Author: BUND Niedersachsen e.V. in cooperation with / Harz National Park Authority, Harz: A Magical Mountain World
In Goethe’s footsteps to the Brocken in the Harz National Park
Hiking to the Brocken in the footsteps of Goethe is a true Harz experience. The highest peak in northern Germany has been inspiring travellers, poets and naturalists for centuries – from Goethe to Humboldt. To this day, the Brocken has lost none of its fascination: along the Goethe Trail, you can expect stunning natural scenery, fascinating traces of cultural history and the special atmosphere of the Harz National Park. A tour that uniquely combines history and landscape.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
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Last review:
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 12.49 mi -
Average duration: 6h 50 -
Difficulty: Difficult -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 1,243 ft -
Descent: - 1,263 ft -
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Highest point: 3,750 ft -
Lowest point: 2,487 ft
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Country:
Germany
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City:
Clausthal-Zellerfeld -
Start/End: N 51.80255° / E 10.537182° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Waypoints
- S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,631 ft
- S/E : mi 12.49 - alt. 2,635 ft
Notes
Worth a visit
“To have travelled to the Harz and not climbed the Brocken would be just as much as having been to Rome and not seen the Pope,” remarked the writer Christian Wilhelm Spieker as far back as the 19th century. He was by no means alone in this view, as the Blocksberg – as it was known in earlier times – had been the main destination for tourists to the Harz since the 17th century. Back then, it took a great deal of effort to conquer the highest peak in northern Germany, standing at 1,141 metres. Its original wilderness made the ascent just as difficult as the countless vagaries of the weather.
The Brocken is not ‘just any mountain’, but perhaps Germany’s very first natural tourist attraction. Even before 1800, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Heinrich von Kleist were among its prominent visitors, as was Alexander von Humboldt, who later became so famous. Many of the Brocken hikers of yesteryear left their impressions for posterity in poetry, travelogues or scientific essays. Whilst some enjoyed magnificent views in the sunshine, others cursed the rain, storms and sore feet.
As early as the end of the 18th century, over 400 entries were consistently recorded in the summit logs every year. By 1825, the number of visitors had already exceeded the 2,000 mark. The mountain’s appeal and the popularity of the Goethe Trail remain undiminished to this day. Every year, thousands of walkers complete the approximately 9 km ascent from Torfhaus along the Goethe Trail. In total, the walk involves a climb of around 350 metres in altitude, so you should allow 5 to 6 hours for the round trip.
A climb up the Brocken via the Goethe Trail is, quite rightly, still ‘the highlight’ for many visitors to the Harz. Strung together like a string of pearls, the route is lined with countless cultural and historical sights and fascinating natural phenomena.
Since 1990, the Brocken has lain at the heart of the Hochharz National Park, which was merged with the Lower Saxony National Park in 2006 to form the cross-state Harz National Park. Covering an area of 250 km², the park is one of the largest in Germany. National parks aim to protect large areas of natural landscape and allow them to develop naturally and undisturbed. Worldwide, around 4,000 national parks rank among the most popular attractions in their respective countries.
At the start of any hike up the Brocken, we recommend a visit to the TorfHaus National Park Visitor Centre. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the Harz National Park. A tour of the exhibition will show you what to expect on your hike up the Brocken and set the scene for the unique landscape of the Harz National Park.
Other walks in the area
Dammhaus, Altenau
Tourism professional5.76 mi
+453 ft
-433 ft
3h 05
Moderate
Departure from Clausthal-Zellerfeld (Landkreis Goslar)
On this varied circular walk, you’ll discover the Dammhaus, where the canal keeper once lived and monitored the canals. Today, this well-known destination for day trippers, with its outdoor café and tobogganing slope, invites you to take a leisurely break. Along the way, picturesque meadows on the outskirts of the village alternate with protected woodland sections – a walk offering plenty of nature and a particularly beautiful destination.
Polsterthaler Colliery House, Altenau
6.20 mi
+768 ft
-784 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Clausthal-Zellerfeld (Landkreis Goslar)
On this circular walk near Altenau, you’ll experience a fascinating chapter in the Upper Harz’s industrial history: the Polsterthaler mine house once provided the power needed for the Polsterberg pumping station using water wheels and lifting mechanisms. Sunny stretches on the outskirts of the village, open woodland paths and the Polsterthaler pond offer a variety of sights along the way, before the route continues into the shelter of the forest. A tour for anyone who wants to enjoy a delightful blend of nature and history in the Harz Mountains.
Around Braunlage
Visorando Member10.62 mi
+745 ft
-771 ft
5h 30
Moderate
Departure from Braunlage (Landkreis Goslar)
The first section was very pleasant, through a protected nature reserve. The second part of the walk was quite boring. The section along the Grensweg, however, was very interesting. Lots of dead trees due to the bark beetle.
Saint Andreasberger Höhenwanderweg
10.64 mi
+1,519 ft
-1,503 ft
6h 15
Moderate
Departure from Braunlage (Landkreis Goslar)
A beautiful, long circular walk around Saint Andreas.
Very diverse.
Through forests, across plains with charming old houses.
A bit up and a bit down on well-maintained roads. Pass a chairlift frequently used by mountain bikers.
Auerhahnweg – Hahnenklee
1.19 mi
+7 ft
-118 ft
0h 35
Easy
Departure from Harz (LK Goslar) (Landkreis Goslar)
The Auerhahnweg starts at the Auerhahn car park and follows a gently ascending path above the ponds of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Upper Harz Water Management System.The path curves to the left and ends at the large car park by the Stave Church. From here, it is only a few metres to the town centre.
Stöberhai circular
6.09 mi
+1,096 ft
-1,109 ft
3h 45
Moderate
Departure from Walkenried (Landkreis Göttingen)
A quiet, not too long walk to a beautiful viewpoint with a lovely hut.
Park at the Wieda bus stop.
The walk leads through a forest with many deciduous trees.
At the end of the walk, you'll pass through the village.
Harzer Försterstieg
9.33 mi
+1,207 ft
-1,237 ft
5h 20
Moderate
Departure from Clausthal-Zellerfeld (Landkreis Goslar)
The Försterstieg is an old pilgrim route between two monasteries in the Harz region. We will take part of this route.
Start at the campsite of Wildemann, and walk past the little lake towards Eichelberg. We will make a small loop and follow the pilgrim route back towards Iberg and Pferdekopf. We'll walk round the Hasenberg and walk between Adlersberg and Decherberg back towards Wildemann, following a nice single track along a route where you can hear the traffic passing by. Then we follow a lovely road in the village through a little tunnel and go up the mountain through lovely pastures towards the campsite.
Bad Sachsa circular
6.57 mi
+1,096 ft
-1,096 ft
4h 00
Moderate
Departure from Bad Sachsa (Landkreis Göttingen)
A beautiful circular walk starting from the charming town of Bad Sachsa.
It begins along the lake with its many hotels and spas.
It runs through extensive forests (unfortunately, there are some fallen trees here and there).
Beautiful view from the Ravensberg.
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