Famous, popular, and delicious are the trout from the Bode. Freshly caught, they are served in Altenbrak and Treseburg. The gently babbling Bode is their home.
In Treseburg, we enter the Bode Valley nature reserve, one of Germany’s oldest nature reserves. Before 1865, passage through this section ahead was not possible. The rock pressed too tightly against the water, leaving no space for a path, and the technical possibilities to create one were not yet sufficient.
At first, however, the path leads comfortably into the gorge, which is still wide enough here. The water babbles quietly below, with no civilization noise disturbing the idyll. Soon, the path narrows, the water comes closer, and the rocks on both sides rise higher and higher. Finally, the river roars through its stony bed, spray mists fill the air, and granite walls up to 250 meters high tower above.
From above, Rosstrappe and Hexentanzplatz are visible to the keen eye, once mystical cult sites, now popular excursion destinations. The route continues along the Bode and later through Peace Park towards the final destination of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg.
Good to know
Pavements
Best to visit
Directions
The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg on this stage runs always alongside the Bode, which flows wide and gently from Altenbrak to just past Treseburg. After Treseburg, we enter the Grand Canyon of the Harz, where the path becomes narrower and steeper, the Bode turns into a rushing mountain stream, before calming again shortly before Thale and leading the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg out. The start and finish at the train station is now not far away, and hopefully there is still time for a visit to the town in the “legendary Harz.”
Directions & Parking facilities
Altenbrak: Change from A36 to B81 in Blankenburg; turn onto L94 shortly before Wendefurth.
Thale: A36 towards Thale/Friedrichsbrunn/Westerhausen, L240 and L92
There are paid parking lots both at the start and end of the stage.
Altenbrak is accessible by Bus 257 (www.hvb-harz.de) from Blankenburg or Thale.
The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg ends directly opposite the Deutsche Bahn train station.
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, stamping points | 80 pages, size 120 x 190 mm | Schmidt-Buch-Verlag
Available at www.harzinfo-shop.de.
License (master data)
Harzer Tourismusverband
Safety guidelines
On the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg section in Treseburg, there is a danger of falling rocks along the route behind the "Hotel Bodeblick." Please observe the onsite warning signs and be especially careful on this section.
Map
Nearby
