FAQ - Questions about the Malerweg Trail

Has the Malerweg trail grown? Originally, its length was indicated with 112 kilometres, whereas now with almost 116 kilometres.  
This deviation results from different analogue and digital recording techniques and their sources of mistake. After all,  the indicated distance serves only as an orientation value. The average walk time references indicated on signposts are more useful.

Particularly on extended weekends including public holidays and during vacation periods, it is difficult to find a place to stay for one single night. These are indeed peak season days in Saxon Switzerland.  June and September are very busy months as well. At these times we definitely recommend making a reservation in advance. In off-season periods you have a good chance to book overnight accommodation even at short notice.

The answer to this question is not so easy. In fact, it depends on the fitness level of your children.

Basically, the Malerweg Trail is a very exciting and adventurous trail with lots of things to discover. However, overcoming the considerable differences of altitude by numerous ladders and steps is rather exhausting.  And please keep in mind that in Saxon Switzerland not all of the steep drop-offs and look-outs are fenced off.

There are families that have managed well the Malerweg Trail with their 10-year-old children.  School entry age should be the minimum. Sometimes the individual stages can be cut a little shorter.

A kids’ favourite is definitely the stamp card which they can change into a certificate no matter how many stages they have completed.

If you drive to Saxon Switzerland and want to keep your car in a safe place during your hiking holidays, you can leave it on one of the covered long-term car parks in Pirna.

Large hiking maps are nice but a bit cumbersome outdoors.  A useful alternative for Malerweg Trail hikers is the Malerweg Trail map set consisting of 8 concise maps featuring each stage individually in 1:30,000 scale and complimented with photos and additional information.

Staying in a base camp or hopping from lodging to lodging? It is not absolutely necessary to find a new place to stay overnight at each stage of the Malerweg Trail. Actually, one base camp would be sufficient for the complete Malerweg Trail adventure thanks to the excellent public transport service available at the trail head of each stage.If your holiday resort has the Gästekarte mobil, this transfer is free of charge for you.

Just dropping your luggage off at the reception and finding your suitcase upon arrival at the next lodging: A trekking trail hiker’s dream come true at the Malerweg Trail!

There is an all-round carefree hiking package offered by our 3 partners. You don’t need to plan your lodging or luggage transfer.  And in case of any problem, you have a personal contact to address to.

The Malerweg Trail is well signposted in both directions. Many tour descriptions however follow a chronological order. When you walk “against the current”, you meet more hikers. Apart from that there are no reasons not to do the trail in the other direction. On our blog you find a description of the stages in reverse order starting with stage 8.

>> Walking the Malerweg Trail in reverse direction 

Camping outside official camp grounds is generally not allowed in Germany. There are various camp sites along the Malerweg Trail. They are however not located precisely at the stage destinations. With some clever adjustments of the routing it would nevertheless be possible to stay in a tent overnight during your Malerweg Trail Hike.

Pirna Camp Site > Camp Ground “Entenfarm” (Duck Farm) > Camp Ground “Ostrauer Mühle” (Ostrau Mill) > Camp Ground “Thorwaldblick” Hinterhermsdorf > RV Camp Ground Gohrisch > Camp Ground Pirna

Nature-loving adventure-seekers should have a look at the Forststeig Trail. There are bivouac sites and trekking cabins along this scenic trail laid out for trekking tours of several days on both sides of the German-Czech border.