Malerweg, Stage 4: From Altendorf to Neumannmühle (official version by TV Sächsische Schweiz)

18.35 km long
Difficulty: difficult
Condition: difficult
Great panorama
Hiking

© Stephan Junghanß, Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz

Sonnenuntergang über einer bewaldeten Landschaft mit Felsen und sanften Hügeln im Hintergrund. — © Jacqueline Günther, Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz

© Achim Meurer, Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz

7:15 h
18.35 km
553 m
662 m
133 m
435 m
302 m
Start: Altendorf
Destination: Neumann Mill

A challenging hike through Saxon Switzerland National Park, featuring some steep ladders, 464 meters of elevation gain, and places to stop for refreshments in the Kirnitzsch Valley

Altendorf – Dorfbachklamm – Kirnitzschtal – Flößersteig – Ostrauer Mühle – Mühlweg–Bauweg – Elbleitenweg – Schrammsteine – Jägersteig or Wildschützensteig - Schrammsteingrat Trail - Schrammstein Viewpoint - Zurückesteig Trail - Kleiner Dom - Sandloch - Zeughausweg Trail - Lower Affenstein Trail - Lichtenhain Waterfall - Kuhstall - Neuer Wildenstein - Neumann Mill

Pavements

Unknown (80%)

Street (1%)

Trail (7%)

Path (12%)

Best to visit

suitable

Depends on weather

Directions

From Altendorf, we hike down through the Dorfbach Gorge into the Kirnitzsch Valley. Here, we continue along the Flößersteig trail to the Ostrauer Mill. Then the Malerweg through the Elbe Sandstone Mountains leads uphill via the Mühlweg and the Bauweg to the Elbleitenweg and into the Schrammsteine, a long, rugged group of rocks. We pass the imposing Schrammtor. The Jägersteig ascent takes us via iron ladders to the Schrammsteingratweg with its Schrammstein viewpoint. The Wildschützensteig offers a shorter but more challenging alternative for the ascent. Via the Zurückesteig, we hike through the “Kleiner Dom” to the Sandloch. Following the Zeughausweg and the Unterer Affensteinweg, we reach the Lichtenhainer Waterfall and the terminus of the Kirnitzschtalbahn. From the Lichtenhainer Waterfall, we hike to the impressive Kuhstall rock cave on the Neuer Wildenstein. Then we head back down into the valley to the Neumannmühle, a technical monument to the production of paper from wood pulp.

GPS data updated in 2021

Tour information

Cultural Interesting
Stop at an Inn

Equipment

Sturdy footwear required

Directions & Parking facilities

Getting there

Take the A4 at the Dresden-West interchange toward Pirna / Prague onto the A17

Take the Pirna exit on the A17 and follow the B 172a toward Pirna

Take the turnoff toward Sebnitz until you reach Altendorf

Parking

Parking Lot - Altendorf Playground or "Heiterer Blick"

Public transportation

Directions:

U28 National Park Train (Rumburk – Děčín – Rumburk), stop: Goßdorf-Kohlmühle Station
Bus Line 260 (Sebnitz – Bad Schandau), stop: Altendorf Erbgericht

Departure:

Bus line 241 (Hinterhermsdorf – Bad Schandau – Pirna), stop: Kirnitzschtal Neumannmühle

Additional information

Local Tourist Information:

Bad Schandau Tourist Information: +49 (0) 035022 90030

Altendorf Tourist Information: +49 (0) 35022 42774 or 50372

Sebnitz Tourist Information: +49 (0) 35971 70960

Hinterhermsdorf Tourist Information: +49 (0) 35974 5210

Accommodations certified as “Hiker-Friendly on the Malerweg” along Stage 4

Hiking with a Dog:

You can bypass the Dorfklamm gorge via an easy hiking trail to the Ostrauer Mühle, which branches off to the left. You can bypass the Jägersteig trail via the Elbleitenweg and Zeughausweg trails.

Literature

Order now: "Malerweg in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains" (Published by: Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz e.V.)

Author

Yvonne Brückner

Organization

Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz

Website

License (master data)

Yvonne Brückner

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

From Bad Schandau, you can take a historic streetcar through the Kirnitzschtal Valley. Here, you’ll join the Malerweg at the “Ostrauer Mühle” (11 min) or the “Lichtenhainer Wasserfall” (30 min). The Kirnitzschtalbahn, Germany’s smallest tram system, is the only one to run through a national park. The 1-meter-gauge tram has been transporting passengers since 1898.

Safety guidelines