Harz BaudenSteig

The Harzer BaudenSteig is marked with brown (stage routes) or ochre (circular routes) Harzer BaudenSteig symbols.

There are no fixed stages on the Harzer BaudenSteig. You can plan your daily sections freely according to your own fitness and available time. The distances between the towns can best be seen on the map in the tour portal.

There are many towns along the way offering accommodation in almost all categories. Especially during the hiking season, it makes sense to book rooms in advance. Some guesthouses cater specifically to BaudenSteig hikers and offer additional services such as luggage transport or sometimes even passenger transfers.

If you don’t want to organise your hike yourself, you can take advantage of package offers from various tour operators. This also includes hiking without luggage. Many providers are happy to meet personal requests when planning the tour.

The Harz has hiking season all year round, but it is especially beautiful in spring, when nature awakens, and in autumn, when the leaves turn colour and morning mist covers the high plains. The first snow may fall as early as late autumn and last until April. Many sections of the BaudenSteig can also be hiked in winter.

The starting points Bad Grund and Walkenried are easy to reach by train and bus, and the entrances to the Harzer BaudenSteig are well signposted. Along the way, you’ll find numerous hiking car parks and public bus stops. If you want to use public transport, make sure to check the timetables in advance (www.bahn.de – also for bus connections).
Many hosts will take care of the luggage transfer to your next stage destination upon request. Some operators also offer hikes with fixed accommodation and organised return transport. For the route between Bad Grund and Walkenried, you should plan about one and a half hours by train and bus; the car journey takes roughly one hour.

During the hiking season from April to October, sturdy shoes and weatherproof clothing are all you need for a hike. In some places, hiking poles can be helpful, though they’re not essential. A packed lunch and something to drink should definitely go in your daypack, along with adequate sun protection.
In spring and autumn, it can be quite warm during the day, but mornings are sometimes chilly. A jumper or fleece that can be easily stowed away will come in handy.

Depending on how hard the winter was, you can expect snow from November to April. Even though the sun warms up again early in spring, shady spots at higher altitudes may still hold some white surprises. Waterproof and non-slip footwear is therefore essential. In mid-winter, many sections can only be crossed with snowshoes, as the path is not cleared.