Königshütte – Reservoir, Hiking Trails and Castle Ruins

If you want to take hiking trails, water and traces of history into account when choosing your destination, Königshütte offers several specific points of interest. These include the circular trail at the reservoir, the ruins of Königsburg Castle and the Thronkreis on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg trail. The wider destination of Oberharz am Brocken offers additional hikes and cultural attractions to complement the local options.

Hiking at the Reservoir and on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg

A circular hiking trail runs around the Königshütte Reservoir and also includes sections of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg and the Way of the German Emperors and Kings of the Middle Ages in the Harz. When planning your hike, you can therefore consider the reservoir loop and the named trail sections.

At the dam of the Königshütte transfer reservoir, the Trogfurther Bridge is a stamping point on the Harzer Wandernadel hiking trail network. On the fourth stage of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg in Königshütte, near the long-distance trail’s north–south fork, the Thronkreis is located by a spring at the site of the former Königsburg Castle. Three oversized wooden thrones invite you to sit down.

Castle Ruins and the Confluence of the Bode Rivers

On the edge of Königshütte are the ruins of Königsburg Castle, the remains of a noble castle dating from the 13th or 14th century. Parts of the keep, as well as ditches and ramparts, are still clearly visible. Below the ruins, the Warme Bode and Kalte Bode rivers meet; their water temperatures are said to differ by two degrees.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Oberharz am Brocken

There are also hiking options with specific details in the wider destination of Oberharz am Brocken. A 2.8-kilometer, moderately difficult hike passes through mixed forest to the Krockstein viewpoint; the stated walking time is 55 minutes. Near Hasselfelde, the moderately difficult circular trail around the Hasselvorsperre reservoir is 5.5 kilometers long; the stated duration is 1 hour 28 minutes. Based on distance and stated time, the Krockstein hike is the shorter of the two. Check current trail conditions before setting out on this route.

In Hasselfelde, an extensive network of hiking trails includes the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg, nature trails and the Köhlerweg. These trails let you reach local sights and excursion destinations on foot. At the Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus, traditional charcoal-burning mounds are built, charred and harvested from early April to the end of October, offering a chance to experience the old charcoal-burning craft in action. The charcoal-burning museum in Hasselfelde gives visitors an impression of the difficult working and living conditions of charcoal burners.

The Stiege Stave Church is the only religious building in Germany in the Norwegian dragon style. Stieger See lies in the center of Stiege and is surrounded by green meadows and forests. Stiege is also home to the Selketalbahn railway turning loop, described as the smallest turning loop in Europe.

Discover more destinations: Elbingerode, Hasselfelde, Neuwerk, Stiege, Trautenstein, Sorge, Rübeland, Elend

View the wider travel overview: Oberharz Am Brocken.