Trautenstein: Stream Landscapes and Hiking Trails

Trautenstein offers a tangible reason to discover the Harz stream landscape: in the Dammbach Valley, a short hiking trail, flowing water and special crossing structures come together. A Neoclassical baptismal font in St. Salvator Church also gives the village its own cultural accent. As you plan your trip, you can combine these local destinations with other hiking and cultural themes in the wider destination of Oberharz am Brocken.

The Dammbach Valley: Streams and Wooden Footbridges

The Dammbach and its tributaries are among the main tributaries of the Rappbode, which they join at Trautenstein. The Dammbach Valley is part of the “Harzer Bachtäler” nature reserve and invites visitors to enjoy a short hike all year round. Five long wooden footbridges provide crossings over the tributaries. Hikers can cross them without getting their feet wet—a distinctive feature of the route, where water shapes not only the landscape but also the course of the crossings.

A viewpoint near Trautenstein

About 2 km northeast of Trautenstein, Trageburg Rock lies on the right bank of the Rappbode pre-reservoir and on the Harzer Hexenstieg trail. From there, you can look across the Rappbode Valley to the left bank. This means you can include the protected stream landscape in the Dammbach Valley and the viewpoint in your travel plans as distinct natural attractions.

A baptismal font made of Harz cast iron

St. Salvator Church in Trautenstein houses a baptismal font made in 1830 as a Neoclassical piece of Harz cast iron. Its shape is reminiscent of an ancient altar. Its material, date of creation and design make it a striking example of how a religious object can reflect both regional craftsmanship and a deliberately chosen historical style.

Hikes in the wider destination of Oberharz am Brocken

If you would like to compare longer routes in addition to the short hike in the Dammbach Valley, the wider destination of Oberharz am Brocken offers two different hikes: a 2.8 km, moderately challenging route through mixed forest to the Krockstein viewpoint, with a stated walking time of 55 minutes; and a moderately challenging 5.5 km circular route around the Hassel pre-reservoir near Hasselfelde, with a stated walking time of 1 hour 28 minutes. One route leads to a viewpoint, while the other circles a pre-reservoir. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

In Hasselfelde, the extensive network of hiking trails includes the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg, nature trails and the Köhlerweg. The trails provide access on foot to local sights and excursion destinations. From Hasselfelde, you can also take the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway daily to the Brocken or into the Selke Valley; check the current timetable before travelling.

Culture and landscape in other villages

The villages in the wider destination of Oberharz am Brocken also offer a range of themes. In Stiege, the stave church is Germany’s only religious building in the Norwegian dragon style. The Selketal Railway also features a reversing loop there, described as the smallest in Europe. Stieger See lies in the middle of the village and is surrounded by green meadows and forests. Architecture, railways and landscape each offer their own distinctive appeal.

In Hasselfelde, the charcoal burners’ museum presents the difficult working and living conditions of charcoal burners. At the Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus, traditional charcoal-burning earth kilns are built, fired and harvested from early April to the end of October, offering a chance to experience the traditional craft of charcoal burning firsthand. Also in Hasselfelde, the Blumenau Museum in the Haus des Gastes presents the life and work of chemist and emigrant Hermann Blumenau in words and pictures. The local history room in the same building tells the story of the village and of the lives and work of its residents.

If you would rather focus on Stiege’s landscape or architecture, you can choose Stiege as your search location. This lets you start with the experiences you want to shape your trip, without needing a single tour to cover all your interests.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rübeland, Neuwerk, Elend, Benneckenstein, Elbingerode, Stiege, Königshütte, Sorge.

To the wider travel overview: Oberharz Am Brocken.