It lies in the north of Baden-Württemberg between the valleys of the lower reaches of the Jagst and Kocher on a hill ridge which is up to 334 m above sea level (NN).

The forest derives its name from the settlement Harthausen near Lampoldshausen which was abandoned in the Late Middle Ages.

In the north the forest reaches the River Jagst between Züttlingen and Olnhausen at several places.

[2] In this area a flat hill ridge runs eastwards from the bridge over the A 81 to the west of Seehaus for a distance of about 2.5 kilometres with a height of around 330 m above NN on either side of the Landesstraße.

This ridge forms the watershed in the forest between the nearby Jagst to the north and the Kocher to the south, much further away.