August 25, 2026, 2:44 pm | Read time: 8 minutes

I feel most free in nature when I know it’s not just a day trip outdoors, but a journey lasting several days or even weeks. Walking from early morning until late evening, then preparing dinner under the stars on a camping stove and crawling into a sleeping bag—there’s hardly anything better for me. For years, I’ve been undertaking such tours, often more than a hundred kilometers long, in my now favorite hiking region worldwide, the Harz. Along the way, I’ve discovered some very beautiful and interesting long-distance hiking trails that I’d like to introduce to you today.

Harzer-Hexen-Stieg

With a length of just under a hundred kilometers, this tour is manageable even for fit beginners in long-distance hiking. From Osterode in the western Harz, it leads through spectacular, often wonderfully solitary nature to Thale in the east of the region, which spans three federal states. Along the way, you pass massive dams, deep forests, and valleys. Picturesque places like Altenau, Braunlage, Altenbrak, and Treseburg line the path, offering the weary hiker numerous opportunities for refreshment and sustenance in good, venerable inns. The proverbial highlight of the tour is the ascent of the legendary Brocken mountain, where in Goethe’s immortal work “Faust,” the eponymous witches dance on Walpurgis Night.

If you prefer, you can bypass the summit on an alternative route, passing through the former canary capital of St. Andreasberg and Braunlage. Later on, the path splits into a northern and a southern route, which reunite before Altenbrak and then lead through the Bode Gorge, up to 400 meters deep, to Thale. For those seeking more action along the way, the “Harzdrenalin” adventure area at the Rappbode Dam is worth a visit. A few kilometers further, the “Pension Sternschnuppe” in Treseburg, located directly on the Bode River, offers perhaps the most beautiful beer garden in the entire Harz.

Along the way, the tired hiker has the opportunity to stay at various campsites or, like in Torfhaus, at a youth hostel. My personal tips in Altenau include a visit to the “Heißer Brocken” brine spa and a subsequent meal at the “Klippengrill.” Here, you can also visit the last remaining brewery in the Upper Harz, which has been in business for more than 400 years and produces excellent brews, as well as the absolutely sensational herbal lemonade “Limmo.” On the way to the destination, you pass through bogs, hike a stretch through the Harz National Park, and along the tracks of the Harz narrow-gauge railway, whose use is even included in the Germany ticket with a few exceptions. The absolute classic of the Harz long-distance hiking trails.

Also interesting: The most beautiful rivers and waterfalls in the Harz

Karstwanderweg

An ambitious project, even for several weeks: The Karstwanderweg runs from Saxony-Anhalt through Thuringia to western Lower Saxony. Certified as a “Hiking in Germany” quality trail, the route stretches up to 260 kilometers through the almost unknown southern Harz. Instead of dramatic landscapes, hikers can expect gentle hills, endless vistas, and healthy mixed deciduous forests. From Pölsfeld near Sangerhausen to Bad Grund, you walk through a geological world heritage site: the karst rock landscape, shaped by wind and water over millions of years and still changing today. Deep cave collapses, known as dolines, may open up in the middle of the forest. Cheerful babbling streams disappear seemingly without a trace into sinkholes in the rock.

Rock formations rise that were once the reefs of an ancient sea, standing archaically in the landscape. In autumn, fruit trees bend under the weight of plums, apples, and pears, providing the hiker with a quick refreshment. Along the way, you pass through small fairytale towns like Hainrode, where since the 14th century, brooms are still hand-bound. You discover the Heimkehle, Germany’s largest show cave, as well as the Einhornhöhle, where mythical creatures are said to have once lived. At Scharzfels Castle, you marvel at the view and the story of a woman who made a spectacular escape after years of imprisonment.

On my tour along the entire Karstwanderweg, I even fell in love with the small town of Bad Sachsa. Among the many places lining the path, it is a true gem. A health resort with three butchers on just one street and a forest fountain where the whole town gets its water. Where on clear nights, you can admire a gigantic starry sky and swim in ponds created by monks hundreds of years ago. The Karstwanderweg is the great outdoors for fit hikers who, like me, enjoy being on the road for longer periods.

Also interesting: Altenau: The Harz Pearl in the Oker Valley

Harzer Baudensteig

What an idea: hiking while visiting the most beautiful forest inns and mountain lodges. The Harzer Baudensteig stretches nearly a hundred kilometers and up to six stages from Bad Grund to the Walkenried Monastery. Along the way, there’s plenty to sample. You can stop at a total of nine inns along the route. At the Iberger Albertturm, one of the stops, I experienced something unique. Due to my late arrival, the place was already closed. Nevertheless, I was able to take a few beers from the fridge for refreshment by paying into an honesty box. Many of the houses are located at prominent viewpoints, offering breathtaking views for miles.

For example, from the “Berghof” on Ravensberg over Bad Sachsa, an extinct volcano. A wonderfully hearty pea soup is served by the cheerful team, along with a nice coffee and cake. The route, often on narrow, sometimes steep paths, is what gives this hiking trail its charm. In many places in the Harz, you walk on long, unappealing wide forest roads. But not here. Along the way, a visit to the Cave Experience Center in Bad Grund is worthwhile, as is a visit to the Zorger Whisky Distillery or the impressive ruins of the Walkenried Monastery Museum.

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Südharzer Dampfloksteig

A charming underdog for advanced beginners in long-distance hiking is the Südharzer Dampfloksteig, as it is only about 40 kilometers long. From the city of Nordhausen, it runs along or near the tracks of the Harz narrow-gauge railway to the 60-soul village of Sophienhof. There, the “Ziegenalm” offers a pleasant conclusion for guests. You can enjoy a good meal in the “Almstube” and then buy excellent goat cheese in the farm shop. Fresh eggs and various products from home slaughter are also available. And to top it off, the divine goat milk chocolate ice cream. The trail bears the “Hiking in Germany” quality seal.

Also interesting: The best alternatives to the Harz National Park

On narrow paths, past old train stations and mines, it leads through wild, pristine nature. Along the way, you learn why the quirky mini-village of Netzkater is named as it is and hike through healthy mixed deciduous forests. Good physical condition is required, as the entire route involves tackling 2,000 meters of elevation. Some proverbial highlights are the views from 600 meters at the Poppenberg Tower and the Hohnstein Castle ruins. You can also enjoy a good meal there. In Nordhausen, a visit to the giant tree “Flehmüller’s Oak” is worthwhile. The Salza-Spring karst spring, the largest in Thuringia, is also worth seeing.

Selketal-Stieg

At 75 kilometers long, it’s also suitable for beginners, as you traverse one of the most beautiful and gentle valleys in the entire Harz. From the village of Stiege, the path runs through places like Güntersberge, Straßberg, Silberhütte, Alexisbad, Mägdesprung, Meisdorf, Ballenstedt, Gernrode, and Bad Suderode to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Quedlinburg. Along the way, several castles, castle ruins, and fortresses await. Of these, Falkenstein is certainly the most famous and impressive. The route can be sensibly divided into four to six stages and often runs directly along the namesake river Selke. A clear plus for me as a nature lover is the often poor cell phone reception. Focus on the essentials.

A great stop on the tour through the healthy mixed deciduous forest is the Selkefall. Beautiful views can be enjoyed, for example, at the Köthener Hütte over Mägdesprung or the so-called Engagement Urn in Alexisbad. Nearly 700 hectares of the Selke Valley are designated as a nature reserve. Rare species such as the wildcat or the kingfisher live here. Magical for me every time are the encounters with fire salamanders on a misty, damp morning. Note: The opportunities for dining along the way in the Selke Valley are, in my experience, rather limited. So, make sure to bring enough supplies.