Wheelchair Tour: "Nature and Culture in Leupoldishain"
- 0:25 h
- 2.70 km
- 113 m
- 113 m
- 283 m
- 346 m
- 63 m
- Start: Parking lot right at the entrance to the Forest Experience Center
- Destination: Parking lot right at the entrance to the Forest Experience Center
The region’s natural beauty all in one place: The Sachsenforst Forest Experience Center makes it possible! The area isn’t just used for the organization’s educational and recreational programs—you can also explore it on your own at any time. It’s perfect for a short afternoon outing where kids can go on a carefree adventure all by themselves. For those who still have energy left afterward, a short hike to the Waldbühne is a great option. However, since the trail involves some elevation changes, guests in wheelchairs are advised to have a companion to assist with pushing or, alternatively, to use an electric wheelchair pulley system. Where Bärs Grund ends about 200 m past the open-air theater in a large rocky basin, particularly mobile wheelchair users can also try to reach the “Wildpretskeller” cave (also known as the “Kleiner Kuhstall”). A romantic spot far away from the hustle and bustle of the well-known tourist attractions!
Good to know
Pavements
Best to visit
Directions
From the Forest Experience Center’s parking lot, we first have to navigate the gentle incline of the access road. Following this path, we now roll about 500 m along granite cobblestones—initially gently, then slightly steeper downhill—until we turn left onto a wide path in the middle of the large left-hand curve. (About 150 m before that, at the edge of the forest near the signpost for the panoramic view, a hiking trail also branches off toward our destination; however, this trail is very narrow and accessible only to experienced wheelchair users accompanied by an assistant.) We now follow the wide path, which climbs gently all the way—at first along a meadow, then through the woods—to a junction where the aforementioned alternative route also joins. Instead of taking the shortest route here again, it’s best to continue straight ahead on the wide path and turn sharply left again 50 m further on. The wide forest path we’re now on takes us straight to the Waldbühne (length: 500 m, elevation gain: 35 m). The trail surface is quite good (clay/forest soil with some fine gravel), and only a few roots get in the way on the ascent. The trail gets a bit steeper again just before the Waldbühne; overall, the average gradient is about 4–5%.
From the Waldbühne, it’s only about another 80 m to the Wildpretskeller, though we’ll soon have to leave the trail for that. In dry weather, though, this shouldn’t be a problem, as the forest floor is easy to ride on. The biggest challenge here is once again the incline, but with a little help pushing, you can definitely reach the cave
.
To return to the starting point, simply follow the same route you took on the way there.
Directions & Parking facilities
Additional information
There is also a water outlet (faucet) at the overnight campsite on the Forststeig trail on the southern edge of the Forest Experience Center.
The restrooms on the Forest Experience Center grounds and just before the Forest Stage, which are accessible at all times, are not wheelchair-accessible. The wheelchair-accessible restroom in the large multifunctional building is available only when the building is open.
Literature
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
Safety guidelines
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