Harzer-Hexen-Stieg - 5th Stage - from Altenbrak to Thale

Known, popular, and tasty are the trout from the Bode. Freshly caught, they are served in Altenbrak and Treseburg. The quietly babbling Bode is their home.
In Treseburg, we enter the Bode Valley nature reserve, one of the oldest nature reserves in Germany. Before 1865, passage through the upcoming section was not possible. The rock pressed too closely against the water, leaving no space for a passage, and the technical means to create one were not yet available.
But for now, the path leads comfortably into the gorge, which here is still wide enough at the top. The water gently ripples below, and no civilization noise disturbs the idyll. Soon, however, the path narrows, the water gets closer, and the rocks rise higher on both sides. Finally, the river rushes through its rocky bed, spray mist fills the air, and granite walls up to 250 meters high tower above.
At the top, Rosstrappe and Hexentanzplatz can be seen with a keen eye—once mystical cult sites, now popular excursion destinations. To not miss the grand final view of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg, we ascend left on the “Schurre,” which has 18 hairpin bends to Rosstrappe. The sweaty climb takes about one hour. For those who find it too strenuous, there is a comfortable chairlift starting a bit below in Thale. From here, the cable car also covers the 240 meters of elevation to Hexentanzplatz. With a view of the Bode Gorge on one side and the flat Harz foreland on the other, the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg experience is almost over.