Winter sports in the Harz Mountains

Due to its high altitude, the Harz Mountains offer ideal conditions for all kinds of winter sports during the white season. From over 500 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails, toboggan runs and natural ice surfaces to ski slopes of varying degrees of difficulty, there is something for everyone - whether beginner or professional. A very special atmosphere awaits you in the Harz Mountains in winter, when the Brocken mountain shines in white splendour and the alpine and toboggan slopes and trees in the Harz forests are covered in snow. This is exactly how you imagine an ideal winter holiday!

 

During the cold season, there are numerous opportunities to turn your holiday in the Harz winter sports region into a very special experience. From the district of Schierke to Sankt Andreasberg in the Upper Harz to the Southern Harz, there are numerous toboggan runs, ice rinks and ski runs for unforgettable winter fun for young and old. In this blog article, we provide you with everything you need to know about winter sports in the Harz Mountains. To keep up to date with the current conditions in the ski areas and winter sports resorts, you can visit the website of the Harz Tourism Association. All relevant information on winter sports in the Harz National Park is updated there on a daily basis.

 

Note: No matter which winter sport you would like to pursue in the Harz Mountains, please remember that your sports facility is in the great outdoors and do not dispose of waste in nature so as not to harm the ecosystem.

 

Snowboarding and skiing in the Harz Mountains

Both skiing and snowboarding require a lot of practice and stamina, but the varied network of trails in the Harz Mountains offers something for everyone thanks to its different levels of difficulty - whether beginner or advanced. Whether on the legendary Wurmberg or the slopes around Schierke, the ski resorts in the Harz attract visitors with perfectly groomed pistes and modern lifts. Even if the Harz winter turns out to be a little milder by way of exception, some of the pistes are artificially snow-covered with snow cannons to ensure ideal conditions. The Harz ski resorts are also generally considered to be particularly family-friendly, which is why the Harz National Park is ideal for a skiing holiday with the whole family. The public transport stops and free car parks located close to the ski slopes and lifts in many ski resorts are also particularly advantageous, ensuring a comfortable journey to and from the slopes. In addition, there are usually various places to stop for refreshments between descents thanks to good home-style cooking. Holidaymakers arriving without equipment or skills will also find what they are looking for in the Harz, because while the hire providers and outdoor and sports shops will provide you with the ideal equipment, the Harz ski schools will teach you the necessary know-how and practical exercises so that you can let off steam safely and skilfully on the cross-country ski trails in the Harz.

 

Cross-country skiing and winter hiking

Both cross-country skiers and keen hikers can look forward to an Eldorado of well-groomed trails and varied routes of varying degrees of difficulty in the Harz Mountains. Regardless of whether you walk or cross-country ski through the snow-covered winter landscape of the Harz Mountains, you will always be treated to spectacular views of the wintry mountains along the way. As your gaze wanders over the tranquil beauty of the snow-covered Harz landscape, you can enjoy the peace and purity of nature while breathing in the fresh, clear winter air.

 

Most winter hiking trails can be walked all year round, although selected routes are regularly cleared in the event of heavy snowfall. From relaxed walks and extended day tours to guided hikes with snowshoes, there is something for every nature lover. However, it should be noted that walking with snowshoes, which are designed to prevent deep penetration into the snow, is significantly more strenuous and takes longer than conventional hiking and you should therefore be in good physical condition. For this reason, shorter guided tours aimed at inexperienced beginners are offered in the Upper Harz Mountains, for example, where ideal conditions for winter activities can be found. After an exploration tour through the romantic winter landscape, whether guided or on your own, numerous refreshment stops await you along the way and at many viewpoints in the Harz Mountains.

 

Both cross-country skiers and hikers should note that many trails and routes are located in the middle of nature reserves in the Harz National Park, where the flora and fauna are under special protection. Cross-country ski trails and paths may not be left in these areas, which is why it is advisable to only stay on machine-groomed trails and paths.