To the Great Auerberg

The starting point is the train station in Thale. From here, we initially ride relatively flat eastward through Neinstedt, Stecklenberg, Bad Suderode, Gernrode, and Rieder to Ballenstedt. Upon arriving in the center of Ballenstedt, we keep right and include a nice climb to the castle as part of the tour. We follow the avenue back to the main street and follow the signs through Opperode, turning right towards Meisdorf/Sommerhaus. Initially riding through the Selke Valley, we enter the climb toward Gartenhaus.

From here, it continues hilly over Pansfelde, towards Leinemühle, over the large Johnsberg, through Molmerswende to Schielo.
 We follow the signs to Harzgerode and turn left onto the B242 at the town entrance. Near Kirchenholz, we leave it again and follow the road through Neudorf and Silberhütte to Strassberg. Once there, we ride uphill over Obermühle along an asphalted forest path past Kiliansteich and Frankenteich to get onto the road from Neudorf to Auerberg. We keep right and ride the last ascent meters to the Auerberg.

Straight ahead, we continue uphill on an asphalted forest path to the Josephskreuz on the large Auerberg, shortly before turning right and descending to Stolberg. Upon reaching Stolberg, we turn right and follow the road uphill over Breitenstein to Friedrichshöhe.

At the B242, we turn right and follow it to Güntersberge. There, we keep left and reach the highest point of our tour via Bärenrode, Allrode, and Friedrichsbrunn. Over approx. 4.5 km, it then goes downhill past the Hexentanzplatz back to our starting point in Thale.

More information and road bike tour tips are available at www.rennrad-harz.de.