Circular route around the cave town of Rübeland (HWN 88 & 89)
Short facts
- start: parking spot Mühlental in Rübeland
- destination: parking spot Mühlental in Rübeland
- difficult
- 5,06 km
- 1 hour 40 minutes
- 151 m
- 467 m
- 378 m
- 80 / 100
- 60 / 100
best season
The circular route around the cave site offers great views of the town and the Brocken mountain.
The circular hiking trail around the Rübeland cave village leads over the rugged rock faces that surround the Harz village. Several great observation points invite you to linger. Discover fauna and flora on the family-friendly hiking trail. Unfortunately, the hiking trail is not suitable for prams due to narrow and steep paths. Here we recommend the hike with a baby carrier. From April to October you can marvel at the lively life of the wild bees on the "Bee Bear" on the Hoher Kleef and on the "Bee miner" on the Schornsteinberg and two stamps from the Harzer Wandernadel must also be collected. During the summer months you can admire and enjoy the beautifully blooming mountain meadows. On the hiking route you always have the Brocken mountain in view. Many small resting places offer a place to linger. Last but not least, you should plan a visit to the Hermanns or Baummans Cave. Or even both caves?
General information
Directions
Our hike starts at the "Mühlental" car park in the cave town of Rübeland. After approx. 400 m you cross the road and cross the railway and Bode bridges, at the end of the bridge we keep left and at the road fork we take the right road uphill. After approx. 600 m we recommend the small detour to the "Bell House". A small, narrow path leads across the meadows to the 410 m high observation point with a view over Rübeland and towards the Brocken massif.
Back on the hiking trail, continue on the main trail. After approx. 300 m, follow the signs to the left to "Burgruine Birkenfeld". Old remains of the stone wall reveal the ruins of the castle. Displays provide information about the castle. It continues about 400 m in the direction of the "Hoher Kleef" viewing pavilion. Here is the stamp box (HWN 88). You can also enjoy a fantastic view of the Brocken mountain and a panoramic view of the cave town of Rübeland directly from the pavilion. Continue to the left and after about 100 m you will come to the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg and the "Bee Bear" with seating. The "Bienotel" is a life-size, carved bear that gives a colony of bees a species-appropriate home inside its belly.
After a rest, we hike a bit on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg until we reach the L 96 at Hermanns Cave. We recommend a visit to the "River Cave" with its unique grotto olms and the glittering crystal chamber. From there it goes over the bridge around the heart cliff with bear in the direction of the level crossing. After the level crossing, cross the B27 and turn right in the direction of the "Bodeperle" outdoor pool.
In the summer months, you can cool off in the outdoor pool. Then start directly from the car park in the direction of Schornsteinberg, which is located directly above the outdoor pool.
A small, narrow path leads us behind a house to the chimney hill. After approx. 300 m we reach the Schornsteinberg, which rewards us with a fantastic view of Rübeland, via an ascent of approx. 80 meters in altitude.
The stamp no. 89 of the Harzer Wandernadel is located on the Schornsteinberg. The name of the mountain comes from the fact that the 6 m high chimney of the charring plant used to be located here.
We continue on the "Blauer See" circular route in the direction of the Baumanns Caveover spacious mountain meadows and meadow landscapes with a direct view of the Brocken. At the end of the hike, another cave visit in the Baumanns Cave invites you before we reach our destination, the “Mühlental” car park.
Safety Guidelines
Not suitable for prams or similar. We recommend hiking with a baby carrier.
The ascent from the outdoor pool to the Schornsteinberg is steep and only a "beaten track". Hold your kids tight.
Equipment
Sturdy shoes and rain gear are recommended. Don't forget your Harzer Wandernadel stamp booklet and your camera.
Tip
On this round tour you have the opportunity to collect two coveted stamps of the Harzer Wandernadel.
No. 88 - Aussichtspavillon Hoher Kleef
No. 89 - Schornsteinberg
In summer, after the hike, you can visit the Bodeperle outdoor pool. The Rübeland dripstone caves are also particularly worth seeing. The hiking route can also be hiked in reverse.
Getting there
You can reach Rübeland by car
- via the B27 from the direction of Braunlage and Blankenburg - the B244 / B27 from Wernigerode
- as well as via the B81 junction L96 from the direction of Hasselfelde
Parking
Parking spot - Mühlental
Coming from the direction of Elbingerode, parking spots for cars, motorcycles and caravans, subject to a fee
Parking spot - Baumanns Cave
Parking spot for cars directly at the Baumanns Cave, subject to a fee
Parking spot - Hermanns Cave (at the old train station - on the right side of the river "Bode")
Coming from Hasselfelde, parking spaces for cars, subject to a fee
Parking spot - At the outdoor pool "Bodeperle"
Coming from Blankenburg, parking spots for cars, motorcycles and caravans, subject to a fee
Public transit
You can reach the cave town of Rübeland by taking the bus of the Harzer Verkehrsbetriebe:
from Wernigerode
from Blankenburg
from Hasselfelde
from Braunlage
from Benneckenstein
INSA – your local transport route planner in Saxony-Anhalt >>
TIP :
With the Harz Holiday Ticket, you can travel throughout the Harz region free of charge.
HATIX - free use of the public bus lines of the Harzer Verkehrsbetriebe, the Q-Bus Nahverkehrsgesellschaft, the Halberstädter Verkehrs-GmbH, and the Verkehrsgesellschaft Südharz in the Harz district. Now also free use in the districts of Goslar and Göttingen.
More information is available at: www.hatix.info
Literature
No literature known
Maps
Wanderkarte - Stadt Oberharz am Brocken 1:25000 ; ISBN 978-3-86973-248-0
Additional Information
Tourist information office Elbingerode/cave town Rübeland/Königshütte
Markt 3 38875
Oberharz am Brocken OT Elbingerode
phone: 039454 89487