The circular hike leads through the Natura 2000 area "Gypsum Karst Landscape Pölsfeld and Breiter Fleck in the South Harz", which partly lies in the South Harz Karst Landscape Biosphere Reserve.
The route leads through the Natura 2000 area "Gypsum Karst Landscape Pölsfeld and Breiter Fleck in the South Harz". The long history of use and mining tradition have created valuable open-land habitats. (Orchard) meadows and dry grasslands alternate with oak and beech forests. Mining relics are ubiquitous and are described by numerous information boards along the karst hiking trail. The pale woodland warbler, green lizard, and hazel dormouse are native here. The Grillenburg, once built from bricks, was first documented in 1217.
