Ilsefälle

To the south-west of Ilsenburg are the Ilse Falls, where the water of the Ilse plunges loudly and thunderously 120 metres into the Ilse Valley. The water of the Ilse, which overcomes the difference in altitude over a distance of around one kilometre, cascades over a large number of individual rocks. Over many thousands of years, nature has created a unique natural spectacle here, which cannot be ignored even from a great distance. The Ilse Falls are particularly impressive in spring and after rainfall, when the Ilse carries a lot of water and the waterfalls are more like rapids.

Even if there is no clear visual separation, the waterfall cascade is divided into the upper and lower Ilse Falls. If you like, you can dip your feet in the water on hot summer days and reward yourself with a refreshing dip after a strenuous hike. But be careful - the granite rocks are quite slippery in some places. Well protected from the sun, the Ilse Falls are an ideal place to come down in the midst of nature and watch the fascinating natural spectacle of water and rock formations.

Heinrich Heine and the Ilse Falls

The well-known Heinrich Heine Trail that runs alongside it offers a particularly authentic experience of nature, coupled with many panoramic views of the Ilse Falls. Heinrich Heine himself, who gave his name to the hiking trail, was so impressed by the natural spectacle on his hike from Brocken to Ilsenburg in 1824 that he immortalised it in one of his most famous works, "Harzreise" (Journey through the Harz Mountains), thus helping the place to become even better known. He wrote:

"It is indescribable with what cheerfulness, naivety and grace the Ilse rushes down over the adventurously formed pieces of rock, so that the water hisses up wildly here and trundles over the small stones again below, like a cheerful girl. Yes, the Ilse is a princess who runs down the mountain laughing and blooming."

A monument was erected in his honour just a little further on, in the immediate vicinity of the upper Ilse Falls. About 600 metres further on is the Bremer Hütte and stamp point 6 of the Harz hiking pin.

Hiking to the Ilse Falls

As the Ilse Falls can only be explored on foot, there are usually no large crowds of tourists here. Unfortunately, this natural spectacle is also not accessible without barriers. By far the shortest hiking trail runs through the Ilse Valley, with it only being around three kilometres from the climbing park car park to the waterfall cascade. In comparison, the Ilsenburg loop is a much longer hike, taking around 4:30 hours and covering a distance of around 15 kilometres through the Ilse Valley, passing highlights such as the Heinrich Heine Trail, the Ilse Falls and the Ilsestein.