Harz National Park

Why don´t you visit one of the most popular hiking and cross-country skiing areas of Germany´s central mountains?
The Harz National Park lies in Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It was declared a protected area in 1994 and covers central parts of the Harz Mountains, stretching from Bad Harzburg in the north to the Oder valley dam in the south, and supplements the Upper Harz National Park in Saxony-Anhalt.

Discover a granite landscape which reveals a very diverse geology. Its network of hiking trails, covering 500 km, gives visitors the opportunity to hike through mixed beech woods, one of the main characteristics of the Harz Mountains. You will walk past mysterious moors, transitional bogs and typical flowing waters, which create an ideal habitat for the fauna and flora of the region.
On your hiking tours you will see indigenous mammals such as the deer, red deer and wild boars. The national park´s animal world includes various birds. Visitors will surely get to see the black woodpecker, the ring ouzel and the wren. With a little bit of luck you may even see wildcats and foxes. Discover natural habitats which developed completely without human intervention. Discover the Harz Mountains.

Highlights:
- 2,000 years of mining history brought to life in more than 20 mines open to visitors
- the "Unicorn Cave", Scharzfeld
- Germany´s largest wooden church in Clausthal-Zellerfeld

Activities:
After long walks through lush vegetation you might also want to explore the region´s cultural sites. We recommend a sightseeing tour to different national park houses, such as in Altenau-Torfhaus and St. Andreasberg. Medieval buildings and mines open to visitors give insights into the region´s historical and cultural background.
A number of small guidebooks for hiking tours offer explanations and useful pieces of advice concerning special attractions along hiking trails. They also offer information on nearby towns and municipalities.