You start your hike at the Stadt Wehlen station in the district of Pötzscha. If you arrive by train from the direction of Dresden, you first cross the tracks at the nearby level crossing. Then the ferry road leads you directly to the picturesque Elbe promenade, which opens with a wonderful view of the river up to the ferry.
After the short crossing, you will first encounter a section of about 100 meters with sandstone pavement on the other Elbe side. Keep right, then you will quickly be past it. As soon as you reach Mennickestraße, the path improves. In Stadt Wehlen and in Rathen there are some short sections with sandstone pavement for traffic calming (attention cyclists!) – a sign that gentle tourism is emphasized here. However, the majority of the route is asphalted and allows relaxed progress.
A gentle, barely noticeable incline (2–3%) leads you along the Elbe further through Stadt Wehlen. At the edge of town, the path turns into a promenade. This section is also part of the Elbe cycle route, so you will meet cyclists again and again along the way.
About one kilometer before Rathen, a beautiful resting place with a pavilion invites you to a relaxing break. Shortly afterwards, the landscape opens up, and you enjoy a fantastic view of the picturesque houses of the spa town. If you look up, you can already see the impressive sandstone rocks of the Bastei to the left, which majestically tower above the Elbe.
Once in Rathen, you have numerous options for refreshments. There are also cozy cafés and restaurants on the station side, which you can reach after a short ferry ride. From the ferry landing, keep right – the station is then easy to find. With the S-Bahn, you can return to the starting point of your route.
