Handbike route "In the valley of the Biela"
- 3:15 h
- 13.01 km
- 165 m
- 167 m
- 331 m
- 494 m
- 163 m
- Start: Parking lot near the blast furnace at the village entrance Rosenthal
- Destination: Parking lot near the blast furnace at the village entrance Rosenthal
One of the most impressive excursion destinations in the southern Elbe Sandstone Mountains is the Bielatal, which extends into the neighboring country of the Czech Republic. From this, several side valleys branch off, of which the Dürren Biela valley stands out particularly due to its striking rock formations. After the long climb on the public road through the village of Rosenthal, one reaches the section closed to private motor traffic at the last group of houses, the so-called customs houses. Shortly thereafter, it goes initially steeply downhill along the small stream Dürren Biela into the broader Bielatal, where shortly after the hamlet Ottomühle the access road to this extensive hiking and climbing area is reached. Along the picturesque rock formations near the houses of the Schweizermühle district, the last kilometers of this circular route lead back to the starting point on perfect asphalt.
Good to know
Pavements
Best to visit
Directions
At the road junction near the reconstructed historic blast furnace Brausenstein, we choose the road diverging into the village of Rosenthal. This leads steadily uphill, passing the former Rosenthal outdoor pool to the village square, where a side road branches off towards Schweizermühle. However, we continue straight on the main road. Through the upper village, it goes to the customs houses and shortly thereafter in the forest to a large crossroads. Here too, we continue straight to the "Eulenthor," the tourist border crossing to the Czech Republic. Here we leave the now heavily weathered asphalt Schneeberger Straße and follow the slightly gravelled forest path branching off diagonally to the right. At the next large crossroads with a stone way pillar and a signpost with many signs, we turn sharply right onto a wide path leading steeply downhill, which requires a lot of attention in the first meters due to partly coarse gravel and its steepness of about 14% slope. In the valley of the Dürren Biela, we now roll downhill about 1.5 km past impressive rock ridges at a flattening slope until the Bielatal, where we finally turn right onto a better rideable forest road again. Always slightly downhill, this unpaved route finally brings us to the houses of the hamlet Ottomühle, where the asphalted public road through the Bielatal begins. There is also the possibility to stop for refreshment here, especially since the greatest and also physically most challenging part of the route is now behind us. Afterwards, while riding downhill, we pass several well-known rock formations (unfortunately, the view of them is now greatly restricted due to growth) as well as the art ruin "Bielablick" (formerly called "Kaiser-Wilhelm-Feste"). From the large rocks on the road over the houses of Schweizermühle, only about 1.3 km remain until the starting point of the route is reached again.
Tour information
Tour with Dog
Directions & Parking facilities
From Pirna on the B172 to Krietzschwitz and about 1.5 km later turn right, signposted "Rosental." A large parking lot is located on the left side of the road to Schweizermühle at the village entrance
Parking lot at the village entrance of Rosenthal
Alternatives: several parking spaces in Bielatal uphill, e.g., in Schweizermühle
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
This route proposal can also be combined with sections or the entire route of the handbike route "To Fox and Dove Pond".
Safety guidelines
This route should preferably be ridden in the described direction, that is clockwise. The main reason is a steep gravel section with a gradient between 10 and 14% at the upper end of the Dürren Biela valley, which most handbike riders likely cannot manage uphill without additional pushing assistance from companions. (Even the descent on this section is very demanding due to the steepness of the forest road.)
Nearby
