3 days on the Harz Witches' Trail – 100 km in October 2025
Hey, I'm Pascal (Trail.mit.mir) and I'd like to share my experiences and impressions from my last trekking tour with you here.
We went to the beautiful Harz Mountains, famous for Saxony-Anhalt's highest peak: the Brocken. But more on that later.
Day 1 – 29.6 km from Osterode to Altenau
Naturally, our route began through the familiar pavilion. Right from the start, we already tackled the first few hundred meters of elevation gain.
A little tip: If you prefer to avoid paved roads, be aware that there are quite a few of them waiting for you on this tour.
We witnessed the effects of the bark beetle infestation early on. In places, the barren areas had a touch of post-apocalyptic fallout. Nevertheless, it was absolutely worthwhile, as the landscape constantly surprises with picturesque and breathtaking views.
The first day took us deep into the valleys of the Harz Mountains and past many forests scarred by bark beetles. A major plus of the entire trail is the high density of shelters – a real blessing for putting our feet up during breaks.
The weather could hardly have been better. Brilliant sunshine in October made the route mostly doable in a baselayer. It only became noticeably stormier in the evening.
All in all, a successful start to the trail, which we finished somewhat off the route in our tent at a campsite.
Day 2 – 36.3 km over the Brocken
Day two took us to the supposed highlight of the tour: the Brocken in the Harz Mountains.
Minor spoiler – my personal highlight came later.
Morning mood and ascent
The first night was absolutely relaxing. The pattering rain on the tent roof and the gentle murmur of a stream made me sleep like I was on cloud nine.
The start of the day took us along a beautiful singletrack trail, which became even more adventurous due to the nighttime weather.
In the first village we refilled our water supplies and I treated myself to a small souvenir magnet for the refrigerator – a little weakness of mine.
The subsequent ascent to the Brocken summit itself was unfortunately mostly paved. However, we were constantly accompanied by views of the summit and the charming Brocken Railway.
At the top of the Brocken
Once I reached the top, I was quite disappointed. What had been touted as a top spot turned out to be the least spectacular part of the entire tour. Too many tourists, too little peace and quiet.
The Brocken is certainly recommended for families – but not so much for me as a hiker seeking peace and quiet.
So we continued quickly downhill, past more villages and impressive landscapes, which provided us with many beautiful souvenir photos.
After about 34 kilometers, we ran the last few meters in complete darkness. It was a good thing we had our headlamps with us.
Arriving completely exhausted, we set up our camp and prepared our dinner.
Thanks to the option of renting or borrowing outdoor equipment , I was perfectly equipped for the autumnal weather. This is a huge relief, especially if you don't own separate equipment for every season.
For this tour, renting sleeping bags , sleeping mats and tents was particularly suitable.
Day 3 – 34.6 km to Thale, the end of the trail
Day three began early. In the darkness, we could only guess at the view that awaited us at this spot – simply breathtaking.
The day began with us walking through dense forests and small villages. Light rain accompanied us in the early morning hours, while the Bode River remained our constant companion.
We used every shelter to muster our remaining strength. Our goal was clear: to arrive in Thale around 7:00 pm to catch the train back to Osterode in time.
My personal highlight – the Bodekessel
And then came my personal highlight of the entire tour: the path through the Bodekessel.
For me, as a passionate mountain hiker, it's pure relaxation. A gorge-like feeling, combined with alpine trails and impressive nature.
After all those kilometers, this was an absolutely worthwhile challenge. This natural spectacle is a must-see for anyone visiting the Harz Mountains.
Having finally reached the destination, one last selfie was taken in front of the finish line.
Conclusion on the Harz Witches' Trail
The Harz Witches' Trail is a successful trail that is also manageable for beginners like me – it was my first trekking tour.
However, for complete hiking novices, I would recommend more stages.
We deliberately chose three long daily stages, as we are used to hiking long distances.
An experience that definitely made me want to do more trekking tours.
Author: Pascal
Instagram: #Trail.with.me
