Forststeig - Stage 4: From the Kamphütte to the Rotsteinhütte

Short facts

start: Kamphütte
destination: Redstone hut

medium
19,85 km
7 hours
574 m
524 m
351 m

From the Beutwald forest, the Forststeig trail dives into the bizarre rocky world of the Bielatal, changes sides of the valley several times and winds its way back out along the edge of the terrain to the south. The trail continues along old border paths and forest trails to the Rotsteinhütte.

In April 2018, Sachsenforst and Lesy České republiky opened the trekking route that had been planned for 5 years. As the forestry administrations of the Free State of Saxony and the Czech Republic, we want to bring people closer to nature with the "Elbe Sandstone Forest Trail" project.

The trekking route allows visitors to hike for several days between April and October through the forests on the border between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech Republic. Along the way, it is possible to spend the night in trekking huts and at bivouac sites run by Sachsenforst and tourist partners. On the Czech side, there is a public campsite directly on the route.

The Elbe Sandstone Forest Trail is a challenging trekking route for experienced, sure-footed and well-equipped hikers. It leads along the left bank of the Elbe, mostly on easy forest paths and trails as well as on forestry working roads, over 100 km in 7 stages through the unique landscapes of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland, which is known for its extensive contiguous forests, bizarre rock formations and mighty table mountains.

Weather

General information

Information

Starting point

Target point

Directions

The fourth stage is characterized by the rocks of the Bielatal. From the Kamphütte, take the short path back to the Forststeig and turn left at the crossroads. The first view of the day soon follows with the "Nachbar". Shortly after the neighbor, turn right and head steeply downhill to the Sophien spring. Pass behind the houses to reach the road, which you follow briefly to the left. Then turn right, cross the Biela and soon reach the Herkulesquelle spring. Now you enter the area of the Pillars of Hercules. The forest trail winds uphill to the left through a rocky lane through the exciting rock formations, past the Pillars of Hercules and out of the rocks again in a right-hand bend. A wooden boardwalk takes you back to the road, along the road for a few meters and then uphill to Johanniswacht. Here, too, there is a beautiful view of the rocks you have just crossed. Above Johanniswacht, turn left and then immediately right at the fork. You soon pass rocks again before the path descends and joins a wide forest path. This leads into the village of Ottomühle, but the forest path leads briefly in the other direction and then back to the left. Here you can take a detour to the Bennohöhle cave before entering the village. At the end of the village, the Forststeig branches off to the left and leads along rocks again before crossing the cycle path and the Biela river and heading uphill on the other side. On the plateau, the trail leads to the Grenzplatte, offering beautiful views of Bohemian Switzerland. Shortly after the Grenzplatte, the Forststeig turns left, briefly touches the border and soon crosses the cycle path and the Biela again. The Zehrborn bivouac is also located here. The stage continues, however, following the border again before turning left and following the Roter Punkt hiking trail along the Dürren Biele. The Forststeig trail then turns right, leads uphill again and soon comes to the Schneeberger Kreuz (a bus runs to here in high season). Go straight over the crossroads, then turn left at the next fork. You now walk along above Rosenthal, there is a shop in Rosenthal. The Forststeig now winds downhill through the forest, briefly along a cycle path again, until it finally leads to the Rotsteinhütte. This is where the fourth stage ends.

Safety Guidelines

Equipment