Selketal climb
Reward yourself with picturesque views and stamps
The Harz Selketal Trail is a long-distance hiking trail almost 75 kilometers long that runs from Stiege via Güntersberge, Straßberg, Silberhütte, Alexisbad, Mägdesprung, Meisdorf, Ballenstedt, Gernrode, Bad Suderode to the UNSECO World Heritage town of Quedlinburg. On the Selketal climb Hike through pristine nature, past gnarled tree roots and imposing rocks. The scenery becomes fairytale-like as the hiking trail winds its way over hilltops, the view of the enchanting valley opens up high above and the magnificent Falkenstein Castle towers between the treetops.
Falkenstein Castle is one of 17 stamping points of the hiking badge Harz Hiking Badge “Selketal-Stieg” – all at places steeped in history and beautiful viewpoints situated. For a filled stamp booklet, you can use our special regional badge in the form of a Kingfisher take home with them as well as numerous memories of unforgettable hiking moments in the pristine protected nature of the Selke Valley. The long-distance hiking trail is easy to master in 4 to 6 stages – provided you can tear yourself away from the indescribably beautiful views along the way.
- Start: train station in Stiege
- Destination: Carl-Ritter-Platz, Quedlinburg
- Route length: 74.87 km
- Difficulty level: medium
Length: 24 km
Duration: approx. 6 hours
Height difference: approx. 160 m
Your hike on the Selketal Trail begins at the train station in Stiege. First you follow the Hassel river uphill until you come to the Selke. At this point, you reach the highest point of the route at 500 meters. The path takes you past the church in Selkenfelde and the former Albrechthaus sanatorium. After passing the Selkebahn Friedrichshöhe stop, you walk parallel to the railroad tracks through the “Upper Selketal” nature reserve to the mill pond in Güntersberg. Here you can visit the ruins of Güntersburg Castle on the Kohlberg. You then follow the course of the Selke to Straßberg, where you can take a break and explore the visitor mine. The route continues past the Rinkemühle mill and the Pochwerk, one of the most important silver mines in the Lower Harz region. On the last section of the route, you walk past the “Unterharzer Waldhof” forest information center and reach Silberhütte. After a final ascent of 400 meters, you finally reach Alexisbad.
Length: 22.5 km
Duration: approx. 6 hours
Height difference: approx. 130 m
LENGTH: 17 km
DURATION: approx. 3.5 hours
HIGH DISTANCE: approx. 330 m
Your hike begins in Meisdorf and takes you in a westerly direction to Ballenstedt. First you cross the Petersberger Trift and pass the golf course of the Parkhotel Schloss Meisdorf. The route continues past Eckartsberg, from where you can enjoy an impressive view of a historic coal tip. Shortly afterwards, you will reach the foothills of the Teufelsmauer, the sandstone cliffs of the Gegensteine. Your route continues to the picturesque town of Ballenstedt, where you come across the Fürstenweg, which you follow to Gernrode. After leaving Gernrode behind you, you pass Roseburg Castle and the Osterteich pond and cross the route of the Selketal Railway. Via the Schwesternweg and Herrenbergsweg, you have the opportunity to take a detour to the collegiate church of St. Cyriakus, one of the oldest churches in Northern Europe with over 1000 years of history. Finally, you reach Bad Suderode, the destination of this stage of your hike, via the Panorama Trail.
Length: 9 km
Duration: approx. 2.5 hours
Height difference: approx. 80 m
Your hike on this stage of the Selketal-Stieg begins in Bad Suderode. You pass the Bückemühle mill and follow the path along the Quarmbach stream. The path continues past the Dreibogenbrücke bridge to Quarmbeck, where you have an impressive view of the Teufelsmauer wall, above whose sandstone cliffs the Quedlinburg collegiate church towers. You then cross the Bode over the Schafbrücke bridge and walk through the English-style Brühlpark. Finally, you follow the hiking trail to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Quedlinburg, the destination of this stage.
