World Heritage Cycle Tour in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Oberharz Water Management
Medium-difficulty cycle tour from Altenau along the dam ditch
The cycle tour takes you from Altenau along the Dammgraben past the Sperberhaier Damm, Huttaler Widerwaage, Entensumpf, Hirschler Teich, Jägersbleeker Teich and Fortuner Teich.
The return journey to Altenau is via the old railway line. This easy to moderately difficult cycle tour is suitable for touring bikes as well as e-bikes or mountain bikes.
| Start and finish: | Roseweg" car park in Altenau |
| Type of cycle tour: | Circular cycle tour |
| Level of difficulty: | Medium |
| Length: | 22 kilometres |
| Duration: | Approx. 2-3 hours |
| Ascent: | 256 metres in altitude |
| Descent: | 257 vertical metres |
| Highest point: | 625 metres |
| Lowest point: | 452 metres |
| Best time of year: | April to October |
| Geographical coordinates: | 51.793968, 10.446749 |
| UTM coordinates: | 32U 599773 5739113 |
| Car park: | Roseweg" car park in Altenau |
Route description of the World Heritage cycle tour through the Harz Mountains
You start the cycle tour at the "Roseweg" car park in Altenau. First you cycle uphill until you reach the Dammgraben. The Dammgraben is both a section of the Harzer Hexen Stieges hiking trail as well as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Upper Harz Water Management". The Sperberhaier Dammhaus restaurant is located here - a great place to stop for refreshments and perfect for a cosy break.
From here, continue over the dam and follow the dam ditch to the "Tote Männer Tal" / "Schlackenweg" junction. Take the "Schlackenweg" to the top, turn left and follow the B242 for about 200 metres. At the entrance to the Polsterberger Hubhaus, cross the B242 and follow the signs for "Huttaler Graben"/"Huttaler Widerwaage". Now you reach the "Entensumpf" car park, where you cross the road and follow the narrow hiking trail past the Hirschler pond to the Weppner hut at the Jägersbleeker pond. You can take a short breather at the Weppner Hütte.
After a rest at the hut, turn left coming from our direction towards Fortuner Teich before crossing the K38 and reaching the access road to the "Alter Bahndamm". Follow the road to the "Alter Bahnhof" railway station in Altenau and stay on the road until you reach the junction, where you turn sharp right into the road "An der Schwefelquelle". Here the route goes uphill until you reach forest paths again. Follow the signs for "Kristall Therme" / "Glockenberg". At the top, take the steeper path further uphill and return to the starting point via the car park of the hotel "Zum Forsthaus".
The cycle tour leads mainly along forest paths, occasional single trails and some root surfaces.
