Day 1: Schöneck - Fichtelberg
We start our ridge tour directly in Schöneck.
In late fall, cyclists are surprised by the first snow up here at 800-950m above sea level. But the cold air is clear and clean and the sky is a bright blue.
On the first few kilometers of our tour, there are some very steep climbs to conquer. But we take things easy and relaxed so as not to waste too much energy straight away. From Schöneck, we head towards the Muldenberg dam and on to Klingenthal. At KM 21 we reach the first highlight of today's stage: Großer Rammelsberg (953 m). From there, it's a relaxed downhill or flat ride on the wide gravel paths through the forest.
The western ridge of the Erzgebirge is almost completely covered in forest. The typical spruce and fir trees line the route for kilometers. If you want to branch off from the main route, you should always pay attention to the signs for the protected areas. Careful treatment of nature is essential, e.g. in the nature reserve Großer Kranichsee (KM 22.5) and Kleiner Kranichsee (KM 34), one of the raised bogs that have become so rare in Europe (web tip: www.naturpark-erzgebirge-vogtland.de/moore/kleinerkranichsee.htm ).
Along the route, there are always information boards with interesting facts about the nature of the Erzgebirge. Interested cyclists should take a break here for refreshments and reading. There are also plenty of winter sports tips: the Kammloipe is the hotspot for cross-country skiers in Saxony (web tip: www.kammloipe.com ). The refuge just before Johanngeorgenstadt (KM 34.5), for example, offers a good opportunity for this.
Turn left at the refuge. Approx. 100 m after this there is another junction (900 m above sea level). Turn right here onto Erzengelweg and continue along Schwefelwerkstraße to Johanngeorgenstadt. Johanngeorgenstadt (800 m above sea level) is a good place to take a break, e.g. in the nice "Schanzenblick" inn
You can also decide in the town: 1. either return to the route of the official ridge tour (towards Erlabrunn) or 2. take a route variant via the Czech side of the Erzgebirge. I recommend this 2nd variant. Why? There are three reasons for this: Firstly, in my opinion, the route via the Czech Republic is more beautiful; secondly, it is a lot shorter (25 instead of 36 km); thirdly, you save yourself the 13 km long climb from Rittersgrün near Breitenbrunn up to Tellerhäuser and to the Fichtelberg junction (between KM 57 and KM 70) - here you climb 400 meters in one go, sometimes very steeply! The variant via the Czech Republic is more comfortable because it does not climb as steeply and is also more moderate (500 meters in altitude over 20 km).
All route options are signposted from the town center. We follow the signposts towards the Czech border. We take the main road downhill into the valley of the Schwarzwasser river. At the bottom, we cross the border and reach the small village of Potucky (700 m above sea level).
Caution: There is a lively market and lots of traffic in this small town! If in doubt, dismount and push your bike through the hustle and bustle. The route first leads straight ahead at the traffic circle (just over the border), then at the next junction (only 50 m) turn left (heading east). Here the color of the cycle path signage changes from green and white to yellow and black. We follow the number 2198.
After crossing the border, cycle path no. 2198 follows a country road with little traffic. From Potucky it is another 20 km to the summit of the Fichtelberg (1215 m above sea level). The quiet, asphalted country road leads steadily uphill, meandering along the Cerna stream. Continue along trail no. 2198 towards the village of Ryzovna. At the T-junction in Ryzovna, turn left towards Bozi Dar. Now follow the Krušnohorská magistrála long-distance cycle route (long-distance cycle route no. 23)
As we cycle towards Bozi Dar, we have today's stage destination in view for a few kilometers - seen in the direction of travel on the left: the Fichtelberg with the Fichtelberghaus (1215 m above sea level). To the right, i.e. south of the Fichtelberg, is the Klinovec (1244 m above sea level) with its striking antenna tower. Of course, you can also take this peak with you on the tour, as the Keilberg is the highest mountain in the Ore Mountains.
With this entertaining view, you quickly reach the entrance to Bozi Dar (Gottesgab), the small border and ski resort. In the center of Bozi Dar, keep left on trail no. 23, then at the square with the church, follow the turn-off to the left towards Oberwiesenthal and Fichtelberg.
Then we cross the border into Germany again and follow the signs for Fichtelberg. Now it's time to shift down a few gears and crank up the ascent to the summit. At the top of the Fichtelberg (1215 m above sea level), the highest mountain in Saxony, we are greeted by the Fichtelberghaus with its viewing tower and panoramic restaurant.
If you don't spend the night on the summit, there are several ways to get down to the town of Oberwiesenthal: firstly via the road, secondly via the signposted cycle path or thirdly with the Fichtelberg suspension railroad, the oldest cable car in Germany (web tip: .
Day 2: Oberwiesenthal to Deutschneudorf (Seiffen) 67km
In the morning, we roll comfortably from the Fichtelberg into the valley towards Oberwiesenthal. We follow the signs towards Oberwiesenthal and in the direction of the Fichtelberg suspension railroad (KM 72). This automatically brings us to Vierenstraße, where we return to the route of the ridge tour at the K1 Sporthotel. If you are planning to spend one or two days in Oberwiesenthal on your ridge tour, you should take advantage of the sports and leisure facilities at the K1 Sporthotel or the tourist information office (web tip: www.oberwiesenthal.de ).
Oberwiesenthal is also a good starting point for the large and very challenging mountain bike tour "Stoneman Miriquidi" over 162 km, 4,400 meters in altitude and 9 major Erzgebirge peaks (web tip: www.stoneman-miriquidi.com )
From the Sporthotel K1, we take the Vierenstraße in the direction of the Fichtelbergbahn. As soon as we have passed under the cable cars, we turn right at the signpost marked "KAMMtour" into Hüttenbachstraße and cycle in the direction of Loucna pod Klinovcem (1.4 km, border). We cross the main road 95 and after a few meters we are in the Czech Republic. Shortly before the border line, there is an orientation board on the right-hand side of the path indicating the route of the ridge tour.
We follow the signpost - in Czech territory these are now yellow and black again - with the number 3002 to the right in the direction of Straz nad Ohri. In the village, follow signpost no. 23 to the left towards Medenec. The next 12 km are on a plateau at an altitude of around 900 meters. From here there are wonderful views to the south into the Bohemian Basin. The ride is relaxed and progresses quickly, as the ridge tour takes us along a small, well-surfaced country road.
The small village of Medenec (KM 87.5) is quickly reached, after passing the village we roll downhill and leave the plateau. The road (trail no. 23) leads us to a reservoir. There we reach a T-junction where we can choose between two route options: either turn right and stay on trail no. 23 or turn left and follow trail no. 3003. The first route option (Ostufer Stausee) is only suitable for touring bikes to a limited extent, but is more suitable for mountain bikes, as after passing the reservoir there is a longer section of moderately developed path.
Touring cyclists should therefore follow trail no. 3003 (towards Vejprty/Bärenstein) to the left and stay on the western shore of the reservoir. Turn right in the village of Cerny Potok, cross the border into German territory and enter Jöhstadt (KM 101). From here, continue through Preßnitztal, where an old narrow-gauge steam train also runs. The next town is Schmalzgrube (KM 106). Passing the historic hammer mill, the route climbs steadily through the forest up to the ridge to the village of Satzung (KM 113). At the end of the forest is the "Lustiger Hans" refuge (861 m above sea level). Our gaze falls on extensive mountain meadows and back to Keilberg and Fichtelberg.
In the village center of Satzung, the cycle path branches off sharply to the left towards Reitzenhain (KM 120). About halfway there, you come to a wonderful viewpoint and rest area: the Hirtstein (891 m above sea level) with the Hirtsteinbaude, where you can also spend the night (web tip: www.hirtsteinbaude.de ). Be sure to take a break here, as the next few kilometers will be challenging. On the rapid descent from Hirtstein via the country road, watch out for the signposts (first left, then right again), you will quickly miss them!
In Reitzenhain, the signpost leads us back to the Czech side to the Krušnohorská magistrála / Erzgebirgsmagistrála (long-distance cycle route no. 23). From here we cycle on small country roads and excellent asphalted cycle paths. The route now climbs steadily up and down via Kalek (KM 122) and Nova Ves v Horach (KM 136) to Deutschneudorf (KM 139), which is why this section of the route is quite demanding. Overnight accommodation outside Deutschneudorf can also be found in Olbernhau (distance 11 km) and Seiffen (distance 5 km).
Day 3: From Deutschneudorf to Altenberg (Geising)
At the start of stage 3 in Deutschneudorf, there are two possible routes: Either ride on the German side to Deutscheinsiedel (4 km) and cross back over to the Czech side here (trail no. 23); or switch straight over the border to the Erzgebirgsmagistrale trail no. 23 (towards Nove Mesto, KM 172).
The Erzgebirgsmagistrale initially runs along a cycle path through the forest and joins a country road near the village of Kliny / Göhren. This leads cyclists directly to the Flaje dam. There is another orientation board at the dam wall (KM 158). From here, the route rolls comfortably downhill towards the Český Jiřetín / Georgendorf - Deutschgeorgendorf border (KM 162). Immediately after the border bridge, there is a bus stop on the left with an orienteering sign.
We leave the village on the road in the direction of Altenberg. After a few hundred meters, the ridge tour branches off to the right into the forest (Grenzweg). We cycle for just under 5 kilometers on a wonderful forest path through the countryside, always along the small Grenzbach stream "Rauschenbach". This then joins the Torfstraße and we are now on the Bavarian-Saxon long-distance cycle path (Bayreuth-Zittau). We immediately reach the rest stop + guesthouse "Torfhaus Stübl" (KM 168).
The dense Erzgebirge forest continues to accompany us. At around KM 170, the ridge tour branches off to the right onto the Muldentalstraße. We head towards Teichhaus, where we immediately leave the road again and return to the well-paved cycle path (Lindenauweg). Here there is another junction in the direction of Moldava / Moldau with a connection to the Erzgebirgsmagistrale (no. 23). But we leave this on the right and continue straight ahead.
The next significant point on the route is the turn-off to the left at the "Altes Zollhaus" signpost at the Neu-Rehefeld border crossing (KM 176). This is followed by a fast ride downhill on the Holperbachweg towards the small village of Rehefeld-Zaunhaus, which lies in a Malian valley. At the first house, we cross the bridge over the "Wilde Weißeritz" and follow the cycle path to the right in the direction of Zinnwald-Georgenfeld. From here, the route climbs steeply in places for another 3 kilometers to the Großer Lugstein (892 m above sea level).
At the top of the Großer Lugstein is the Lugsteinbaude, which offers refreshments and overnight accommodation (note: not open all the time, enquire before starting the tour, overnight accommodation for groups by prior arrangement. Web tip: lugsteinbaude.de ). We have now climbed the last summit of the ridge tour. From now on, the last 5 kilometers are all downhill to the destination of Geising (591 m above sea level). We pass the Georgenfelder Hochmohr near Zinnwald-Georgenfeld and the visitor mine "Vereinigt Zwitterfeld zu Zinnwald".
We quickly reach the entrance to Geising, pass the town center and follow the signs to the signpost at the end of the ridge tour at the Geisinger bus station (web tip: www.geising.de ). From here, you can also reach the tourist center of the Eastern Ore Mountains in just a few minutes: Altenberg (web tip: www.altenberg.de ).
