The Hammersteinklippen geologically belong to the ridge "On the field" and are located in the extreme northwest of this elongated mountain. This is distinguished from its surroundings by an extraordinary type of rock - the very hard Acker Bruchberg quartzite. The highly resistant rock was created in the Carboniferous period about 340 million years ago. For this particularly solid material also the Hammersteinklippen exist.
The striking Hammerstein cliffs rise up to about 780 meters above sea level and thus surmount the bottom of the Sösetal at their feet by about 300 meters. On the cliffs there is a viewpoint, which allows the hiker a beautiful view in just this mountain valley and the opposite Acker massif.
Striking is the strong weathering of the very resistant material of the Hammersteinklippen. Below the cliffs is a large treeless boulder field with small boulders from the mentioned Acker-Bruchberg quartzite. As a result, the rock formation is well visible even from a distance, such. from riding on the ridge "in the field". The large area covered with scree shows very nicely how the weather can disassemble even the hardest material over the course of time into the smallest parts and thereby literally move mountains.
The Hammersteinklippen lie on the border of the Harz National Park. In the environment the regulations of this protected area apply accordingly. To the rocks leads a short hiking trail from the parking lot Stieglitzecke on the federal road 242. After about 400 meters walk you have reached from there the Hammerstein cliffs already.