Hanskühnenburg

The outbreak of the First World War halted tourism, leading to the closure of the hut, which had been operated as an inn, especially since it was situated far from any other settlements.

However, it had to be closed again in 1957 when both the hut and tower were deemed off-limits by the police due to their deteriorating condition.

The Harz Club did not have the necessary means to restore the structure and transferred ownership in 1974 to the district of Osterode, which took on the conversion and upgrade of the Hanskühnenburg.

In 1976, a 13.5 km (8.4 mi) long cross-country skiing trail, the Ackerloipe, was completed and, as a result, the Hanskühnenburg became a popular stop for langlauf skiers.

It is also the only spot from where the two former centres of the Upper Harz mining industry, Clausthal and Sankt Andreasberg, can be seen at the same time.

There are longer walks from Osterode via the town forest (Stadtwald) and crest path (Kammweg) or along the Söse Reservoir.

The path on the eastern side is a wide walking track with only one steep section shortly before the hut.