Großer Knollen

Großer Knollen reaches 687 meters (2,254 feet) in elevation and is surrounded by extensive beech forests on lower slopes and spruce forests at higher elevations. The summit and surrounding slopes are crossed by several marked hiking trails that connect to neighboring towns including Bad Lauterberg, Herzberg, Scharzfeld, and Sankt Andreasberg.

An observation tower was constructed on the summit in 1904, replacing an earlier wooden structure that had been destroyed by lightning in 1890. The new stone tower was later expanded in height and remains a prominent landmark on the peak.

The Knollenbaude mountain inn welcomes hikers with traditional regional food and serves as a meeting place where locals and visitors gather to enjoy the views. The facility reflects how people in the Harz region have long integrated outdoor activities into their social life.

The mountain is most accessible during warmer months when trails are dry and easier to walk on. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the routes pass through forested terrain with some steep sections.

The rocks on this mountain contain porphyritic volcanic minerals that create distinctive reddish colorations along several hiking paths near the summit. These geological details often go unnoticed by casual walkers, but observant visitors can spot them clearly in the rock formations.