The ‘Harzer Wandernadel’
About the ‘Wandernadel’
The Harzer Wandernadel (literally: Harz Hiking Badge) is a unique award system that turns hiking in the Harz Mountains into a treasure hunt. It was launched in 2006 by the initiative ‘Gesund älter werden im Harz’ (‘Aging Healthily in the Harz’) with the goal of encouraging locals and visitors to discover not just the famous Brocken peak, but the entire region’s forests, valleys, ruins, and natural wonders.
By 2007 the project had expanded to its current size of 222 official stamping points spread across three federal states and five administrative districts.
Since then it has become a cultural phenomenon: tens of thousands of hiking passes are sold each year and thousands of hikers proudly achieve titles such as Wanderkaiser (Harz Hiking Emperor) or Wanderkaiserin (Harz Hiking Empress).
How it works
At its core the Wandernadel is simple:
Buy a Wanderpass (hiking pass)
You can purchase it at tourist offices, local bookshopes or online (please note: tshipping is only available within Germany). The official website provides an overview of all locations where you can get one.
The regular hiking pass costs €4.00. You can also get a separate pass for your dog (to qualify for special dog badges) for €3.00 each.Go hiking and collect the stamps
Each checkpoint has a unique stamp, placed at scenic or historic locations.
Choose one (or more, if there a several nearby) to start your hiking adventure and collect the stamps from the green boxes at each site.
You can find overview pages on the official Harzer Wandernadel website - either as a table or map.
The good thing is: there is no time limit for collecting the stamps. You can continue the adventure whenever you return to the region.
💡 Tips:
Use your browser’s translation feature to auto-translate the website content into your preferred language. The official site also posts updates in case certain stamp locations are temporarily out of order.Get your badges
By collecting a certain number of stamps you qualify for purchasing the respective hiking pin that reflects your level of achievement:
8 stamps → Bronze16 stamps → Silver
24 stamps → Gold
50 stamps → Harzer Wanderkönig / Wanderkönigin (Harz Hiking King/Queen)
222 stamps → the ultimate Wanderkaiser/ Wanderkaiserin (Harz Hiking Emperor / Harz Hiking Empress)
For children there’s a special award: with 11 stamps (up to age 11), they become a Wanderprinz / Wanderprinzessin (Hiking Prince/Princess).
☝️ Important: Stamps only count when collected in the official paper pass. Digital stamps in the app are fun, but not valid for badges. And the badges themselves are not free, you purchase them once you’ve qualified in one of the official sales outlets (those marked as “Nur Pässe” sell passes only, no badges).
You can find an overview of all badges, including their prices on the official website.
Special Stamps
Besides the classic system of 222 stamps with the green stamp boxes, you might notice some additional ones at other locations not marked on the main map. These are Special Stamps (Sonderstempel), which can be collected in the dedicated section of your hiking pass.
Themed Routes
f you prefer a more guided way to collect stamps, you can also choose one of the themed routes, which highlight the Harz through a special focus. Please note: these require a separate stamp pass, available at the same locations as the regular one.
Harzer Hexenstieg (Witches’ Trail) – one of the most famous long-distance trails in the Harz.
Goethe Trail – following in the footsteps of the poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who climbed the Brocken.
Inner German Border Trail (Harzer Grenzweg) – a historical path along the former inner-German border (some stamp boxes are painted in the colors of the German flag).
Monastery Trail (Harzer Klosterwanderweg) – connecting historic monasteries and cloisters in the Harz (with its own red stamp boxes).
Castles and Palaces Route – featuring medieval ruins and historic residences.
Luther Trail – connected to Martin Luther’s travels through the Harz.
Harzer Steiger – dedicated to the history of Harz mining; requires 111 stamps (23 mandatory).
Herzweg Altenau – includes 7 stamps along a 12.4 km route.
Huy Fallstein – focused on the Huy region.
My First Stamp Pass – includes 16 child-friendly hiking tours.
National Park Harz – 33 stamps leading you through the national park.
Selketal Trail – a special pass for the Selketal region with its beautiful and varied nature.
For each of these themed routes (as well as for the classic system) you can purchase dedicated hiking maps and guides online or at the sales outlets.
What to do in case of an defect stamp box
Sometimes it may not be possible to make a stamp - either due to weather or because the box is damaged or the ink pad is dry.
Don’t worry: simply note down the checkpoint number (written on the inside of the box lid) and location in your pass. Photos as proof are not accepted anymore (probably as they could be misused).
If you notice a defective stamp box, please report it to the Harzer Wandernadel team via the contact form on their website so they can post an update and repair the box.
At the service office in Blankenburg you can then have the missing stamps entered manually - provided you can prove the missing stamp with the checkpoint number.
👉 To make things easier and quicker for the staff:
Mark the missing stamps and their pages in advance.
Avoid having more than 5 stamps added at once, especially on weekends and holidays.
More details can be found on the official website.
Tips for Beginners
Start small with the Bronze badge (8 stamps) to celebrate your first success quickly.
Plan your first hikes in areas with several checkpoints close together. Check the official map to find good starting points.
Look up routes from other hikers on apps like Komoot to get a better idea of distance, required time, and fitness level.
Bring a small ink pad, just in case the official ones have dried out.
Keep your pass safe: I use clear sleeves and a waterproof zip bag to protect it from rain and wear. I also store the ink pad in a separate bag to prevent any leaking.
Join me on Instagram
Want to follow my own Harzer Wandernadel journey? I’m sharing updates from my stamp collection, favorite trails, and hidden corners of the Harz over on Instagram.
👉 Follow me on Instagram @harz.unfiltered
I’d also love to hear from you! If you have recommendations - especially for dog-friendly routes drop me a message or comment. Your tips might help me (and my four-legged hiking partner 🐕) discover new trails to explore.
Let’s make this hiking adventure a shared one!
