The ridge begins south of the Bruchberg near Stieglitzecke (on the B 242) and runs from there for about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) towards the southwest.

Large sections of the ridge lie within the Harz National Park and may therefore only be entered on designated trails.

The ridgeway running through the moor was closed in the mid-1990s, shortly after the establishment of national park in order to protect the environment.

From the Hanskühnenburg the ridgeway, known as the Wet Way (Nasser Weg) runs in a southwesterly direction along the crest towards Osterode.

In various sources it is maintained that the name Acker is derived from the Middle High German word Agger which means "crest" or "embankment".