Hike to the Wildwiese

Zahnsgrund gorge – Wenzelweg – Wildwiese meadow – and back

(Detour via Oberer Steinbruchweg to magnificent view into rear region of Saxon Switzerland)

Beautiful track through the nature zone of the national park. From Wildwiese you will have a marvellous view of the Schrammstein.

Panorama view from Wildwiese toward the Schrammsteine / Photo: Archive Nationalparkverwaltung, K. Jäpelt

Start your tour at the stop Wenzelweg. Parking can be found about 600 m further down in the Zahnsgrund gorge, directly in front of the Schrammsteinbaude restaurant. The path along the street to the Wenzelweg turn-off is not ideal as there is no footpath but this is more easily accessible than the stretch of road above Wenzelweg. If you use the car park at Falkensteinhütten you will have to take the very curvy and steep street in Zahnsgrund gorge.

Once you reach the Wenzelweg turn-off you will immediately find yourself within the magnificent nature of the national park. The Wenzelweg is well supported and rises very gently for the most parts. Once you reach Eichenallee it is not far to the Wildwiese meadow where you will find a wonderful view of the Schrammsteine. Seating and a bonfire place will offer you a good chance to take a rest. This is not only a good location to admire the surrounding rocks but it is also the place where, on 28 April 1991, the Saxon Switzerland National Park, founded in 1990, was officially opened.

If you would like to extend your tour you can leave the cycle path not far from the Wildwiese and follow Ober Steinbruchweg on your left. By the way, where the three paths meet, you will see the so-called “Biedenkopfstein” in the middle: A memorial stone to the festive opening of the national park. After a good kilometre on relatively flat grounds the dense forest floor opens up offering a wonderful view. From here you can see the foothills of the Affensteine and the peaks of the rear region of Saxon Switzerland, including Neuer Wildenstein. Because the path becomes more uneven further along we recommend you go back over Wildwiese for your return trip.

To enlarge, please click on the map.

With a bit of patience, good eye sight and the right timing you may be able to observe the peregrine falcons from the Wildwiese meadow. These birds of prey, which had gone extinct in Saxon Switzerland in 1972, have become regular residents of the Schrammsteine ​​as well as the entire national park area thanks to a resettlement project that started in 1992. After the uncontrolled use of pesticides in agriculture and forestry, leading to the extinction of the birds in this region, their population was re-established and stabilised using young birds from breeding farms. Now the Schrammstein area is regularly used by the birds as a breeding ground since the surroundings offer sufficient food – in the form of smaller birds – for the upbringing of their young.