The Schalke is a 762-meter-high mountain between Hahnenklee, Clausthal-Zellerfeld and Schulenberg.
The Schalker observation tower was built in 1892 by the former Harzklub Zweigverein Zellerfeld and restored in 1992 by the Harzklub Zweigverein Clausthal-Zellerfeld. It is about 10.5 meters high and weighs around 3.5 tons.
From 1959, the Schalker listening post was also located on the summit during the Cold War. This was a location for French air and telecommunications reconnaissance. In 1978/79, a 64 m high reinforced concrete tower was added to this listening post. During this time, the Harzklub tower was moved 100 meters.
After reunification, the listening post tower stood empty and was blown up in 2002. After the demolition, the Harzklub tower was moved back to its original location.
From Festenburg, a hiking trail leads over the Lochstein HWN 126 at the Oberen Schalker Graben over 220 meters in altitude to the Schalker Turm. The shortest route leads from the „Auerhahn“ hiking parking lot to the summit via the former access road of the listening post.
