Runde von Oker I

The "Kästeklippen - Mausefalle Runde von Oker" begins, as the name suggests, in Oker and leads several kilometres further south to hiking highlights such as the Kästeklippen, the Mausefalle and the Hexenküche . The route turns at the southernmost point at the Okertalsperre and then heads north again past highlights such as the Engagement Island, the Okertalsperre equalisation basin, the Marienwand and the Adlerklippe. The hike covers a total of 14 kilometres and requires good physical condition as well as suitable equipment and takes about four and a half hours.

Start as described at the bus platform of the Oker church bridge about 5 kilometres to the south. A little further past the Kästestraße, the Käste cliffs of the same name finally appear. Shortly before you reach them, you have the opportunity to stamp the Harzer Wandernadel at stamp box 118 or take a break at the accompanying bench. At their highest point, the spectacular cliffs here form the summit of the Huthberg with a height of 604.8 metres, from which the view with a view into the Oker reservoir appears breathtaking, especially at sunset. The Kästeklippe is often called the "Old Man" because its shape is reminiscent of an old man's face. With a little imagination, the eyes, nose and mouth can be drawn.

A few hundred metres further on, the so-called "Witches' Kitchen" appears. The weather-beaten rock formation consists of solid granite rocks that form a constellation worth seeing . A similar highlight is the Mausefalle (mouse trap) a little further on, which looks similar to the Hexenküche and bears its name because of a large rock that has been supported for centuries by a much smaller one. The upper granite boulder lies particularly close to the edge, as if the mousetrap would soon snap shut.

After reaching the southernmost point of the hike at the Oker reservoir, the trail continues a few kilometres further north, where the next highlight waiting to be discovered is the Engagement Island. The small island surrounded by the Oker invites you to picnic and relax - an ideal resting place with the stamp box 116 of the Harzer Wandernadel.

A little further along the Oker to the north is the equalising reservoir of the Okertalsperre. The equalising reservoir is the pre-dam of the larger (previously seen) Oker reservoir and invites you to linger thanks to the trees growing right up to the banks and the great panorama. A little less than 10 kilometres after the start of the hike, the Marienwand finally appears. The rock face attracts climbers who abseil down it, especially in the summer months. If you want, you can get active yourself or relax and watch the professionals climbing.

The last highlight along the hiking trail is the Adlerklippe, which is located even further north: Similar to the previous Marienwand, you can often find some climbers here. (Occasionally, there is also a temporary stamp of the Harzer Wandernadel here). If you continue hiking from the Adlerklippe along the Oker river in a northerly direction, you will return to the starting point where the hike ends.