Runde von Elend

The 24-kilometre hike along the Teufelsstieg (Devil's Path), the Mauseklippe (Mouse Cliff), the Gründen Band (Green Belt ) and the Brockenbahn (Brocken Railway ) begins in the small village of Elend between Braunlage and Elbingerode. The starting point is the village's railway station, from where the Teufelsstieg is reached after just one kilometre. The Teufelsstieg is a geographical and literary-historical highlight and an absolute must on hikes in the eastern Hochharz. The trail leads from Elend uphill through overgrown nature along the cold Bode river.

After about 3.5 kilometres, hikers reach the Mauseklippe, whose granite rock formation makes you want to climb. Incidentally, the rock formation shows the wool-sack weathering typical of the Harz mountains. This is a special manifestation of the weathering of rocks and makes the edges of the rock blocks look rounded.

What follows is the Eckerlochstieg, the ascent of which is not entirely easy, here you need to be surefooted! Those who want to rest a while before the demanding hiking trail can use the rest area to take a break. Those who take on the rooted path and the mud holes are rewarded with an extremely natural hiking route - over hill and dale towards the Brocken summit.

Once you reach the top, you can marvel at the Harzer Brockenbahn . The tracks are right next to the paths at this point, which is why the train can be seen at close quarters as it passes by. A ride on the train is a must for every Harz lover. The green strip on the summit of the Brocken is the former border strip between East and West and offers a particularly distinctive biodiversity. The Green Belt perfectly succeeded in preserving the enforced biotope along the former border strip. Besides its charm as a nature reserve, it is a reminder of times gone by.

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