On the southern rim of the Osterwald is the eponymous village of Osterwald in the municipality of Salzhemmendorf. The Osterwald spreads southeast of the valley of the Gehlenbach and Gelbbach streams, through which the state road (the Landesstraße 422) runs from Coppenbrügge in the southwest to Eldagsen. Immediately north-northwest of this valley is the hill of Nesselberg. On the other, southern, side of Coppenbrügge is the knife-edge ridge of the Ith.