Water sports center - Lochbauer - Reissig - Pfaffenmühle - Nymphental - Devil's Pulpit - Friedrich-August-Stein summer retreat - Elster Valley Bridge - Barthmühle station - Jocketa station - Trieb Valley - Mosen Tower - boat dock - water sports center
The tour begins at the Panorama Restaurant and leads past the fence of the water sports center to the road crossing between the natural outdoor pool and the climbing forest. Here we cross the main road and take the forest path about 1 km straight ahead until the junction to the Elster riverside path branches off to the left. This becomes a singletrail that leads us steeply down to the hiking path. Once in the valley, we turn left and follow the path along the rock faces to a short root passage. There we run left into a hidden trail that lets us cross the railway tunnel above the steep slopes of the Elster at the forest edge, until at the next junction we turn right again into a steep downhill to the Elster riverside. Arriving in the valley, we follow the path to the left, a wonderful singletrail to the railway bridge on the other side of the tunnel. The railway viaduct is crossed and for about 1.5 km you follow the main hiking path along the Elster riverbank, past Lochbauer, always straight towards Plauen.
At the sewage treatment plant it goes uphill again to the right. You pass the soldiers' grave and continue towards the Reißig forest house, where we cross the Pfaffengutstraße at the hiking parking lot. We take the narrow path directly into the woods until we reach the main hiking path towards Pfaffenmühle. There we turn right and run downhill past Pfaffenmühle into the Nymphental valley up to the Devil's Pulpit. After crossing the wooden bridge and the stream, we take the next opportunity to turn left and run uphill again, past a small reservoir to the viaduct in Röttis. Here we turn right onto the field path to Friedrich-August-Stein. Upon reaching the summer retreat, a short break should definitely be taken and a glance into the wild romantic valley where the Trieb flows into the Elster from the viewpoint rock.
Our route now leads directly to the Elster Valley Bridge, which we cross at the top arch and sharply turn left. Here we run to the next junction, which leads us to the right in a steep downhill back into the Elster Valley. Down below, we turn left towards Barthmühle station (Gera – Plauen Mitte railway line). Here we are offered a great view of the White Elster with the impressive Elster Valley Bridge. After crossing the railway crossing, we turn right into a beautiful technical but runnable trail up to Jocketa station (Leipzig/Zwickau – Plauen/Hof railway line). We run past the small park and turn right before the station to the Elster Valley Bridge, which we cross again at an upper arch - this time on the other side of the bridge. Our path now leads down into the Trieb Valley over partly difficult-to-run steps. A short detour to the second largest brick bridge in the world is recommended here. It is the only one of its kind that can be crossed on foot. A great view over the valley of the White Elster amazes...
At the mouth of the Trieb, we now take the main hiking path, which leads technically and partly over boulders through the beautiful Trieb Valley. Past the Loreley rock, we run to the first opportunity to climb up to the Mosen Tower on the right. The path leads steeply and partly rooty up to the Huthausplatz, where a prehistoric rampart used to be. Here the short and long distances split. The short distance turns right and takes the last altitude meters in the final ascent. At the summit of Eisenberg, you should climb the Julius-Mosen Tower. Here you enjoy a 360° view over the Pöhl Reservoir, the Elster and Trieb valleys, extending far into the Vogtland.
The last kilometer of the tour goes downhill. At the first opportunity, we turn left and run to the road crossing just before the dam. We take the path along the shore of the Pöhl Reservoir, past the boat dock and climbing forest to the finish at the Panorama Restaurant or water sports center.
