Handbike tour "To the Big and Small Zschirnstein"

From the hikers' parking lot in Krippen, we first follow the signs to the Elbe cycle path and then continue along the Elbe upstream towards Schmilka-Hirschmühle. This section is asphalted throughout.

Shortly after the first houses in Schmilka-Hirschmühle, a small lane branches off to the right into Hirschgrund, into which we now turn. Shortly after crossing the railroad underpass, the road immediately climbs up to a maximum gradient of 12%. This is currently (end of 2025) closed to motor traffic as a devastating storm has caused extensive damage. However, a temporary wooden footbridge allows pedestrians and cyclists to pass the damaged section of road. After about one kilometer, the gradient decreases and soon the main road of Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna is reached.

Here you have to turn left and tackle another steep but short climb of up to 12%. Initially following the main road, in the center of Schöna (recognizable by a sandstone sculpture) we turn slightly right onto a granite paved road, on which we now leave the village on an uphill gradient. After the last houses, the bumpy pavement ends and the route continues slightly uphill on a smooth blacktop to the Reuterhof settlement.

At a sharp bend to the right, where the turning and parking lot is located, the tour now leads diagonally left briefly uphill and then past the "Waldschänke" (no regular opening hours!) into the forest. The asphalt ends here and after a relatively flat section of approx. 500 m, we turn half right onto the market path marked with a yellow line. This takes us to the large crossroads under the Großer Zschirnstein, where the dead straight, approx. 2 km long route climbs over several humps, sometimes more, sometimes less strenuous. The gradient of the gravelled dirt road here is up to 10% in places, although the steepest sections have an old asphalt surface. After this seemingly endless climb, when you reach the crossroads, you will find the so-called Kalkbude on the right - a refuge that is ideal for a rest. This is the most strenuous part of the tour.

After turning left at a right angle, the path continues to climb slightly, but not for long. As soon as we have finally passed the "Zschirnstein-Biwak" on the right of the path, we first roll downhill on the Gliedenbachweg for 2.5 km and then from the confluence with the Krippenbachtal at a large crossroads further along the Krippenbach in the direction of flow back to the Elbe valley. Here we are back on a forest road with old asphalt, from which we finally change to the road between Kleingießhübel and Cunnersdorf after another 2.5 km.

There we stay in the valley and continue past the Forstmühle mill to the village of Kleingießhübel, which we only pass by at the lowest houses in the valley. A final short and easy climb takes us back into the narrowing valley, where we soon roll down the Elbe towards Krippen. In Krippen, too, we continue along the valley road and soon reach the starting point of the ride at the junction of the Elbe cycle path.

From Pirna via the B172 in the direction of Bad Schandau. Before the Elbe bridge at the entrance to Bad Schandau, turn right towards Krippen.

Hikers' parking lot at the junction of the road into the Krippenbach valley

Arrival/ Departure:

S-Bahn line S1 to station Krippen

As there are no refreshment stops between Reuterhof (the settlement above or after Schöna) and Krippen, you should bring your own food and drink. The tour is particularly recommended for hot days.

After prolonged periods of rain, the unpaved farm tracks in the forest around the Großer and Kleiner Zschirnstein can be softened and therefore place increased demands on your own riding technique. Especially when forestry work is taking place, there are sometimes temporary restrictions or even closures in the area. These must be observed at all times!