Harzer Witch Trail - Stage 4 North Variant - from Drei Annen Hohne via Rübeland to Altenbrak

Short description

This stage takes us from Königshütte up to Rübeland with the famous dripstone caves and the still active quarry. From here, we follow the path through floodplain forests and the Wendefurth dam, past the impressive Rappbode dam, the largest drinking water dam in Germany, until we reach Altenbrak.

Description

The highlight of this stage is the cave town of Rübeland with the famous dripstone caves, the Hermanns Cave and the Baumanns Cave. It is recommended to take the time to visit at least one of these two world-famous dripstone caves. If you stay overnight here, attending the cave festival is a must. Another highlight is the Rappbode dam, with its 106-meter high gravity dam. In comparison, the dam of the Wendefurth dam, which houses an information center, seems quite delicate.

Route description

From Drei Annen Hohne, we descend into the Steinbachtal valley. A first break can be taken at the quaint waterfall on the outskirts of Königshütte. We then cross the small Harz village on the Hexen-Stieg trail and soon reach the point where the path splits into North and South routes. The Rappbode reservoir with its numerous branches is the reason for this division.
Just below the ruins of Königsburg, we turn left and follow the Warme Bode, which merges with the Kalte Bode after a few meters. The wide river meadow that soon opens up belongs to the system of the distant Rappbode dam. The path narrows again near the abandoned mining settlement of Susenburg and ascends into the forest. At the Hoher Kleef lookout pavilion, it offers a magnificent panoramic view over Rübeland to the Brocken peak.
Otherwise, we continue through Rübeland along the water, which widens again behind Neuwerk and forms the Wendefurth dam. The Bode River transforms back into a gentle trout stream, which reaches Altenbrak after a few bends.

Travel information

Drei Annen Hohne is located on the L100 between Wernigerode and Schierke.
Altenbrak: In Blankenburg, switch from the A36 to the B81: turn onto the L94 just before Wendefurth.

Parking information

There are paid parking spaces available at both the start and end of the stage.

Safety instructions

Due to high water levels and the associated increased water level of the Wendefurth dam, there may be disruptions on the original route coming from the west behind Neuwerk. For this reason, a signposted flood diversion is set up in that area. Please pay closer attention to the signage in this area!