Clausthal-Zellerfeld: WasserWanderWeg 'Hutthaler Widerwaage'

The WasserWanderWeg "Hutthaler Widerwaage" is an easy and particularly interesting circular hike through one of the most fascinating parts of the historic Upper Harz water-management system. The route combines peaceful Harz landscapes with impressive examples of centuries-old engineering. It is part of the network of Water Hiking Trails that explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Harz Water Management System, where ponds, ditches and watercourses once formed a highly sophisticated energy supply system for the region's mining industry.

The starting point is the Entensumpf car park, reached from the B 242 between Clausthal-Zellerfeld and Braunlage by following the signs towards Hirschler/Pfauenteiche. From here, the circular route leads through forests and along historic watercourses towards the Hutthaler Widerwaage, one of the highlights of the walk.

The Hutthaler Widerwaage is a remarkable example of eighteenth-century hydraulic engineering. This carefully constructed balancing basin helped control the distribution of water between different parts of the mining water system. Its ingenious design allowed water to be directed according to demand. Particularly remarkable are the almost level ditches of the system, which made it possible for water to be guided across the landscape rather than simply following the natural slope downhill.

From the Widerwaage, the trail follows historic water channels through the open Hutthal landscape and woodland. Along the way, it crosses old dams and follows parts of the extensive network of artificial ditches that supplied water to the mines. The route also passes several historic ponds, including the Jägersbleeker Teich and Hirschler Teich. These reservoirs and channels give an excellent impression of how closely the entire landscape was once connected to the mining industry.

A particularly worthwhile addition to this tour is a visit to the Entensumpf and the Innerstesprung. The Entensumpf is a historic mining pond located close to the route, while nearby lies the source of the River Innerste, known as the Innerstesprung. Here, the river begins as a small stream before continuing through the Harz and eventually joining the River Leine. The quiet pond and the modest beginning of the river provide a beautiful contrast to the impressive engineering structures encountered elsewhere on the walk.

Overall, the WasserWanderWeg Hutthaler Widerwaage is much more than a simple forest walk. It offers the opportunity to explore a landscape that was deliberately shaped over centuries, where apparently natural ponds and quiet streams are closely connected to the history of mining and water engineering. The combination of tranquil Harz nature, historic reservoirs and water channels, and the extraordinary engineering of the Hutthaler Widerwaage makes this an especially rewarding walk through the UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

The route is also featured in at least two German hiking books: Eskapaden im Harz, where it appears as tour no. 41, “Nah am Wasser gebaut … Auf der Hutthaler Widerwaage”, and Wanderungen für Langschläfer im Harz, where a closely related route is presented as tour no. 30, “Von Clausthal-Zellerfeld zum Polsterberger Hubhaus.”