Towards the northwest the forested country of the Barenberg runs west past Schierke to the Brocken (1,141.1 m), the highest mountain in the Harz.

Its neighbouring peak to the north-northeast on the other side of Schierke is the rather higher Erdbeerkopf (847.7 m), a spur of the Hohnekamm ridge (900.6 m).

On or near the mountain are several granite tors: the Schnarcherklippen (west-northwest), the Mäuseklippe (northwest) and the Scherstorklippen (west-southwest).

Towards the northeast, east and southeast the countryside around the Barenberg drops into the Elend valley (Elendstal), rimmed by tors and designated as a nature reserve (NSG No.

162919[1]) with its river, the Kalte Bode, which flows 181.1 metres below the summit at a survey point between Schierke and Elend (514.4 m above NN[1]).