Hubhaus.jpg Hotel zum Forsthaus Altenau Hotel Brockenscheideck in Schierke Information Center Wendefurth Dam - 25:00 h - 96.23 km - 1,571 m - 1,615 m - 173 m - 1,141 m - 968 m - - Start: Osterode - Destination: Thale The Harzer Hexen-Stieg runs for 94 km from the town of Osterode in Lower Saxony to the town of Thale in Saxony-Anhalt. On the varied route from the edge of the Harz through the wild mountain landscape of the Harz National Park with the Brocken, you get to know the whole beauty of the Harz. The best way to get to know the full diversity of the Harz is to cross it on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg. Since 2005, the "Quality Route Walkable Germany" has connected the towns of Osterode in Lower Saxony and Thale in Saxony-Anhalt. Ninety-four kilometers that lead the hiker through almost all types of landscapes and pick up sights and interesting things in the region: The historic mining has already been mentioned. The Harz was almost treeless at times. The wood was needed for the expansion of the tunnels, but especially for the production of charcoal – the most important energy source for smelting the ores. Charcoal piles and charcoal burners' huts were found everywhere. Water powered the mining, the ditches and ponds accompany the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg over long distances. But water also plays an important role in other ways. For the Harz itself, but also for its surrounding area. Reservoirs collect and secure the vital water, protect against floods, and supply drinking water far into northern Germany. The legendary mountain wilderness of the Harz National Park, Germany’s first and only cross-state national park, transports you to places where nature may still be nature – and also feels like that: inspiring for body and mind. This is the home of dwarfs; witches and devils hide behind gnarled tree stumps. The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg itself is also cross-state. What today is the inconspicuous border between Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt was, until 20 years ago, part of the Iron Curtain. It mercilessly separated East and West and cut right through the Harz. Today, the Green Belt runs along the former inner-German border. A sanctuary for rare plants and animals. The Brocken became a symbol of division. Omnipresent but unreachable was its often foggy and storm-beaten summit. Only the Stasi and Russian military had access to the most important listening post in the West. The Brockenhaus at the summit bears witness to the history of this unique mountain. Once again, nature dominates everything: From the Brocken downwards, the Bode defines the course of the path. Warm and cold Bode rivers spring from the swamps there, unite, flow through dense forests and across open meadows to then flow towards the grand highlight of the hike: the Bode Valley. The deepest rocky valley in Central Europe north of the Alps. Hundreds of meters high rock walls rise, the water rushes through swirling and roaring. What started idyllically ends spectacularly. And here we meet them again. The myths and legendary figures of the Harz. High above the Bode Valley, on the Hexentanzplatz or opposite it on the Rosstrappe, where the hoofprint of Brunhild's horse, fleeing from the knight Bodo, is deeply carved into the rock. She lost her crown during the leap over the Bode Gorge. It still lies today at the bottom of the river ... Read more Harz: Magische Gebirgswelt Good to know ------------ Pavements Asphalt (16%) Gravel (40%) Trail (22%) Path (13%) Street (9%) Best to visit suitable Depends on weather - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Directions The main route of the "Harzer-Hexen-Stieg" runs via Osterode - Buntenbock - Altenau - Torfhaus - Brocken - Drei-Annen-Hohne - Königshütte - Altenbrak - Bode Valley - Thale. Between Königshütte and Altenbrak, 2 alternatives are indicated: a) Hasselfelde - Köhlerhütten - Altenbrak b) Rübeland - Wendefurth - Altenbrak Anyone who wants to avoid the Brocken hikes from Torfhaus to St. Andreasberg passing via Braunlage to Königshütte. Read more Additional information The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg is supported by . Read more Literature **Harzer-Hexen-Stieg - official hiking guide** Route description in both directions, 5 stages, 2 alternative routes, elevation profiles, graphics, overview map, dining and accommodation options, GPS tracks, stamp stations \| 80 pages, size 120 x 190 mm \| Schmidt-Buch-Verlag Available at www.harzinfo-shop.de. Read more Author Harzer Tourismusverband Organization Harz: Magische Gebirgswelt License (master data) Safety guidelines Der Waldzustand im Bereich Schieferberg Neuwerk ist weiterhin dramatisch und wird sich laut Landesforstbetrieb auf absehbare Zeit auch nicht ändern, sodass der Weg hinter Neuwerk über den Nickelsberg umgelegt wird. Sobald es der Zustand wieder zulässt, soll die Wegeführung wieder auf den originalen Wegverlauf des Harzer-Hexen-Stiegs zurückverlegt werden. Read more Map Harzer Hexen-Stieg 1 : 30,000: Official map for the recognized quality hiking trail in the Harz. Publisher: Harzer Tourismusverband & Harzklub Publisher: Schmidt-Buch-Verlag | Available at www.harzinfo-shop.de Read more Nearby ------ View on map - Place of interest - Special landscape - Water park/Erlebnisbad - Lookout tower - Tours 22.31 km - Walking / hiking 27.96 km - Walking / hiking 11.60 km - Walking / hiking **outdooractive** Contact Osterode am Harz Download GPX file - - - -