Riefensbeek-Kamschlacken lies in the Söse Valley, close to the Söse Reservoir. It is the smallest state-recognized health resort in the Harz. When planning a trip, the hiking options and their different scales are particularly interesting: a named day hike, the 60-kilometre Harzer Försterstieg and groomed cross-country ski trails in winter. If you are looking for accommodation, you can start by deciding when to travel and what activities you would like to do.

A day hike and summer trails

The BaudenSteig Circular Trail No. 3 is a beautiful day hike from Riefensbeek up to the Hanskühnenburg National Park forest inn. The route back to Riefensbeek leads via the Sösetal Reservoir. The outward route, destination and return journey make up a clearly defined day trip that you can plan as the focus of a day’s hiking.

In summer, the extensive, signposted hiking trails in Riefensbeek-Kamschlacken invite you to explore on foot. They complement the specific circular route with other ways to spend your stay hiking. If you prefer a named route with a set destination, the BaudenSteig Circular Trail is a good choice; the signposted hiking trails offer a broader range of options for summer planning.

The Harzer Försterstieg: a longer route

The Harzer Försterstieg runs for more than 60 kilometres from the historic imperial city of Goslar to the mountain village of Riefensbeek-Kamschlacken. Information boards stand along the entire trail, and there are also small activity areas along the way. The route leads to Riefensbeek-Kamschlacken via a designated forest nature trail. Its total length clearly sets the Försterstieg apart from the day hike on Circular Trail No. 3.

The longer sections of the Harzer Försterstieg can be travelled by bicycle. The trail access points are reachable by public transport or car. If you plan to hike the Försterstieg, take your chosen access point into account when planning your journey and check the specific connections.

Seasonal highlights and local history

The options also vary with the season: in winter, groomed cross-country ski trails in Riefensbeek-Kamschlacken are available for skiing, while the signposted hiking trails invite you to explore on foot in summer. If you are planning a specific cross-country skiing trip, it is advisable to check in advance that the trails are currently open.

The area’s history offers another point of interest. From around 1200 to 1350, entrepreneurs from Goslar operated smelting works in the Riefensbeek and Kamschlacken area, where ores from the Rammelsberg were processed. The Christ Chapel in Riefensbeek-Kamschlacken dates from a much later period: this small, tent-shaped rectangular building was constructed in 1965/66 and faces west. The history of ore processing and the chapel’s architecture thus represent two different periods.

Plan your stay

First decide on your activity and the time of year. If you plan to travel to an access point for the Försterstieg, factor in how to reach it and check the appropriate connection.

Discover more destinations: Kamschlacken, Bad Lauterberg, Wulften am Harz, Osterode Am Harz, Badenhausen, Bad Sachsa, Bad Grund, Herzberg Am Harz.

Go to the main travel overview: Osterode Am Harz.