“If you’re already in the Harz Mountains, you have to hike up the Brocken. It’s a MUST for a completely successful Harz vacation!” And several readers told us that. We immediately thought: Let’s just do it! On our third day in the Harz Mountains, we went on a Brocken hike.

At the Hotel Travel Charme Gothisches Haus in Wernigerode*, we enjoyed the incredibly delicious breakfast one last time before we had to vacate our beloved room. After checking out, we packed our backpacks in the car, said goodbye to the sweet town of Wernigerode, and drove off. Everything about the hike can be found in the following article.

• Eckerlochstieg – In the Footsteps of Goethe and Heine
• The Nostalgic Brocken Railway in the Harz Mountains
• Brocken Hike – Destination at 1,142 Meters
• Ride on the Brocken Railway
• Hiking Trails to the Brocken in the Harz Mountains

Eckerlochstieg – In the Footsteps of Goethe and Heine

There are various hiking trails that lead to the Brocken. For the really lazy among us, there is also the option of taking the Brocken Railway to the summit. More on that later. We naturally wanted to hike the Brocken on foot and opted for the shortest route – the Eckerlochstieg. We chose this not because it was the shortest, but because it was more challenging. A bit of a middle ground! Since we’re not hiking pros, but we’re not beginners either, we wanted to do a short but more challenging Brocken hike.

We started our hike from Schierke. The trail leads into the forest directly from the parking lot of the small bobsleigh run. You can also start from the National Park House in the northwest of town. In the forest itself, we repeatedly saw the aftermath of the violent storm – numerous trees were uprooted, and many were still scattered across the forest. Some paths were even closed. Not a single soul crossed our path until then. The birds chirped, and the giant green firs provided pleasant shade.

The nostalgic Brocken Railway in the Harz Mountains

At some point, we heard the loud hoot of the Brocken Railway for the first time. The tracks seemed to be not far away. We hurried and found a great spot to photograph the rustic and nostalgic locomotive. Suddenly, it came roaring out of the thick forest. Steam shot into the air, and that typical locomotive chime sounded repeatedly. What a sight. There was something magical and mystical about it.

The hike continued, and it slowly became a bit steeper. We had already been walking for an hour and reached our third kilometer. We walked through the dense forest of the Harz National Park and after another 30 minutes, we reached the tree line. Now we “only” had to climb to the summit of the Brocken.

For about 30 minutes, we walked over large stones. That was quite a strain on the thigh muscles. Now we also met the first souls who were also on their way to the top. Then we finally reached the paved road and thus the last 800 meters to the summit. The destination was now within reach.

Brocken hike – destination at 1,142 meters

It took us exactly 2 hours to complete the Brocken hike, climbing around 500 meters in altitude. Generally, you should allow 2 to 3 hours for one route. We covered a total of 6 kilometers. At the top, you’ll find a canteen where you can get something to eat, such as bratwurst, salad, pasta dishes, fries, and the like.

The prices are pretty steep, but that’s usually the case in tourist destinations. There are one or two other snack bars, though. You can also get coffee, soft drinks, beer, and water there. You can also visit a museum, the Brocken Garden, and the Brocken House. The Brocken circular trail is almost 2 kilometers long and also suitable for children.

We took a few photos, got ourselves a lunch snack, and relaxed in the sun. Luckily, we had sweaters with us, because it was already quite chilly and very, very windy up at the summit. Since we had to drive back home that day, we didn’t want to hike back. Instead, we opted for a ride on the Brocken Railway.

Ride on the Brocken Railway

Our Harz Card included a one-way trip anyway, so we naturally took advantage of it. We picked up our tickets at the small Brocken train station and boarded the Brocken Railway. We rode comfortably back to Schierke. The ride took about 30 minutes and rounded off this little hiking adventure. What’s also really cool is that you can stand outside between the carriages during the ride.

The Brockenbahn stops once along the way in Drei Annen Hohne, where you can change trains to continue on to Wernigerode. We were able to stay seated and get off later in Schierke. From the station, it’s a 10-minute walk back to the parking lot.

Almost to the minute, we were on the road for a total of 4 hours, including breaks and meals. Quite tired and yet quite worn out, a long car ride awaited us. We left the parking lot in Schierke around 4 p.m. and, thanks to traffic jams and construction work, didn’t arrive back in our hometown of Rostock until 7 hours later.

Hiking trails to the Brocken in the Harz Mountains

There are other hiking trails that lead up to the Brocken. The Goetheweg is almost 9 kilometers long and takes around 3 hours. You’ll climb 390 meters along it. Your Brocken hike starts at the Torfhaus National Park Visitor Center.

At some point, you’ll reach the Brocken Railway tracks and hike up the gently ascending hiking trail to the summit. The Goetheweg is part of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg. This way, you can combine the Brocken climb with a multi-day hike.

The Heinrich-Heine-Weg, however, is more difficult. This beautiful but challenging hiking trail starts north of Schierke. The trail first leads you through the Ilse Valley to the pretty Ilse Falls. Then the ascent towards the Brocken summit begins. The entire route takes you around 10 to 11 hours, with 850 meters of elevation gain. This trail is recommended for advanced hikers.

The 13-kilometer-long Teufelsstieg is also quite challenging. You should plan at least 3 hours, if not a little more. It’s the most difficult hiking trail up to the Brocken and demands a lot of stamina. The trail starts in the small village of Elend (funny, right?), just under 4 kilometers from Schierke. Now you’ll hike in the footsteps of Faust and Mephisto. Past the Schierke Harz Resort, you’ll reach the Schnarcher and Mauseklippen (Snore Cliffs) and the Mauseklippen (Mouse Cliffs). You’ll then reach Eckerloch and the Brocken Road to the summit.

Conclusion of the Brocken Hike

The third day of our Harz trip was also really cool! Although we were pretty exhausted after the Brocken hike, the hike was still quite easy and not all that strenuous. The weather was on our side again, and so we were able to enjoy the last day to the fullest.

A hike up the Brocken is definitely a must on any Harz trip. If you haven’t been to the Brocken, you haven’t been to the Harz. At least, that’s what we’ve been told. And once again, we can say: The Harz rocks! Absolutely! We highly recommend a holiday in the Harz Mountains!