Overview
The Gose is not a well-known river outside the Harz, and that is part of what makes a walk along it feel like something discovered rather than prescribed. It rises in the upper Harz plateau south of Clausthal-Zellerfeld and cuts its way north-west through a narrow valley of granite boulders and moss-covered outcrops before joining the Innerste near Langelsheim.
The circuit described here uses both banks — the eastern path through mixed forest, the western return following the river more closely through sections that require some attention to footing among the wet stones. Neither stretch is difficult, but the western bank rewards patience over speed.
The route
Start from the small car park on Gosetal Strasse, 2.3 km south of Wildemann on the B242. The trailhead is marked with the green dot of the Harz trail system. From here the path climbs gently east for the first 1.5 km before dropping back to river level at the first significant boulder field — a good early rest point and a reliable place to see dippers working the shallow runs.
At the 4 km mark you pass the site of the Hahnenkleer Mühle, one of several water mills that operated along this stretch until the late nineteenth century. Only the millrace channel survives, but it is well preserved and gives a sense of the engineering that ran through these valleys.
The trail crosses to the western bank at Kilometer 6 via a wooden footbridge. The return is narrower and occasionally steep-sided. In wet conditions, the section between Kilometer 8 and 9 deserves care — the path crosses several small tributaries on simple log bridges that can be slippery.
The Gose in April runs green-grey and cold, loud enough in the boulder sections to drown out any conversation. That is not a complaint.
Seasonal conditions
The valley is walkable year-round, but the experience changes significantly by season. Spring (March–May) brings the highest water levels and the most dramatic sound from the rapids. The vegetation is low enough to allow long views into the forest structure. Summer can feel enclosed — the beech canopy closes over completely by June, and the trail becomes a green tunnel that many walkers find exactly what they came for.
Autumn is the consensus favourite: leaf colour, lower water, and the particular quality of October light filtering through amber beech. Winter narrows the trail's appeal to those comfortable on occasionally icy surfaces, but the bare forest opens views that summer hides entirely.
Getting there
The trailhead car park on Gosetal Strasse is accessible by car from Wildemann (9 minutes) or by the regional bus service from Clausthal-Zellerfeld (line 830, alight at Gosetal Abzweig). The last bus back from the nearest stop is at 17:42 in summer and 16:54 in winter — confirm current times on the Regionalbus Braunschweig website before relying on this.
There is no refreshment stop on the route itself. Wildemann has a bakery and a small Gasthof. Carry water, particularly in summer.
Trail notes
- The trail is not suitable for pushchairs. The terrain is manageable for children aged 8+ who are used to uneven ground.
- Dogs are permitted but must be kept on lead during the nesting season (March 1 – July 31) in the national park buffer zone sections.
- Mobile signal is unreliable in the lower valley. Download an offline map before departure.
- The trail is not lit. Plan to be back at the trailhead before dusk.
