The Lilienstein: The Landmark of Saxon Switzerland National Park
- 2:20 h
- 5.44 km
- 378 m
- 378 m
- 114 m
- 409 m
- 295 m
- Start: Königstein Train Station
- Destination: Königstein Train Station
Königstein Train Station - Ferry to Halbestadt - Blue line trail marker toward Lilienstein - Flat terrain - South ascent - Summit plateau - North descent (yellow/blue line trail marker) - Kirchweg toward Königstein - Ferry to Königstein - Königstein Train Station
Good to know
Pavements
- Unknown (3%)Asphalt (3%)Gravel (57%)Path (37%)
Best to visit
- suitableDepends on weather
Directions
- The hike begins at the train station in Königstein. From there, we take the ferry to Halbestadt and follow the blue-line trail markers toward Lilienstein. After the first climb, we walk through flat terrain, continue across a field, and then take the southern ascent through the forest to the plateau of the Tafelberg.
The Elbe River flows in an almost complete loop around the 415.2-meter-high Lilienstein, the only table mountain on the right bank of the Elbe. The summit plateau offers a phenomenal panoramic view of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The four-meter-high obelisk on the east side commemorates a visit by Augustus the Strong. It was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1966 and replaced with a replica in 2008. If you look closely at the rock faces of the Lilienstein, you can see white spots: the droppings of birds that nest on the rock ledges. Common ravens, kestrels, or the rare peregrine falcon could be the culprits. Efforts to reintroduce the peregrine falcon to the Lilienstein began in 1998, after the species had gone extinct in the 1970s. Peregrine falcons hunt exclusively in the air. Before seizing their prey, they reach speeds of over 300 km/h in a nosedive!
We follow the northern descent marked with a yellow/blue line. Once at the bottom, we keep to the right at a junction and continue along the Kirchweg, parallel to the Elbe, toward Königstein. Then we take the ferry back across the Elbe to the starting point of the hike.
[GPS updated 2026]
Tour information
Cultural Interesting
Loop Road
Stop at an Inn
Summit
Equipment
- Sturdy footwear—hiking boots are best
Directions & Parking facilities
- Getting thereKönigstein is located along the B172 from Pirna toward Bad Schandau.ParkingThere are a few small paid parking lots in Königstein, but there are only a limited number of parking spaces.Public transportationTake the S1 S-Bahn to Königstein, then take the ferry to Halbestadt
Additional information
- All Rules in the National Park
- Tips for Safe Hiking in Saxon Switzerland, created in collaboration with the Mountain Rescue Service
- Guidance on navigating deadwood, especially when hiking through areaswith dead spruce stands
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
- Tip for families: The all-digital Lilienstein Family Nature Trail begins at the Sellnitz Educational Center, located below the Lilienstein.
Safety guidelines
- The hike is suitable for children, but only to a limited extent for dogs (step ladders on the north descent, grating on the south ascent).
Please note: The hike takes place almost entirely within the Saxon Switzerland National Park. You must not stray from the trails here, and dogs must remain on a leash at all times. Fines may be imposed for violations
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You can find more information about the national park—including the rules in effect there and trail markings—on the national park’s website.
Nearby
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