Nature Reserve Guide
Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz, a nature reserve in the southwestern Harz foreland near Osterode, presents a distinctive landscape shaped by gypsum dissolution. This area is characterized by a high concentration of karst phenomena, including sinkholes, disappearing streams, and karst springs, alongside a developing old-growth forest. Its unique geological features and evolving wilderness provide a compelling setting for several outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, touring cycling, and more.
Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz offers more than 100…
174
Routes
4.6
(1078)
Average rating
3821
People visited

4.8
(100)
324
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(95)
292
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(90)
309
hikers
17.1km
05:02
480m
480m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(72)
162
hikers
9.56km
02:43
220m
220m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.9
(13)
64
riders
51.0km
04:23
1,150m
1,150m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.4
(19)
74
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.8
(24)
48
riders
39.7km
02:25
270m
270m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(11)
44
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(5)
71
riders
134km
06:34
1,860m
1,860m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(13)
62
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(3)
32
riders
46.5km
02:13
230m
230m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.6
(11)
13
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.4
(17)
66
riders
25.5km
01:40
270m
270m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(9)
48
riders
18.8km
01:14
180m
180m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.3
(3)
23
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
17
riders
16.2km
01:00
130m
130m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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10
runners
20.8km
02:11
150m
150m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
runners
4.95km
00:34
90m
90m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(1)
4
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
runners
17.6km
01:52
180m
180m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(1)
7
riders
32.6km
02:23
770m
770m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
46.0km
03:09
760m
760m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(1)
8
riders
32.0km
02:18
590m
590m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz is a nature reserve located in the southwestern Harz foreland. It is characterized by a unique gypsum karst landscape, featuring a high concentration of geological formations such as sinkholes and karst springs, and an evolving old-growth forest.
The reserve offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, touring cycling, jogging, and gravel biking. There are more than 100 routes available for exploration across these sports.
Popular hiking routes include the Lonau Waterfall – Pavilion Overlooking Lonau loop, which is approximately 5.9 miles (9.6 km) long. Another well-regarded option is the Hanskühnenburg (HWN 144) – Wading Pool Lonau loop, spanning about 9.4 miles (15.2 km). More hiking options can be found in the Hiking around Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz guide.
Yes, Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz offers easy hiking trails suitable for beginners. An example is the Lonau Waterfall – Juessee Lake loop, which covers approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km). Additional easy routes are detailed in the Easy hikes around Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz guide.
The reserve is known for its diverse karst phenomena, including numerous sinkholes, disappearing streams, and karst springs. Notable features include the Jetten Cave, the largest freely accessible cave in the region, and the Hart's-tongue Fern Sinkhole, which supports rare plant species.
Yes, the area provides mountain biking routes, ranging from moderate to difficult. A challenging route is the Sösetalsperre Dam – Hanskühnenburg (HWN 144) loop, approximately 31.7 miles (51.0 km) long. More options are available in the MTB Trails around Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz guide.
Road cycling routes in the area vary in difficulty. A difficult route is the Kneppelberg Ascent – Lautenthal–Hahnenklee Climb loop, which spans approximately 82.4 miles (132.6 km). Easier options, such as the Kaiser Pond, Osterode – Osterode City Walls and Towers loop, are also available, covering about 24.4 miles (39.3 km). Find more routes in the Road Cycling Routes around Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz guide.
Touring cycling routes are available, generally rated as moderate. An example is the Harzrand Panorama Trail – Teufelsturm (Devil's Tower) loop, approximately 13.6 miles (22.0 km) long. The Cycling around Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz guide provides additional options.
Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 2,000 visitors having recorded tours. The routes have an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on over 600 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz, covering various activities. These include guides for Hiking, MTB Trails, Road Cycling Routes, and Gravel biking.
Information about Gipskarstlandschaft Hainholz can be found on the official website of the Lower Saxony State Agency for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN) at nlwkn.niedersachsen.de. Regional tourism portals also provide details about the area.

