Detour into the fairy tale realm

The route starts in Stadt Wehlen at the market square, which almost radiates a Mediterranean flair in summer. You leave the market square with the church at your back and come to a small bridge on the right. This leads to a crossroads. If you turn right here, you can comfortably continue pushing and should keep right again at the next junction.

Just a few meters further, the street turns into an official hiking trail marked with a red dot, which then leads through the Wehlener Grund. Here you walk under shady tree canopies. Bizarre rock formations rise into the sky on both the right and left. Following the valley, which then transitions into the Uttewalder Grund, hikers will soon reach the "Waldidylle" guesthouse.

From there, after a refreshing break, it is just a few meters further into the valley to a rock gate that already inspired Caspar David Friedrich to paint. Very well known is the "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog".

Here the route ends. Afterwards, you return along the same path back to Wehlen and the market square.

Those not traveling with a stroller should definitely make a detour from the Wehlener Grund to the mysterious Teufelsgrund. The corresponding signpost "Teufelsschlüchte" can be found near the Märkel memorial plaque.

GPS data updated 2018

Highway A17: change from A4 at the Dresden-West motorway triangle to A17 until the Pirna junction.
If you want to go to Stadt Wehlen, then stay on the feeder road (S 51) and drive over the Elbe to the Pillnitz / Pirna-Copitz exit. Drive towards Pirna-Copitz.

(2) from Dresden via B172 to Pirna
In Pirna decide whether to Stadt Wehlen, Dorf Wehlen, or OT Zeichen: then cross the Elbe bridge over Pirna-Copitz to the Stadt Wehlen or OT Pötzscha junction (left side, station side): then continue on B172 through Pirna towards Pirna-Sonnenstein until the Struppen junction (turn left), through Struppen to the Stadt Wehlen junction.
(3) through Dresden towards Pillnitz (Pillnitzer Landstraße), then continue via Graupa to Pirna (P.-Copitz).
After Stadt and Dorf Wehlen, you are already on the correct (right) side of the Elbe, so do not drive over the bridge to Pirna.

Parking lot on the Elbe riverbank

Arrival:

Line S1 (Schöna - Bad Schandau - Pirna - Dresden - Coswig - Meißen)

Departure:

Line 238 (Pirna - Mockethal/Lohmen - Stadt Wehlen)

Tourist info Stadt Wehlen: Tel. + 49 (0) 35024 70414

Link to nearby hosts

Order here: hiking guides

This hike is also well suited for hiking with children.

Please note: in the Saxon Switzerland National Park only marked trails may be used in the core zone! Fines may be imposed for violations.

Trail markings

Purchase here: hiking maps