Harzer Witch Trail - Brockenumgehung

Short description

The alternative for all those for whom the path over the Brocken is too strenuous or who already know it: The Brockenumgehung through the Odertal via St. Andreasberg and Braunlage.

Description

From Torfhaus to the Brocken, you already know that? The way is too strenuous for you? The mountain doesnt show its challenging side to you at all? Or are there simply too many people around? Then take the alternative! The Brockenumgehung is by no means a second choice. Away from the hustle and bustle of the mountain, it leads on rustic paths further through the Harz National Park. Along boardwalks we ascend along the Oderteich, once Germanys largest and oldest reservoir. It is dammed by a Cyclops dam made of huge granite blocks. The water from the pond is transported by the Rehberger Graben to St. Andreasberg. Where it was once used for mining, it now drives turbines in the Samson pit and generates environmentally friendly electricity for the residents. The open mountain meadows around the free mountain town, which stretch almost to Braunlage, are a sight to behold especially in summer. The Odertal deeply cuts the connection between the two towns. But it is not narrowness and gloom that dominate here, but light and splendor of colors. In Braunlage, the tourist center in the Upper Harz, the path leads directly past the foot of the Wurmberg. From here, a cable car takes you to Lower Saxonys highest peak. The view is breathtaking. Not only on the Brockengipfel directly opposite, but over the entire southern mountain range. Below the Wurmberg, the world once ended here too. We cross the former inner German border at the crossing over the Bremke, the former border stream. Now we are in the middle of the once inaccessible border area. At Elend we reach a settlement again and encounter the Bode river for the first time. Here it is the Kalte Bode, whose course we follow to the idyllic hamlet of Mandelholz, before immersing again in the light forest that accompanies us to Königshütte. Even before, at the rest area in the Steinbachtal, we come across the Brocken hikers of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg.

Route description

It branches off from Torfhaus to the south and leads through the Harz National Park along the oldest reservoir in Germany, the Oderteich. On the Rehberger Grabenweg we reach the old mountain town of St. Andreasberg. The path continues through the blooming mountain meadows, descends into the Odertal and up again to Braunlage. The winter sports center in the heart of the Harz is also popular and lively in summer.
At the Bremke we cross the former inner German border on the way to Elend and then reach the outskirts of the reservoir system of the Bode with the flood protection basin at Mandelholz. In the idyllic Steinbachtral, just before Königshütte, the Brockenumgehung meets the main path again.

Travel information

Torfhaus is located on the B4 between Bad Harzburg and Braunlage.

Parking information

At Torfhaus there are several free and paid parking options.