While the entire cycling world is staring blankly at the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites, in Germany there is a middle mountain range that is easily overlooked. We are talking about the Harz Mountains, or rather the Harz National Park. Harz region. It’s less polished and less popular here than the well-known cycling regions. It’s a bit rougher, a bit more striking, and very close to home for the Dutch. But what do you find in the Harz? Dense forests, steep climbs, quaint little towns, abandoned mines, beautiful rock formations, and long quiet roads where you can drive for hours without encountering anyone. Sounds perfect, right? We’ll make the case for you why you should go to the Harz in 2026 (just like us) on a cycling adventure. Whether you want to explore with a gravel bike, seek out elevation meters on the racer, or just want to cross through the forests on your mountain bike
This is my personal bucket list for the Harz. Ten wonderful places where you can get lost (but with a route you can also find your way back home).
1. The Brocken – the roof of North Germany
Anyone who cycles in the Harz and misses the Brocken is not really been there. With 1,141 meters, this is the highest peak in Northern Germany. The climb is long, jagged, and often treacherous due to wind and weather. But above lies a view that justifies everything. On clear days you can see for tens of kilometers. The best part? The feeling that you have truly conquered something here. Not a touristy hike, but a serious climb that stays with you.
Tip: start early. The fog often arrives later in the day.
2. Volksbank Arena Harz – mountain biking on a grand scale
The title sounds like a football stadium. But the Volksbank Arena It’s not a stadium; it’s actually not even a bikepark. You can say with confidence that it’s a complete ecosystem for mountain bikers.
- 74 loops for driving
- 31 starting points
- 2,300 kilometers of routes
- 50,000 vertical meters
From flowy trails to technical climbing: here you can literally ride for days without doing the same thing twice. Perfect for anyone who wants to build their holiday around cycling. When are we going there?
3. Wernigerode – Schierke – Rappbodetalsperre
Wernigerode feels like a scene from a movie. Colourful half-timbered houses, a castle above the town and a lively market square. From here you can easily head into the countryside, towards Schierke. A small village deep in the valley of the Bode, at the foot of the Brocken. Quiet, green and ideal as a base for climbing. An extra bonus: take the narrow gauge railway up and cycle back down. No shame. Quite fun. Or just climb up on your bike, then go down and take the railway again. Extra fun 🙂
Below you see a round that also includes the Rappbodetalsperre. Water dams are beautiful anyway, and this one definitely deserves a spot on the bucket list.
VeloPlanner4. Quedlinburg – cycling through eight centuries of history
More than 2,100 half-timbered houses. Streets with child-sized doorways. Squares where time seems to stand still. Quedlinburg is not a city you drive through. It is a city where you get off. Moreover, in 2026 the renovated Stiftsberg Once again fully open. Perfect moment to combine culture with beautiful miles in the beautiful surroundings.
5. The smallest wooden church in Germany (Elend)
Yes, the village really is called Elend. And a little further on lies Sorge. But nothing to worry about causing misery here. Because that is exactly where you should go. In Elend you will find a church. The smallest wooden church in Germany. The wooden church is tiny, charming and surprisingly photogenic. From Schierke it is an ideal short gravel or recovery ride. Sometimes magic is in the small things.
6. Stolberg & the Joseph Cross – the Eiffel Tower of the Harz
Stolberg is a town that you want to slowly explore. Half-timbered houses, narrow streets and a history of more than 900 years. Above the town stands the Josephskreuz: a steel observation tower on a porphyry mountain peak. The climb up is steep, the view is magnificent.
Fun fact: this is where Juliana of Stolberg (Juliane von Stolberg) was born, the mother of William of Orange. So for all Dutch people, this is an extra reason to move to the town of Stolberg.
7. Teufelsmauer – cycling along myths and rocks
Twenty kilometers of bizarre rock formations that cut through the landscape like a wall. The Teufelsmauer feels almost otherworldly. Ideal for gravel rides with short hike-a-bike sections and plenty of stops to look at. We’ve included a route that’s about 30km long but that takes you around it.
Since 1935 it has been a protected nature reserve – which makes it even more interesting to drive around.
VeloPlanner8. Hexentanzplatz – a view with a story
Just the name, Heksendansplaats. This special place is a plateau above the Bodetal where, according to legends, witches gathered. That is wonderfully mysterious. But today it is mainly a place with a view that leaves you speechless. Combine this with a descent towards Thale and you have a perfect day on the (racing) bike. Want a special experience? On the evening of This spot, along with the Brocken mountain, is probably the most famous place in the Harz Mountains near Thale and offers lively and colorful festivities not only on Walpurgisnacht (the night of April 30 to May 1).
9. Goldene Aue & the South Harz
Here the landscape changes completely. Open plains, strange rock formations, sinkholes, springs and forests. A biosphere reserve where gravel bikes feel right at home. Quiet, pure and perfect for long days on horseback.
VeloPlanner10. Wettelrode mine
The Röhrigschacht mine is raw and impressive. You descend with original lifts, ride in a mining train and see how it was worked here for centuries. And yes: you can even canoe underground. This is perhaps the perfect tip for a day when you’re not going cycling, or when it’s very hot in the summer. It’s by no means an ordinary day off. But that’s what we’re used to at CyclingDestination.
Why the Harz should be on your radar in 2026
Because it hasn’t already gone flat. Because you can climb, get lost, discover and enjoy – without mass tourism taking over your ride. But also because you drive through forests in the morning, roll through UNESCO towns in the afternoon and drink local beers in the evening, while enjoying German cuisine.
The Harz is not a destination for those looking for just a beautiful bike trail. It is a region for cyclists who want to collect stories. And believe me: after just one visit, it will forever be on your mental map.
Any other tips?
Go to the Panoramamuseum, just outside the Harz. The museum, which opened in 1989 in nearby Thüringen, is home to the largest round painting in Germany. It is the painting by Werner Tübke – “Early Bourgeois Revolution in Germany” (1983-87, 14 x 123 m, oil on canvas) from the early Renaissance is one of the most beautiful but also controversial works of art in history. You can find more than 3,000 individual figures, which are beautifully dressed and take you back to the present day. Would you like to take a peek? Here you can find a virtual tour, on Website of the museum. If you still have time then, go to the Europa-Rosarium in Sangerhause. You will find there between 8,700 varieties of roses and 80,000 rose bushes, art in the open air. Your nose also wants to go on holiday.
Sleeping in the region? Here are some options for you!
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.