Nature Reserve Guide
Selketal is a nature reserve situated in the Harz Mountains of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. This region features a diverse landscape, characterized by an idyllic river valley carved by the Selke river, dense mixed forests, and impressive rock formations. The varied terrain provides a suitable environment for several sports like hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, and more.
The Selketal nature reserve offers a wide array of outdoor activities, with more than 50 routes available for…
126
Routes
4.5
(3562)
Average rating
12595
People visited

4.8
(1001)
3,059
hikers
11.9km
03:14
170m
170m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(282)
996
hikers
14.9km
04:14
310m
310m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(219)
735
hikers
17.5km
04:54
330m
330m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(189)
711
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(10)
168
riders
68.9km
03:16
920m
920m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(8)
63
riders
52.5km
02:16
260m
260m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

30
riders
33.8km
01:30
220m
230m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

20
riders
59.2km
02:43
590m
590m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.9
(27)
88
riders
38.8km
02:37
500m
500m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.6
(35)
94
riders
43.5km
03:16
720m
720m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.7
(21)
87
riders
42.8km
03:17
730m
730m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.8
(18)
72
riders
30.5km
01:59
360m
360m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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4.8
(19)
75
riders
68.5km
04:29
930m
930m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(5)
18
riders
18.2km
01:17
260m
260m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.2
(6)
22
riders
30.0km
01:59
320m
320m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(9)
18
riders
11.9km
00:48
80m
80m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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33
runners
20.0km
02:09
260m
260m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1.0
(1)
38
runners
5.61km
00:37
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
15
runners
12.1km
01:18
130m
130m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
8
runners
13.5km
01:34
300m
300m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.
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5.0
(2)
14
riders
33.4km
02:06
470m
470m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(5)
16
riders
47.7km
02:48
570m
570m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
30.2km
02:06
480m
480m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

12
riders
39.4km
02:07
240m
240m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Selketal offers a range of outdoor activities including Hiking, Road cycling, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Jogging, and Gravel biking. The region features an idyllic river valley, mixed forests, and rock formations, providing diverse terrain for various sports.
Popular hiking trails include the "Selkefall (South Bank) – Köthener Hut loop from Alexisbad," a moderate route of approximately 7.4 miles (11.9 km). Another well-regarded option is the "Mettenberg rest area (HWN 203) – Chestnut Avenue in the Selke Valley loop from Selketal," an easy route spanning about 4.2 miles (6.8 km). More hiking options are available in the Hiking in Selketal guide.
Yes, Selketal offers several easy hiking routes suitable for various fitness levels. Examples include the "Selke Riverside Trail – Selke Trail loop from Selketal," which is about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) long. The Easy hikes in Selketal guide provides additional options.
Selketal features routes for Road cycling, Mountain biking, and Touring cycling. Road cyclists can explore routes like the "Meisdorf Village Church – View of Arnstein Castle Ruins loop from Meisdorf," a difficult route of approximately 42.8 miles (68.9 km). The Cycling in Selketal guide offers more information.
Yes, Selketal provides mountain biking trails, including challenging sections near Falkenstein Castle. Routes like the "Ballenstedt Castle – Selke Valley Trail loop from Meisdorf" cover approximately 24.1 miles (38.8 km) and are rated moderate. The MTB Trails in Selketal guide details more options.
Selketal features several notable landmarks and natural features. These include the Selkefall waterfall, the Köthener Hut, and historical sites such as Falkenstein Castle and Konradsburg Castle. The Engagement Urn on Habichtstein also offers panoramic views.
Selketal offers interactive adventure trails like the "HARZGERÖDER KUGELsPASS" (approximately 6.1 miles / 9.8 km) and the "Waldhofmännchenweg" (about 2.5 miles / 4 km), which provide engaging experiences for families. Shorter, easily accessible paths are also available.
Selketal is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 6,000 visitors having shared their experiences. Routes in the region have an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars across over 1,800 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for Selketal, including Hiking in Selketal, Easy hikes in Selketal, MTB Trails in Selketal, and Cycling in Selketal. Guides for attractions and natural monuments are also available.
The official website for the Selketal region is dasselketal.de. For direct inquiries, the Selketal-Information Ballenstedt can be reached at +49 (0) 39483 5071-0.
The Selketal-Stieg is a prominent long-distance hiking trail stretching approximately 46.6 miles (75 km) through the Selke Valley. It is considered a route of medium difficulty and can be completed in 4 to 6 stages, leading from Stiege to Quedlinburg.
The Selketal nature reserve generally allows dogs on its trails. However, specific rules regarding leashing may apply in certain areas or during particular seasons. Visitors should check local signage for detailed regulations.
Yes, it is possible to combine cycling tours with a ride on the historic Selketalbahn, a narrow-gauge railway. This allows for a unique and nostalgic way to experience the picturesque landscape and cover longer distances.

