Dünaer Rötzelkamm: A landscape like a dream
It is THE insider tip on the edge of the Harz Mountains between Osterode and Ührde. That’s where you’ll find the Dünaer Rötzelkamm.
An absolute highlight, especially for hikers who have already explored everything in the Braunschweig region and the Harz Mountains. The Rötzelkamm is part of the Karst Trail (Karstwanderweg). For stamp collectors, the 15-kilometer circular hiking tour offers two highlights: the special stamp Dünaer Rötzelkamm and the special stamp Feldherrenhügel.
We begin at the end of Hördener Breite street in Osterode. Unfortunately, the weather is changeable today, and showers are expected later. On the first stretch, past a few houses and agricultural fields, we are accompanied by a mix of sun and clouds. We watch in fascination the dance of the wind through a grain field. The stalks move in such uniform wave-like motions that, from a distance, it looks like we’re gazing at the sea.
The Tau Cross
Suddenly, we spot a wooden cross on the left-hand side. Huh, what could that be? Hopefully not a former execution site? A nearby information board puts us at ease. The Tau cross is a Christian symbol in the shape of a “T,” derived from the Greek letter “Tau” (T). We continue to follow the signs marked with a “red K,” representing the Karst Trail. On a field to our right, a few flowers catch my eye. Burkhard quickly pulls out his app and finds out they are crimson clover.
The Karst Trail at the Rötzel
At the end of the field path, we reach the Karst Trail near the Rötzel. This is where the ridge trail begins, leading us through a beautiful, untouched, and peaceful landscape. At the edge of the forest, it starts to drizzle slightly. It’s not a problem at first, as we take shelter under the trees and watch a large group of storks in the fields having their midday meal.
It’s only a short shower, so we’re able to continue on our way. The farther we go, the more thrilled we are. In addition to storks, we see numerous red kites, and spot herds of cows and sheep peacefully grazing in the meadows. Unfortunately, it starts raining again, and due to the low-hanging gray clouds, we consider shortening the route.
Visiting the Sheep
We’re lucky again—just another brief shower. Suddenly, we find ourselves right in front of the flock of sheep we had previously seen from afar. The animals watch us curiously. A very young lamb joyfully jumps back and forth among the older sheep. It’s simply delightful to observe the animals going about their day. In this wonderful and idyllic setting, we feel completely at ease. Eventually, we move on. And just a bit further along, another highlight awaits us: a dolomite quarry.
We follow the descent to the Beierstein sink and the Hackenbach stream. We walk along a beautiful narrow path and look down to our right into a kind of gorge. Shortly afterward, we reach state road 523 and cross it. On the opposite side, the trail continues. We follow the Rosenberg in the direction of Ührde and pass through a former Bundeswehr (German Army) training area.
The Commanders’ Hill (Feldherrenhügel)
The trail leads us to the Commanders’ Hill. This elevation in the Harz once served as a central point for observing military maneuvers and troop movements. Today, you can not only enjoy a wonderful view of Osterode from up here, but also collect a special stamp from the Harz Hiking Badge series! The stamping station appears to be brand new, as do the two wooden benches inviting visitors to take a break. Unfortunately, we don’t have time for a long rest, as a larger rain front is approaching.
So we decide to take a shortcut at this point. We skip the detour through Ührde and head straight back to Osterode. We make it to the car just in time before the rain picks up and becomes more persistent. We then drive to the recommended country inn Sindram in Ührde, but on this day it’s closed for a private event. Still, we enjoyed the trip to the Dünaer Rötzelkamm so much that we can easily imagine returning to this beautiful landscape in the autumn.
