Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk starts from the car park below the Okertalsperre at Romkerhall, in the Oker valley south of Goslar. A short path leads to the foot of the Romkerhall waterfall, which is artificial: a ditch carries water from the Kleine Romke to the edge of the rock, and it falls about 64 m. The path then climbs to the granite tors above the valley: the Feigenbaumklippe, the Mausefalle and the Hexenküche, and on to the Kästeklippen at 602 m, where a viewing platform stands among the rocks. From the junction where the Kästehaus stood, forest tracks and a path lead on to the Kästestraße, which winds round the Ziegenrücken to the Alte Harzstraße and down to Waldhaus Okertal.
It is 11.2 km round with 364 m of ascent; allow about 4 hours. The grade is Moderate: the paths among the rocks are rough, with rock steps, and the high point is 597 m. The way back passes the Adlerklippen, a rock viewpoint, and crosses a wooden footbridge to the Verlobungsinsel, a boulder island in the Oker, before returning to the start by the valley path.
The Harzer Tourismusverband says the cliff viewpoints sometimes need a head for heights and sure-footedness, and recommends sturdy footwear. The rock steps are slippery when wet, so take care. Rock climbers use the cliffs along the valley: keep to the marked path and not the informal tracks at the foot of the rocks. The Kästehaus was demolished in 2019 (Wikipedia and an OpenStreetMap note say so), so do not count on a refreshment stop there and take food and drink with you. For about 70 m at the start and the finish the line walks beside the B498.
The car park is mapped in OpenStreetMap as free of charge. Harzinfo says bus line 801 runs from Goslar to the Waldhaus Okertal stop, which this walk passes partway round; from there it is about 4 km on foot to Romkerhall.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- The Romkerhall waterfall is artificial: a ditch of about 350 m carries water from the Kleine Romke to the edge of the rock, and it falls about 64 m
- The Kästeklippen are granite tors 602 m above sea level, with a viewing platform among the rocks; the Mausefalle and the Hexenküche are rock groups on the way up
- The Verlobungsinsel is a boulder island in the Oker reached by a wooden footbridge, and the Adlerklippen above the valley path are a rock viewpoint
- The Kästehaus on the plateau was demolished in 2019, so do not count on a refreshment stop there
Summits on the way
- Kleiner Romke 442 m · passed close by
- Adlerklippe · passed close by
- Nordmassiv · passed close by
- Adlereck (Triangel) · passed close by
- Adlerklippe Vorturm · passed close by
- Adlerklippe Mittelgipfel · passed close by
Getting there
Start: Romkerhall car park below the Okertalsperre · Free parking. 51.85808, 10.47069
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Harz: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.