To the Schnarcherklippen (HWN 14, 20 & 21, 9953)

The route starts at the Ortsmitte car park in Elend.

• From here, head against the direction of the roundabout towards the Small Wooden Church.
  TIP: A detour to the 6 x 11 m small wooden church is always worth it.
  Note: In 2022, viewing the interior is not possible due to extensive restoration and renovation work!
  
  
• From there, hike along Braunlager Straße to the Hotel Waldmühle.

•  Opposite the hotel, turn into "Alte Braunlager Straße."

• From here, follow the signs for "Barenberg" on the right, leading gently uphill.

•  Cross the tracks of the Harz narrow-gauge railways and then follow the path further uphill. 

  TIP: On this path, we recommend a small detour to the "Aussichtskanzel Barenberg" (Barenberg viewing platform) to the right. There you have a wonderful view over the Harz mountains and the small Harz village of Elend. You can also collect the first of a total of three stamps (no. 20) for the Harzer Wandernadel here.

• Back from the small detour, you soon reach a wider forest path where you continue to the right.
• In the middle of the forest, you reach the Schnarcherklippen to the right.
  The Schnarcherklippen are two famous 28 m high "granite towers," located at 671 m above sea level, which produce snoring-like sounds in southeast wind and rise above the trees. Using ladders and stairs, you can climb one of the two cliffs. But CAUTION! The stairs and ladders are quite steep, and there are sometimes large gaps between the rocks. From the top, enjoy the view of Schierke, the Brocken (1141 m), and the Wurmberg (971 m).
• Back down again, you will find some benches to the left and the stamp box of the Harzer Wandernadel. There awaits the second stamp (no. 14) for you.
• After a short break, head right to the Mäuseklippen. Here you also find remnants of rock/granite formations but on a smaller scale.
• Follow the path further to Schierke, where you have the opportunity to stop for refreshments.
  
  NOTE:
  The hike can be ended in Schierke, and as an overnight guest, you can use your Oberharz am Brocken holiday ticket to ride the bus back to Elend for free...
  Or you follow your original route:

• and walk along "Alte Dorfstraße" in Schierke towards "Alte Wernigeröder Straße" and follow the signposting for "Helenenruh."
• At the top of Helenenruh, enjoy the viewpoint with a view into the Schluchttal of the Kalte Bode (150 m steep drop) towards Schierke and the Brocken. For stamp collectors, the third stamp no. 21 awaits to be stamped into your hiking booklet.
• From Helenenruh, it goes quite steeply downhill via the signposted "Alte Bobbahn" back to Elend.

CAUTION: You cross the country road 99 Schierke – Elend twice (please be extremely careful as the road has poor visibility) 

• At the end of the "Alte Bobbahn," keep left towards Elend and turn into Heinrich-Heine-Weg.
• At the train station, turn downhill towards the roundabout and the Ortsmitte car park, where you finish your circular hike.

Sturdy footwear, functional clothing, backpack provisions, sun and rain protection are recommended.

Remember to pack (mobile) camera, Harzer Wandernadel stamp booklet, and possibly binoculars.

You can reach Elend by car

- via the B27 from Braunlage and Blankenburg

- as well as via the B244 from Wernigerode via Elbingerode

- or via the L100 and L99 from Wernigerode via Drei-Annen-Hohne.

Paid parking options in Elend are available at the Ortsmitte car park at the roundabout (main street - start of the route)
as well as at the train station.

You can reach the Harz village Elend by bus operated by the Harzer Verkehrsbetriebe:

from the direction of Wernigerode and Braunlage 

or

with the Harz narrow-gauge railway from Wernigerode or Nordhausen.

INSA - Your route planner for local transport in Saxony-Anhalt >>

TIP: 

With the Harz holiday ticket, you can travel free throughout the entire Harz district.

HATIX - free use of the public bus lines of Harzer Verkehrsbetriebe, Q-Bus Nahverkehrsgesellschaft, Halberstädter Verkehrs-GmbH, and the Verkehrsgesellschaft Südharz in the district of Harz. Now also free use in the districts of Goslar and Göttingen.

More information can be found at: www.hatix.info

Tourist Information Elend

Hauptstraße 19

38875 Oberharz am Brocken OT Elend

Tel. 039455 - 375

elend@oberharzinfo.de

www.oberharzinfo.de

On this circular route, you have the opportunity to collect three coveted stamps as well as a special stamp of the Harzer Wandernadel.

No. 20 - Aussichtskanzel Barenberg
No. 14 - Schnarcherklippen
No. 21 - Helenenruh

9953 Special stamp Small Wooden Church

• Not suitable for strollers or similar.

• Since the hike is mostly in open terrain, we strongly recommend considering sufficient sun protection and a hat during sunny and summer months!

• Be careful when climbing the Schnarcherklippen; the ladders and steps are very steep, sometimes far apart, and have large gaps. Hold your children firmly. Those who suffer from acrophobia should not climb the rock.

• On some trail sections, short-term impairments, detours, and trail closures can occur at any time due to forest changes and storm damage. Please check shortly before your hike. Current notices can be found here >

Hiking map - City of Oberharz am Brocken 1:25000 ; ISBN 978-3-86973-065-3