The Bode Valley and Its Legendary Adventure World

In Thale, you’ll find the entrance to the Bode Valley, often called the Grand Canyon of the Harz. Numerous hiking trails start here, leading along the wild and romantic Bode River to several stamp stations of the Harzer Wandernadel. The chairlift provides easy access to the Roßtrappe, where you can race down one of the action-packed forest trails of the Bikepark Bodetal on your own or a rented mountain bike. A cable car takes you to the Hexentanzplatz, with some cabins featuring glass floors, promising thrilling views during the ride. Once at the top, guests can enjoy stunning views of the Bode Valley and the Harz foreland. Here, you'll find the quirky Witch's House, the Legend Pavilion, and the Harz Mountain Theater. Wolves, wild animals, and various bird species can be visited at the Hexentanzplatz Zoo.

Especially for younger visitors, there are diverse play and adventure activities right next to the valley station: amusement trains, water carousels, and water scooters promise fun for the whole family. Nearby, the Thale Climbing Forest offers routes with various difficulty levels right above the Bode River.

Animal Parks, Zoos, and Wildlife Gardens in the Harz

In addition to the animal park at Hexentanzplatz in Thale, there are several other animal parks, zoos, and wildlife gardens in the Harz region, including those in Halberstadt, Westerhausen, Aschersleben, and Bad Harzburg. In Halberstadt, the Tiergarten Spiegelsberge is home to 60 different animal species and features playgrounds, slides, and a lynx trail. The Aschersleben Zoo offers a more exotic experience with tigers, leopards, ocelots, zebras, snakes, and many other species.

At the Jungle Café, visitors can enjoy treats, and the nearby planetarium offers a view of the stars. About an hour’s drive away, the lynx enclosure at the Rabenklippen in Bad Harzburg provides a special encounter with this native species. The cable car takes you up to Burgberg, from where the national park enclosure can be reached within a 60-minute walk. The public lynx feeding sessions are particularly popular.

Educational Offers in the Harz National Park

In addition to the lynx enclosure in Bad Harzburg, there are several other national park visitor centers and information houses. At the Brockenhaus, you can journey through the history and nature of the highest mountain in Northern Germany. The Nature Experience Center Hohne Hof, with the nearby Löwenzahn Path in Drei Annen Hohne, invites visitors of all ages to explore the sensory and fragrance garden, the adventure playground, and numerous interactive activities with the Harz rangers.

Additionally, the Harzer Rotvieh, a regional breed of cattle, used to live here. From the National Park Visitor Center Torfhaus, you can enjoy a special view of the Brocken. Here, you can learn a lot about the history of Torfhaus Moor, the Brocken hikes by Heine and Goethe, and the natural landscapes of the Harz region.

More locations

are in Ilsenburg, Schierke, St. Andreasberg, and Scharfenstein.