Goetheweg from Altenau over Torfhaus to the Brocken

Follow in the footsteps of the master of German classicism on the path named after him, from Altenau over Torfhaus up to the Brocken. The path is a total of 16.3 km long. From Altenau to Torfhaus it is 8.7 km, and from Torfhaus to the Brocken 7.6 km. Goethe managed this route in only one day in the middle of winter. Pack your backpack, put on your hiking boots, and follow the master's example.

You start your hike in the market garden in Altenau and initially walk parallel to road 504 to the Altenau Herb Park. Leaving the park on your left, you soon reach the Lily Pond where the Goethe bench and the new bookcase await all visitors. Here you can take a break, browse Goethe’s works, and dream by the pond. The new permanent special stamp of the Harzer Wandernadel at this place also makes the hearts of all stamp collectors beat faster. 

Freshly rested, your hike continues over the Tischler Valley up to the Dammgraben. The ditch is part of the "Upper Harz Water Management System," the historic energy supply system of the Upper Harz mining industry, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010. Parallel to the road to Torfhaus, you continue on a forest path to Hedwigsblick and cross the border high into the Harz National Park.

After crossing the Torfhaus road, you hike along a mystical path lined with roots, small moor areas, and rocks at the roadside, passing the ski lift "Großer Torfhauslift," the Am Rinderkopf car park, and the youth hostel until you reach the center of Torfhaus.  

From here you begin the second part of the Goetheweg and cross the B4 road, which you then follow for a short distance. Continuing through the forested moorland along ditches, you pass the Brockenfeld moor and shortly afterward reach the "Eckersprung" in the middle of the Green Belt. Just as most Harz streams spring from the moors of the High Harz, the Ecker has its source here. You leave the protective forest and step out onto an area with only a few trees left. This area also used to be part of the former inner-German border, which you follow for a short stretch. In front of you lies the track bed of the Brocken Railway.

You now get closer to the highest peak of the Harz at 1141 m – the Brocken. It is clearly visible that the spruce growth here is more stunted and many trees are already dead. You have reached an elevation where it is difficult for the spruces to survive the harsh weather conditions.