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The sun is shining, the sky is blue and the forests are green - it's time to go hiking again.
Bad Harzburg is a good starting point for many hikes: From easy to challenging and from crowded to deserted, everything is there. The tour I'm presenting to you today offered me both. The starting point is the spa gardens in Bad Harzburg. From there, the next four hours took me to the Molkenhaus and the Rabenklippe, via the Cross of the German East to the ruins of the Great Harzburg Castle.
Especially for those who are not yet so experienced in hiking - like me, for example - it is advisable to walk on well-maintained paths. I'll show you here that you can enjoy plenty of nature despite the many tourist attractions. Here we go:
Straight into the forest to start
Our circular hike starts at the HarzWaldHaus in Bad Harzburg. The HarzWaldHaus is the starting point for most hikes around the Burgberg. For example, the valley station of the Burgberg cable car is located here, which takes you to the summit in around five minutes. You can also buy tickets for the famous treetop walk here.
But we want to hike, so we cross the Bundesstraße 4 on a bridge right next to the HarzWaldHaus. Once on the other side, the path leads us to the right, past snack stands and souvenir stalls and directly under the scaffolding of the treetop walk. Behind it, you have the choice between a wide asphalt path or a quiet path directly into the forest.
We choose the forest and now find ourselves - unlike the people high above us - on the treetop path. It soon becomes clear that the name is apt, as we walk over hill and dale for the next two kilometers. It soon becomes quiet around us on the leaf-covered path. We walk along streams, past small ponds and up a slight incline.
After around 30 minutes, we reach the asphalt road again and walk the last few meters to the Molkenhaus. After a short break, we continue on. The path now leads us along the road towards the Rabenklippen. Here we not only have a clear view of the Brocken, but also a lynx enclosure.
From one highlight to the next
The lynx show enclosure is part of the reintroduction project for lynx in the Harz Mountains. Since 2000, a total of 24 animals have been reared in the enclosure as part of the Harz lynx project and then released into the national park. There are currently still three lynx living in the enclosure. If you make it in time for a show feeding on Tuesdays or Saturdays (at 2.30 pm), you can not only see them up close, but also learn interesting facts about the big cats.
Our next destination is already signposted on the signposts around the Rabenklippe. We are heading for the Cross of the German East, a 17-metre-high structure. The cross was erected in memory of displaced persons and stands on the Uhlenklippe with a view of Bad Harzburg. On the way there, we can enjoy a wonderful view almost undisturbed. Many benches and sunbathing areas(!) invite us to take a short break and breathe deeply.
Now the path leads us to the last stop of the hike, to the ruins of the Great Harz Castle. Today, little of the former fortification can be seen, but a historical tour around the site explains how it was built. There is another attraction at the top of the castle hill. From the Canossa Column, there is a wide view over the town and the Harz foreland.
After around four hours and approx. 10 kilometers, the tour is coming to an end. There are three ways to get back to the starting point: The approximately 30-minute descent on foot, a ride on the tree suspension railroad, which zigzags through the forest, or we can take the Burgberg cable car. After the long hike, we opt for the latter and take the gondola back down in comfort. The ticket costs 3.50 euros and the cable car ends right where we started.
Nature and tranquillity - despite lots of tourism
Admittedly, the area around Bad Harzburg is very touristy and therefore extremely popular. Nevertheless, there are some routes on this circular tour where you will hardly meet any other people. The circular hike is particularly recommended for beginners or solo hikers who want to get some exercise in the fresh air but don't necessarily want to be alone.
Another plus point: even if you don't have a car, you can easily reach Bad Harzburg by bus and train.
I hope you enjoy your hike! If you like the route, please give me feedback at blog@tu-clausthal.de.