Wintercamping in the Harz

With its gentle peaks, pistes and cross-country ski trails, the German low mountain range is an attractive winter sports region. Families camp at the foot of the mountains, which lead to beautiful and easy snow slopes. In addition to exuberant skiing fun, the winter campsites are the best starting points for hikers who are drawn to rustic gypsum or stalactite caves and unspoilt crystal lakes.

Destinations

In the Hochharz in particular, more and more attractive ski and toboggan centres are attracting alpinists to the German winter region. Versatile and long slopes for beginners and advanced skiers can be found at the Wurmberg ski centre in Braunlage. The largest alpine ski area in northern Germany delights with its panoramic descent or the 500 m long Hexenritt piste, but also with a ski school slope. Camping Braunlage offers some pitches on the slope in winter for motorhomes. Younger guests can try out the campsite's local mountain for their first toboggan run. Winter sports enthusiasts will find lifts and ideal cross-country ski trails nearby. The Matthias-Schmidt-Berg outside Sankt Andreasberg is a smaller ski area with a total of four ski lifts.

Cross-country skiers can make their rounds in the transnational Harz National Park. Other guests will find numerous new paths and trails that are ideal for snowshoe hiking in the cold season. Toboggan runs with varying degrees of difficulty usually start right at the motorhome pitches in the middle of nature. Families with children will quickly meet like-minded people when winter camping in the Harz Mountains and can plan excursions together. If the cold winter temperatures allow, head to the natural ice rinks in Schierke or Hahnenklee for curling or ice skating. The campsite at Schierker Stern is located in the middle of the snow. The unspoilt site on the edge of the Hochharz National Park offers views of the snow-covered valley and makes you want to get active in the snow.

Top tips

• The zoo in Thale at Hexentanzplatz makes winter fun in the Harz perfect for younger guests too. The cable car takes you comfortably up to the local bears and wolves through the snow-covered landscape. Even more exciting is the descent through the white splendour on the rail bobsleigh track, which accelerates at a speed of 40 km/h.
• The small town of Benneckenstein in the eastern Harz Mountains is a particularly good starting point for cross-country skiers on a total of four trails. Athletes who start their tour on the Sophienhof trail at the Waldschlösschen inn can also turn off onto the Pfeiferberg-Grauberg trail if they wish. The end point is a cosy stop at the inn for a toast or mulled wine.

Activities and excursions

While skiers slowly return to the valley from the pistes, the tobogganing fun can be extended into the night. A trip on the steam train through the Harz Mountains is also possible in winter.

Practice slope or wedel piste

Visitors can take the public bus to the small Alpinum ski area in the Upper Harz up to the Oker dam. There are only two drag lifts on the Schulenberg, which are between 480 and 654 metres above sea level. While beginners practise their first moves on the smaller lift, professionals can hone their style on the 600 metre long slalom course. Everyone else can have fun on the two family runs.

Nordic skiing: Schneewittchenklippen cross-country ski trail

A great challenge for cross-country skiers in the Harz Mountains is the 5.4 km circular trail that leads from the old Sonnenberg forester's lodge through snow-covered forests to the large Sonnenberg. With a pleasant altitude of 820 metres, the last part of the route is exciting: now it's a sporty descent on an untracked path to the finish.

Let's go on the sledges

The Sankt Andreasberg basin at the large meadow by the Kurhaus is the meeting point for many tobogganists every winter, when everyone sleds down at the speed of their choice. The destination of the toboggan run is the small house at the bottom of the valley, which is well padded with bales of straw so that even children can get down the mountain safely. Tobogganing at night is particularly exciting - thanks to floodlights, the fun in the snow doesn't stop until late in the evening.

Full steam ahead through the snow

The best way to get to the highest peak in northern Germany is to take the Harz Brocken Railway. The relaxed journey takes you through the snow-covered world of the Harz National Park as the steam locomotive travels from Drei Annen Hohne station to the Brocken peak in 50 minutes.

Cave tours

Cave visits with guided tours in the Harz Mountains are particularly enchanting in winter: In the enormous 15,000 square metre Barbarossa Cave, visitors discover a throne and table in the dance hall that are said to have served Emperor Rothbart. The Baumann Cave, where cave bear bones were once found, is one of the most beautiful stalactite caves in the region and even offers theatre productions.

Events

Even in the cold season, musical and sporting events attract visitors to the winter campsite in the Harz Mountains.

December

• Christmas market in Elbingerode: with choral singing, theatre performances and many stalls, the Advent market attracts visitors during the quiet time of the year. In addition to an opening concert, the tower climb is an integral part of the event.

January

• Ski jumping organised by WSV Braunlage: Every year, several regional and international ski jumping competitions are held on the Brockenweg ski jumps, where competitors compete for the best distance. The WSV Braunlage organises this popular sporting event.

January - February

• Pullman City Quest - sled dog race: The sled dog race season in the Harz Mountains kicks off in the western town near Hasselfelde when mushers compete with their husky teams.