Painter's Way Stage 6

Journey into the Realm of Tabletop Mountains: This is the theme of stage six of the Painter's Way. Two of these rare elevations are conquered on this segment!

Route description 

The journey starts in Schmilka. The Elbe ferry takes you to the southern riverbank to the Schmilka-Hirschmühle S-Bahn stop.
After about a hundred meters upstream along the Elbe, the Aschersteig branches off to the right, gently ascending past the Kaiserkrone and leading to Schöna.
You follow the Caspar-David-Friedrich circular trail through the village to the Wolfsberg with panoramic views.
From here, the route continues to Reinhardtsdorf, where a little-known treasure awaits discovery: A church elaborately designed in a rural Baroque style. Here you will find the oldest artistic depictions of the Saxon Switzerland!
The Malerweg then leads to the Krippenberg, follows the Püschelweg, the Elysium- and Koppelsbergweg to the Liethenmühle. Subsequently, you follow the Alte Schulweg to the end and shortly after climb the two table mountains Papststein and Gohrisch.
The stage destination, the spa town Gohrisch, is reached via the Muselweg.

Map showing the route of Stage 6 of the Malerweg from Schmilka to Gohrisch.
Route of Stage 6 of the Malerweg
The stage profile for Stage 5 of the Malerweg.
Stage profile for Stage 5

Stage 6 in Numbers

17,3  km

The sixth stage of the Painter's Way runs 17.3 kilometers along the left side of the Elbe.

7  Hours

You will hike approximately seven hours without detours to viewpoints or breaks on the 6th stage of the Painter's Way.

641  elevation gain/drop

UPHILL. The sixth stage starts steeply uphill from the Elbe and overcomes several ascents and descents along the way. It is the stage with the most elevation gain.

442  elevation gain/drop

DOWNHILL. Stairs and steps lead down from the tabletop mountains. The stage is classified as challenging due to its length and elevation gain.

Good to know

Editorial Tips

Recommendations on the 6th Stage of the Malerweg

Accommodation & dining along the Malerweg

Here you will find all accommodation providers on this stage that have been awarded the »Hiker-friendly along the Malerweg« distinction. They cater specifically to Malerweg hikers and accept guests for stays of just one night.
Take a look at our luggage-free hiking packages if you would prefer everything to be taken care of, with the tour operator arranging your accommodation and transporting your luggage between stages.

Detours and Highlights on the Malerweg

On the 6th stage of the Malerweg, not only are there impressive views from the Papststein or Gohrisch, but also detours to the Zirkelstein, Kaiserkrone, and the Lichterhöhle. Insider tip: A visit to the impressive view on the Kohlbornstein is worth it. So definitely plan for 2 days for this stage.