The Best Road Cycling Routes in Harz
Discover the best road cycling routes in Harz, Germany. Our curated collection includes 16 handpicked road cycling routes, from shorter coffee rides to challenging all-day rides. The region offers mountainous terrain, perfect for climbers seeking challenging ascents and dramatic elevation gains. Each route includes GPX files, detailed elevation profiles, highlighted climbs, and recommended café stops along the way. Browse the cycling routes map below to find your next ride, or use the filters to narrow by distance, elevation, and difficulty.
16 routes
Elbingerode loop
Perfect short loop through forest road. It has one big hill climb from the start and a smaller one between Rubeland and Hüttenrode.
Loop to Stolberg Ramp
On paper, this looks like a nice route through the heart of the Harz, but midway through the ride you’ll face a serious challenge. Just before Stolberg, you turn left to tackle the Stolberg ramp, a climb that stays above 10% for almost 1.5 kilometer.
Around Clausthal-Zellerfeld
A tour through the western Harz region featuring the steep Steileberg Climb with gradients up to 15%, the mountain town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, and the scenic Oker Valley. You can also ride this route in reverse if you're looking for a different elevation profile.
Brocken Loop from Wernigerode
The highest point in the Harz region lies just 30 kilometers of riding from Wernigerode. Most of the climbing is completed within the first 30 kilometers, followed by a fast ride through the Harz forest back to town.
From Wernigerode to the Wurmberg & Brocken
This loop rolls out from Wernigerode and quickly leads you into quiet forest roads and steady early climbs. A key highlight is the ascent of the Wurmberg, which adds a tougher effort with steeper gradients and great views. For some additional climbing you can also tackle the Brocken, or leave it for another day. The route then flows back through rolling terrain and smooth descents.
Loop from Goslar to the Upper Harz
This route starts in Goslar and heads straight into its toughest challenge with the climb up to Auerhahn. Getting the hardest effort done early sets the tone, before the ride opens up into rolling terrain and quieter forest roads. From there you ride through beautiful landscapes, small towns and calm, traffic free roads that make the rest of the loop really enjoyable.
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Plan Your Visit to Harz
Discover where to stay, climbs, routes, bike rentals, cafes, and everything you need to plan your cycling trip in the Harz Guide.