Malerweg Trail - Stage 6

Setting off into the realm of the table mountains: This is the motto of the 6th Malerweg Trail stage. Not just one, but two of these unusual elevations have to be covered during the hike of this section.

Facts and Figures about the 6th Malerweg Trail stage

The sixth stage of the Malerweg Trail stretches over 17.3 kilometres along the left side of the Elbe River.

Your hike on the 6th Malerweg Trail stage will last about seven hours not including breaks or detours for viewing points.

UPHILL. The sixth stage starts right at the beginning with a steep uphill section from the Elbe Valley and there are quite a few more ascents and descents to follow. This is the stage with the highest uphill altitude difference.

DOWNHILL. Steps and stairs lead downhill from the table mountains. This stage is ranked as challenging because of its distance and altitude differences.

Route description

You start in the village of Schmilka, the ferry takes you across the river to its southern bank where the S-Bahn train station “Schmilka-Hirschmühle” is located.

After walking about 100 metres upstream, the path called Aschersteig branches off on the right which you follow slightly uphill past Kaiserkrone Mountain to the village of Schöna. Continue on the Caspar David Friedrich loop trail crossing the village to Wolfsberg Mountain with its panoramic view. From there you go on to Reinhardtsdorf Village where you can explore a treasure not known to many: a church elaborately decorated in a rural baroque style. This is in fact where you find the oldest artistic depiction of Saxon Switzerland. In summer, the church is occasionally open.

The Malerweg Trail continues to Krippenberg Mountain, runs along paths named Püschelweg, Elysiumweg and Koppelsbergweg and reaches a former mill called Liethenmühle. After that you follow Alter Schulweg Path to its end before climbing in short succession both of the two table mountains Papststein and Gohrisch.

Finally via Muselweg Path you reach the destination of this stage, the village Kurort Gohrisch.

more details + map

Accommodation along the Malerweg Trail

Hosts listed on this page are certified to be “Hiker-friendly at the Malerweg Trail”, they are prepared for Malerweg trail hikers. If you look for hotels, guest houses, hostels or camp sites along the sixth stage only, click on this button.

Book Accommodation here

Good to know

Where can I download GPS data?

What are the bus connections at the Malerweg Trail?

Are there any tourist information points along the sixth stage?

Can you walk the sixth stage of the trail with a dog?

Art along the Malerweg trail

The Editor Team’s Tips

Recommendations on the 6th Stage of the Malerweg

Wolfsberg Mountain Restaurant

The restaurant on Wolfsberg Mountain is a great place to refuel before continuing your hike along the Malerweg Trail. Enjoy Saxon hospitality and great local food or have a refreshing drink while benefitting from a fantastic view of Saxon Switzerland.

Restaurant im Panoramahotel »Wolfsberg«
Zum Wolfsberg 102
01814 Reinhardtsdorf
Phone: +49 35028 859900

>>Restaurant »Wolfsberg«

Papststein Mountain Inn

Papststein Mountain is most attractive thanks both to the wonderful panoramic view of Saxon Switzerland and to its welcoming inn. Situated directly at the Malerweg Trail, it is one of the most popular mountain inns of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. There is something for everyone, no matter if you prefer local, vegetarian or vegan food.

Bergwirtschaft »Papststein«
Auf dem Papststein 1
01824 Kurort Gohrisch
Phone: +49 35021 60956

>>Papststein Mountain Inn

Panorama Restaurant »Falkensteinblick am Campingplatz«

Whether for a cup of coffee and a piece of home-made cake, a sundae or a dinner meal, you are always welcome at Falkenstein Panorama Restaurant. Once you are there you can use the occasion to collect your stamp for this Malerweg Trail stage – you deserve it!

Gaststätte »Falkensteinblick am Campingplatz«
Dorfplatz 181 d
01824 Kurort Gohrisch
Phone: +49 35021 59107

>>Restaurant Falkensteinblick

Detours and Highlights along the Malerweg Trail

Kaiserkrone is a 350.8 m high table mountain. On the way to the summit plateau, an information board displays the same perspective as Caspar David Friedrich once painted. His painting “Wanderer above the Sea of Fog” is based on several sketches he made in this area.

(Distance 0.6 km | 20 min)

This very distinct elevation is the smallest table mountain in Saxon Switzerland. Its summit has been accessible via iron ladders and steps since 1842. A mountain inn was situated here until 1926, when it was entirely destroyed by a fire caused by lightning.

(Distance 1.9 km | 1h)

This village was first mentioned in 1379. Farm houses and so-called “umgebinde” buildings constructed in a typical local style are nestled in the lovely surrounding countryside. A visit to Schöna’s local heritage museum room with its historical testimonies is quite worthwhile. The place is an ideal starting point for hiking tours.

Wolfsberg Mountain with its altitude of 343 metres is the landmark of Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna Village. Picturesque views open up from there to Schrammsteine Rocks. The Malerweg Trail runs directly over Wolfsberg Mountain. Today, the Panorama Hotel and Restaurant is on its summit.

Hikers can enjoy another magnificent view after a short detour to Kohlbornstein Mountain. From its lofty look-out point a panoramic view opens up comprising Papststein Mountain in the West via Lilienstein Mountain, Schrammsteine Rocks and Winterberg Mountain range in the East.

(Distance: 3 km | 1h)

This community which is part of Gohrisch Village provides wonderful panoramic views to its visitors. The place was mentioned in 1439 as the Wyndische Heynersdorf. The name originates from the Franconian locator Heinrich or Heiner (Henry) and Wendish people living originally at this location.

Families will appreciate a detour to Kleinhennersdorf Mountain with its rock caves. The largest of them is the 20 m long Lichterhöhle Cave, which was enlarged by sand being quarrying. This local variety of sand was particularly fine-grained and therefore much in demand for scouring.

(Distance 2 km | 30 min)

Steps and iron ladders lead up between rugged cliff sides to the flat mountain top at an altitude of 451 metres. As early as in 1858 a wooden pavilion was built on the summit. Later it was improved and turned into a mountain inn which still today provides hikers with delicious food. Hikers should allow enough time for the various look-out points.

Several ladders have to be climbed to get on top of the 448 m high Gohrisch Mountain. At its southeastern edge there is a small picnic pavilion. In good visibility, even the Schrammsteine Rocks can be seen. In Western direction, two of the next stage’s highlights are to be recognized, Pfaffenstein Mountain and Königstein Fortress.

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