Harzer Hexenstieg
Description
- Name Harzer Hexenstieg (HHS)
- Length of trail 100 km, 62 miles
- Length in days 5 days
- Start of trail Osterode am Harz
- End of trail Thale
- Traildino grading MW, Moderate walk, backpacking trail
- Hut tour grading T1, Walk


Osterode am Harz – Brocken – Thale, 100 km, 5 days
The former frontier dividing East and West Germany ran through the Harz, one of the prettiest mountain regions in the north of Germany and erstwhile rich gold and silver mining area. The highest mountain in the Harz, Brocken, 1141 m., was on the east side and hosted a forest of antenna's and sniffing devices aimed at the West. The forests on the eastern side were managed less intensively than on the western side. Probably the differences are still noticable. The trail runs from west to east, climbs Brocken and descends into the Bodeschlucht. In 2008, the Harzer Hexensteig was elected the best German trail. Don't forget to visit Goslar or one of the other very old towns on the northern edge of the Harz.
Opinions

- patacon October 2013
- Rate 9
- Positive My friend and I passed the nights in shelters along the trail. but there is always the opportunity to overnight in a hotel or hostel. The trail is very well maymarked.
- Negative You don't really have the wilderness feeling because it is a very popular trail. but if you don't go in the hiking season you can find times and parts of the trail without seeing many people.

- Hiker Philly January 2013
- Rate 8
- Positive Goed gemarkeerd. Fijne route voor het hele gezin.
Links
Facts
- Der Hexen-Stieg - Wandern über den Harzer Hexen-Stieg (German)
- Harzer Hexenstieg (German)
Joint website by the Harzer Verkehrsverband and the Harzklub, giving general info on the Harzer Hexenstieg.
- Harzer-Hexen-Stieg | Niedersachsen | Fernwanderweg - www.wanderkompass.de
Day to day description.
- walk-in-europe.com: Top Trail: Harz Witches' Trail - Harzer Hexen- Stieg
Excellent page in English by Fernwege.de on the Harzer Hexen Stieg, the Harz Witches' Trail.
- Wanderbares Deutschland (German)
Use the left menu to find any trail. Wanderbares Deutschland (Wanderful Germany) is a very good webpage, created and maintained by the German Walking Association, Deutscher Wanderverband. You will find many trails, including sketch maps, descriptions (often also in English), relevant guides and maps, and so on.
- Wandern im Harz auf dem Harzer- Hexensteig - fernwege.de (German)
Excellent page by Fernwege.de on the Harzer Hexenstieg, with sketch maps, route description, GPS donwload, documentation.
- Der Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (German)
Interactive website where you can follow in the witches footsteps.
- Harzer Hexenstieg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Harzer Hexenstieg – Wikipedia (German)
- Harzer-Hexen-Stieg – Outdoor Wiki (German)
- Urlaub im Harz: Die offizielle Webseite des Harzes, Wandern, Natur erleben, Familienferien, Wintersport, Wellness, Tagungen - Der Harzer Verkehrsverband - Partner für den Harz-Tourismus (German)
Information compiled by the tourist organisation of the Harz.
- wandern im Harz - Harzer Hexenstieg - Wanderweg quer durch den Harz (German)
Description of the different villages on your way.
Reports
- Der Weg ist das Ziel: Harzer-Hexen-Stieg Ende Mai 2008 (German)
Day to day blog of a four day hike along the Hexenstieg.
- Germany | Harz | 2013 January | 4-day hike
- Harzer Hexenstieg (German)
Trail report by the Wanderfreunde Leidenhofen.
- Hexenstieg 2003 (pdf) (German)
Rita Taube describes her hike.
- Reisebericht: Der Harzer Hexenstieg (German)
"Zwei Südtirolerinnen allein im Harz": trip report.
- Der Harzer Hexenstieg im Winter (German)
Cross-country skiing the Hexen-Stieg.
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
Other
- Wander-Webcams (German)
Snow or not? Check out yourself!! Webcams!!!
Books

United Kingdom
2018
- Harzer / Hexen / Stieg 2018
- Degelijk gidsje van de lange afstands wandeling in de Harz: de Hexer Stieg. Goede beschrijving met behoorlijk kaartmateriaal en praktische informatie.. Deze wandelgids van Hikeline beschrijft de Harzer-Hexen-Stieg. Dit is een lange-afstand-wandelroute door de Harz in Duitsland. Deze gemarkeerde route loopt van Osterode naar Thale via de... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2018
- Wandelgids Hikeline Harzer-Hexen-Stieg | Esterbauer
- Degelijk gidsje van de lange afstands wandeling in de Harz: de Hexer Stieg. Goede beschrijving met behoorlijk kaartmateriaal en praktische informatie.. Deze wandelgids van Hikeline beschrijft de Harzer-Hexen-Stieg. Dit is een lange-afstand-wandelroute door de Harz in Duitsland. Deze gemarkeerde route loopt van Osterode naar Thale via de... Read more
Maps

Netherlands
- Wandelkaart Harzer Hexen Stieg | Publicpress
- Deze gedetailleerde wandelkaart beschrijft de wandelroute van 92,5 km lengte maar ook enkele mogelijke alternatieve routes. Beschreven met veel praktische informatie en bezienswaardigheden onderweg. Erg handig uitgevoerd in water- en scheurvast plastic en in praktisch uitklapformaat! Die Wanderkarte Harzer-Hexen-Stieg ist für Wanderer, die den... Read more