Panoramic walk around the Eckertalsperre dam - hiking along the Green Belt

Hiking trails & Routes

Panoramic walk around the Eckertalsperre dam - hiking along the Green Belt

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Panoramic walk around the Eckertalsperre dam - hiking along the Green Belt

04:10

14.8km

310m

Hiking

The inner German border between the FRG and the GDR also ran through the middle of the Harz Mountains - including the length of the Eckertalsperre. Thus, the dam border area and the north-eastern shore was closely guarded. Today, only a boundary post on the dam reminds of the division and you can once complete the reservoir on our hike. On the way you can expect untouched forests, a break at the Scharfenstein ranger station and marvelous views over the water and mountains of the Harz mountains.

by BUND e.V.

Last updated: July 18, 2024

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

2.82 km

Dam wall of the Eckertalsperre (HWN 001)

Highlight • Monument

A beautiful place steeped in history! A small information board on the well-kept white dam house gives interesting information.
On the Saxony-Anhalt side, various rocky outcrops and stones invite you to take a break with a very nice view of the lake and the wall.

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3.35 km

View of the Eckertalsperre (Ecker Reservoir)

Highlight • Viewpoint

Beautiful dam below the Brocken

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5.68 km

Scharfenstein Rest Hut (HWN 002)

Highlight • Mountain Hut

First-hand information in the middle of the national park. - Opening hours: daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Arrival and accessibility:
The Scharfenstein ranger station cannot be reached by car.

Coming from Ilsenburg, you hike along the wild and romantic Ilse, following the Heinrich-Heine-Weg over Sand- and Tiefenbachtal and finally reach our two log cabins at the foot of the Scharfenstein cliff.

From Bad Harzburg, you go via the national park forest restaurant "Molkenhaus", crossing the Eckertal dam, past the Frankenbergstein up to the rest hut and ranger station at Scharfenstein.

The ranger station is currently not wheelchair accessible.

nationalpark-harz.de/de/besucherzentren/scharfenstein

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9.21 km

Ecker Stone Crossing

Highlight • Bridge

What a transition, currently closed due to fallen spruces, so (no) getting through.
The Pioneer Trail is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Harz Mountains

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10.5 km

View of the Eckertalsperre (Ecker Reservoir)

Highlight • Viewpoint

In total, there are about five of these idyllic picnic areas around the historic dam.

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14.8 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.68 km

4.06 km

1.65 km

1.02 km

372 m

Surfaces

7.68 km

3.89 km

2.70 km

292 m

218 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Friday 23 October

8°C

3°C

36 %

Additional weather tips

There’s a fairly high chance of rain. Consider packing a waterproof jacket.

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

October 11, 2022,Umrundung Eckertalsperre HWN1 und Rangerstation Scharfenstein HWN2

From Bad Harzburg, take the 875 bus to the Eckertalsperre junction. To the dam wall and stamp HWN1 there. Follow the circular route up to about 3.6 km at the junction to the left in the direction of (0.8 km) Ranger station Scharfenstein HWN2 + house stamp of the ranger station. Tasty drinks and small dishes can be enjoyed on …

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April 6, 2024,Harz : Einmal um die Eckertalsperre zwischen Geschichte und Geplätscher

Explore the 16.9 km circular hike around the Eckertalsperre with a 350 m ascent. Start at the Randau waterfall, walk around the dam, stop at the Scharfenstein National Park Ranger Station, where you can enjoy a coffee and ask the ranger questions about the Harz. Then follow the Pioneer Trail back, which takes you along the dam and finally to …

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September 14, 2024,Umrundung der Eckertalsperre mit Scharfenstein und Skidenkmal

A very nice hike in cool temperatures. Highlights of the tour were the Scharfenstein and the Pionierweg.👍 The view from the Scharfenstein is simply magnificent. The Himmelsleiter is almost finished again, only the railing is missing. 👍The Pionierweg is a varied and beautiful path.

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August 26, 2024,Eckertalsperre - Scharfenstein - Radauwasserfall

Alternating between the former inner-German border, the tour took me near Bad Harzburg into the Harz National Park, over the Eckertal dam with its border stone in the direction of Brocken, with a stop at the ranger station. Slightly hidden behind it on the right is the path to Scharfenstein with a view of the Brocken (approx. 3.8 km away) …

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December 21, 2024,Ab zur Ekertalsperre und drum herum

Looked for a parking space and off into the mud... well, at least now and then :)
A pleasant tour, but unfortunately you can really see how damaged the trees in the Harz are.

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March 22, 2025,Von Radauwasserfall nach Eckertalsperre-Umrundung

Greetings,
Starting a hike early is always something special in the Harz Mountains. When the sun is still low and the shadows are long. Sure, it's chilly at first, but there's also much less activity.
Great walk

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January 31, 2025,Eckertalsperre im Schnee mit Wurm 🪱 😂❄️💦🌊/NP HARZ 💛🏔️

🥰oh in the snow ❄️simply wonderful with the partly blue sky .. yesterday on the tour it clouded over and snowed heavily at night 😌.. wonderful crunchy snow, because you can also get it behind your neck here 🤪.. I suspect it 🪱could be from deer 🦌 they are really out and about here .. maybe one of them has …

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August 23, 2025,Um den Eckerstausee 🏞 u. auf den Scharfenstein ⛰️ (698m) | Bad Harzburg, Harz

Our hike today was supposed to be around the Eckerstausee. 👏🏼🙂
We started at the hiking car park at the Eckerstausee. 🅿️
We walked along asphalt, paved forest and forestry roads, and also along beautiful, narrow paths.🌳🏞🌿
First, we walked along the Radau River. Once we reached the Eckertalsperre (Ecker Dam), we continued on to the "Am Scharfenstein" hut. Along …

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May 16, 2019

The inner German border between the FRG and the GDR also ran through the middle of the Harz Mountains - including the length of the Eckertalsperre. Thus, the dam border area and the north-eastern shore was closely guarded. Today, only a boundary post on the dam reminds of the division and you can once

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