The hike starts in Königstein at the station. From there, we take the ferry over to Halbestadt and follow the blue line marking towards Lilienstein. After the first ascent, we pass through Ebenheit, continue across a field, and then take the south ascent through the forest to the plateau of the table mountain.
In an almost complete loop, the Elbe surrounds the 415.2 m high Lilienstein. The summit plateau offers a phenomenal panorama of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The visit of August the Strong is commemorated by the four-meter-high obelisk on the east side. It was destroyed by lightning in 1966 and replaced by a replica in 2008. On the cliffs of Lilienstein, upon closer inspection, white spots can be seen: the droppings of birds nesting on the rock ledges. Ravens, kestrels, or the rare peregrine falcon could be the causes. The peregrine falcon was reintroduced at Lilienstein in 1998 after it had become extinct in the 1970s. Peregrine falcons hunt exclusively in the air. Before grasping their prey, they reach speeds of over 300 km/h in a dive!
On the way down, we follow the north descent marked with yellow/blue lines. Once at the bottom, we keep right at a junction and continue on the Kirchweg, parallel to the Elbe, towards Königstein. Then we take the ferry back to the other side of the Elbe towards the starting point of the hike.
