Cycling in Germany is popular. In our neighboring countries you can find many different places where you can go cycling. Not only just across the border, for example in the Eifel or in the Teutoburg Forest. You can also find beautiful cycling destinations deeper into Germany, such as Saxon Switzerland or the Black Forest. One of the places you can add to this list is the Harz National Park on the border between the states of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. A few hours’ drive from the Dutch border you will find brilliant Central highlands where you can enjoy days of cycling fun. Not only the race cyclists can get along well here, but also with the gravel bike This is pure enjoyment. The Harz itself stretches over a large area and also includes a section in Thuringia. The national park is only a smaller part of this. Cycling in National Park Harz It is fantastic. We have searched for the most beautiful places for you.
Basecamp Harz – where to stay?
We find a good base camp, a starting point for your cycling trip, very important. Through various websites you can search for the right location to start your cycling holiday in the Harz National Park. If you book a ‘Bett und Bike’ accommodation, you can be sure of a few things: good facilities for cyclists, you can always come, even for just one night (subject to availability), and you can also safely store your bike. We are in the Harz region near Explore the Harz It was an amazing experience and this B&B run by Dutch people is located in Saxony-Anhalt.
In addition, you will be dealing with like-minded people. That’s also worth it. From Bad Harzburg (what’s in a name), you can create a number of beautiful routes. Another good alternative is Wernigerode, where you also have better access to the Talsperren and the Talsperren mentioned above. Joseph's Cross. Another tip we came across from some gravel influencers is the Harz Eco Lodges. They are located in Lower Saxony and also offer a good route to get to all the beautiful sights in this region.
Below you will find the map of hotels in the Harz, with some of our recommendations.
Around the Harz
This is a popular route, where you actually cycle around the national park. If you complete the entire ‘RundKurs’, you will be travelling 350 kilometers. Then you drive all the way east from Bad Harzburg, passing through Ballenstedt and Mansfeld before returning in a westerly direction through the Harz region. You will then pass by the Sudharz, another nature park. This route also passes by the ‘Hexentanzplatz’. Here you can learn about the necessary knowledge surrounding witchcraft and associated rituals. It is a popular spot in the Harz region. The 350 kilometers make for an excellent multi-day trip, with the option to stop briefly in a small working-class town or at other sights along the way.
Elevation meters in the Harz
It National Park Harz It is characterized by the middle mountain range. Not too high, but certainly challenging enough to ride beautiful training routes or just to get used to climbing in the mountains instead of the Dutch hills. We have one more round where you cover about 1500 meters of elevation gain in about 100 kilometers. That’s a nice way to get some exercise. The highest peak of this area is on the top of the Brocken, with 1125 meters you’ve really gotten into the air. From Elend this climb is over 14 kilometers with an average percentage of just over 4%. But beware: you encounter stretches with a maximum of 12%, with the steepest kilometer at 9%. Not a particularly difficult climb.
Joseph's Cross
One of the more impressive, but also special places to cycle to is the Josephskreuz, on the Saxon-Anhalt side of the National Park. This iron cross, which looks very similar in construction to the Eiffel Tower, is located on a hill and offers a beautiful view over the park. As for the architecture, there will surely be two camps here: haters & lovers.
Stuwmeringen
The region has many beautiful dam lakes. From Bad Harzburg you can cycle to the Mandelholztalsperre, and further on you will find the Eckertalsperre and the Okertalsperre. These are magnificent stretches of this rugged region that you should definitely visit at least for the pictures. Although it is just a short drive from Bad Harzburg. The most famous of all the ’talsperres’ is probably the Rappbodetalsperre, in Saxony-Anhalt. Incidentally, the former dividing line between the GDR and the BDR, the former East and West Germany, also runs through this stretch of history. This piece of history is important. Many people lost their lives here while trying to flee the Stalinist GDR. Because nothing happened for years in this ’toteskilometer’, there was room for unique flora and fauna to grow. A special side effect of a terrible history.
Routes
On our Komoot page you’ll find a number of beautiful routes from Bad Harzburg. If you’re considering cycling in Germany and you’re not quite sure where your cycling holiday should go: Harz. Plus, it’s not as crowded here as in other parts of the country. So here’s the deal: let’s all cycle together in the National Park Harz. Well, not all of us at the same time, of course.
The route from this story
- National Park Harz90.3 km · 1,493 hmGPX ↓
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.