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Harz-Gebirgslauf race photo

Harz-Gebirgslauf

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

DEOctober 202742.2km · 25km · 22.5km +4 more events
GZagatta · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date Oct expected
October 2027
City · Distance
Wernigerode · 42.2km · 25km · 22.5km +4 more events
Entry fee
€25From the 2025 edition
2027Date October 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Oct 10, 2026 · Entry Mar 1, 2026 ~ Oct 4, 2026 · Entry fee €25 · Start 09:00
Official website ↗
Instagram
D-day as of Oct 13, 2026
Harz-Gebirgslauf race photo
GZagatta · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Harz-Gebirgslauf — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

It is a nature course race through Harz National Park.

Nearly 4,000 people gather in Wernigerode every October.

The toughest event is the full marathon that goes over the Brocken, the highest peak in northern Germany.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Harz-Gebirgslauf runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
ThorstenRan in 2025 · Finish time 3:32
“The Harz mountain running event hadn't been on my radar before.”

Thorsten finished the Brocken Marathon at the 2025 Harz-Gebirgslauf in 3 hours 32 minutes, placing 1st in his age group. On the course with 1,200m of climbing, he found the descents harder than the climbs and ran the final 3km despite falling near 39km.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Den Harz-Gebirgslauf hatte ich bisher nicht auf dem Radar.

Read the original on TSV Schwarme
ThorstenRan in 2025 · Finish time 3:32
“That did not diminish the joy of the good result.”

The runner ran a mountain marathon up to the Brocken summit and back down into Wernigerode. They fell near the 39K mark and hurt a finger, but finished and won their age group.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Meine Freude über das gute Ergebnis wurde dadurch nicht getrübt.

Read the original on TSV Schwarme

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

41. Harz Gebirgslauf / Brocken Marathon 2018

Dietmar Klemm

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Harz-Gebirgslauf — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2025 edition

Half

Entry cost €25

until Jun 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

10K

Entry cost €18

until Jun 30, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Harz-Gebirgslauf course map and elevation

Your 42.2km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2025 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 09:00
Show more

Pass the Brocken summit by 12 p.m. · all events close at 3 p.m.

The start time and cutoff follow the official announcement (checked Aug 3, 2026) — re-check on the official page before entering.

EventStartField size
Marathon42.2km09:001,000
Halbmarathon22.5km10:15—
11 km11.2km10:00—
5K4.8km09:45—

Marathon EUR 42–60 · half marathon (22.5 km) EUR 25–40 · 11 km EUR 18–30 · 5 km EUR 13–20
Four price tiers by entry date — early bird through June 30 · July 1–August 31 · September 1–October 4 · on-site registration October 9 (cash only). Includes timing, aid, gear check, and showers

START

Wernigerode Hasserode

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Start and finish area: Himmelpforte, Hasserode, Wernigerode

the start and finish are at the same location.

Cutoff
Marathoners must pass the Brocken summit by 12 p.m. for their time to count · all events close at 3 p.m. — as of 2026

Original course map · harz-gebirgslauf.de
Show more

The start and finish are in the Hasserode district of Wernigerode.

The marathon course crosses Harz National Park and goes over the summit of the Brocken, 1,142 meters above sea level, which runners reach around the 19 km mark.

The first half of the course is mostly uphill and the second half mostly downhill.

With 1,180 meters of total climbing, the course ranks among the toughest in German marathoning.

Besides the marathon, there's a half marathon, an 11.2 km, and a 4.8 km, plus Nordic walking and a kids' race (2 km).

As of 2026, start times are 9 a.m. for the Brocken Marathon, 9:45 a.m. for the 5K (4.8 km), 10 a.m. for the 11K (11.2 km),

and 10:15 a.m. for the half marathon (22.5 km).

Official total climbing is 1,180 meters for the marathon, 530 meters for the half marathon, 280 meters for the 11K, and 120 meters for the 5K.

Marathoners who don't pass the Brocken summit by 12 p.m. are dropped from the results,

and the finish closes for all events at 3 p.m. The marathon field is capped at 1,000 because of nature-protection rules.

The route crosses the Brocken Railway tracks before and after the summit;

when a train approaches, safety staff briefly close the course, and ignoring their instructions can get you disqualified.

Timing is by an EasyChip on your shoe, and rankings use net time.

Field size
Marathon 1,000 people

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Timing chip 2026

Bag drop 2026

This may change for the next edition.

Where and when to collect your Harz-Gebirgslauf race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

in the tent in the start/finish area — as of 2026
On-site (late) registration: October 9, 14:00–20:30, Remise Wernigerode

Remise Wernigerode, Marktstraße 1

on race day, bib pickup is in the tent on the grass next to the finish area at Himmelpforte.

Google Maps
Friday · 2 p.m.–8:30 p.m · at the Remise; race day · Saturday · October 10 · from 7:30 a.m

Stations & transport near the venue

Wikipedia · Wernigerode Hauptbahnhof

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

Wernigerode Hauptbahnhof

Served by regional trains from Hannover, Braunschweig, Magdeburg, Leipzig/Halle. From Wernigerode Hbf, city bus Line 204/201 to Hochschule Harz near start/finish; line 264 also serves the area.

Start-number pickup listed for Fri 09.10.2026, implying race is Sat 10.10. Heavy traffic restrictions expected in Hasserode area.

Map

Getting to the finish

Wernigerode (Hochschule Harz area)

Finish is in the same Hochschule Harz vicinity as the start.

Map

Start shuttle

No dedicated race shuttle beyond regular city bus lines; overnight guests get a free-transit HATIX ticket.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

A mountain course over the Brocken, the highest peak in northern Germany. Check the summit cutoff and get ready for changing weather first.

Pick up your bib and confirm your entry

Pick up your bib at Remise Wernigerode on Friday, October 9, 2 p.m.–8:30 p.m., or on race day from 7:30 a.m. in the tent next to the finish area.

  • Advance registration runs from March 1 to October 4; after that, the only option is on-site registration at the Remise on October 9 (cash only).
  • There is no on-site registration on race day.

Arrive the day before and use the free parking

Traffic restrictions around Wernigerode and Hasserode are extensive on race day, so the organizers recommend arriving on Friday.

  • The Feldstraße parking lot is free from 1 p.m. Friday and all day Saturday; it's about 2.5 km from the start area.
  • If you are staying in the town, you can use the WERNIGERODE-ticket provided by your accommodation to travel free on buses in the Harz region.
  • Gear check is under the Hochschule Harz parking lot, about 150 meters before the start lawn—just tear off the bag tag on your bib. Hot showers are right next to it.

12 p.m. cutoff at the Brocken summit

Marathoners must pass the Brocken summit by 12 p.m. for their time to count, and the finish closes for all events at 3 p.m.

EventStartTotal elevation gain
Marathon 42.2km09:001,180m
5km (4.8km)9:45 a.m.120m
11km (11.2km)10:00280m
Half marathon 22.5km10:15 a.m.530m
  • The route crosses the Brocken railway tracks before and after the summit; when a train approaches, safety staff briefly close the course. Ignoring their instructions can get you disqualified.
  • Climbs and descents alternate, so managing your pace matters.

9 marathon aid stations

The marathon has an aid station at 9, 15, 17, 21, 24, 30, 34, 37, and 39 km (as of 2026).

Prepare for strong winds and cold at the summit

Brocken's summit has an alpine climate, so even in October you should bring warm gear for strong winds, cold temperatures and rapidly changing weather.

  • Yellow windproof jackets are handed out at the 17km mark at Eiserner Tisch and collected at the 21km mark at Knochenbrecher.
  • If the weather is too bad, organizers may change the course.

Free group runs before and after the race

The day after the race, October 11, at 10 a.m., there's a free Frühstückslauf (breakfast run) of about 3 km from the Marktplatz to the castle.

  • A week before the race, on October 3 at 9:30 a.m., a free Vorlauf (preview run) from Himmelpforte lets you try each course—2, 5, 11, and 22 km—ahead of time. The course isn't marked yet.

Times are local to Wernigerode. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Harz-Gebirgslauf start line in Wernigerode

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

DESIGN-LOFT Brockenblick -Netflix-Smart TV-WLAN-Wallbox-Kaffeevollautomat-Balkon- Panoramaaussicht-Getränke-Pizza-Snacks

Accommodation · 333m

9.6/10(83)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Hello Hannover: 2-Hour Private City Walk with a Local Guide - For First-Time Visitors

€133

View on GetYourGuide

What to see in Wernigerode after the race

Seeing Wernigerode with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Wernigerode.

Total cost and budget for Harz-Gebirgslauf

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Harz-Gebirgslauf

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Wernigerode runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Harz-Gebirgslauf

FAQ
When does Harz-Gebirgslauf 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in October 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sat, October 10, 2026.

When does registration for Harz-Gebirgslauf 2027 open?

Not announced yet. Entries for the 2026 race opened on Sun, March 1, 2026.

How much is the Harz-Gebirgslauf 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about €25.

What is the time limit for Harz-Gebirgslauf 2027?

Pass the Brocken summit by 12 p.m. · all events close at 3 p.m. (From the 2025 edition)

What distances does Harz-Gebirgslauf 2027 offer?

Marathon · 5K · Trail. (From the 2025 edition)

What time does Harz-Gebirgslauf 2027 start?

The race starts at 09:00. (From the 2025 edition)

Where does Harz-Gebirgslauf 2027 start?

Wernigerode Hasserode. (From the 2025 edition)

Where does Harz-Gebirgslauf 2027 finish?

Start and finish area: Himmelpforte, Hasserode, Wernigerode — the start and finish are at the same location.

(From the 2025 edition)

What are the Harz-Gebirgslauf 2027 cutoff times?

Marathoners must pass the Brocken summit by 12 p.m. for their time to count · all events close at 3 p.m. — as of 2026.

(From the 2025 edition)

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