Themed trails

Themed or educational trails are hiking or walking trails that convey knowledge about nature and culture with information boards and interactive stations. As National Park and Forest Administration Saxon Switzerland, we have several such trails: for example the Trail Into the Wild (Weg zur Wildnis) that offers insights into forest development after a bark beetle infestation and a forest fire, or the Raftsmen's Trail (Flößersteig) that provides information about the history of timber rafting in the Kirnitzsch valley. For some of the trails, guided tours are available as well. 

Other than the trails built by our administration, the Saxon Switzerland region has even more on offer: the sundial trail (Sonnenuhrenpfad) in Krippen, the Kasper trail (Kasperpfad - Kasper is a famous puppet) in Hohnstein or the geological trail (Geopfad) in Goßdorf are just a few examples. 

Most of the educational trails are marked with a green slanted line on white background and built as round trips. Please note that unless otherwise specified, the information boards on the trails are only in German. 

Two boardwalks show the development of the forest after bark beetle infestation, storm and fire. An accompanying podcast goes even more into depth. Both the information boards as well as the podcast are in German, English and Czech.

This 13 km trail between Bad Schandau and Neumannmühle shows the history of timber rafting in the Kirnitzsch valley. Parts of the Flößersteig are easily included in round trips in the national park. Surefootedness is definitely required on this trail!

There are four different themed trails in the Waldhusche outdoor adventure area in the National Park Community Hinterhermsdorf, with many interactive stations especially suitable for children. Guided tours are also available here.

4.3 km long, this purely digital educational path leads over and around the Lilienstein. The child-friendly audio tracks cover several national park related topics.

On this educational trail, people of all ages are invited to experience the forest with all senses and in a playful way at stations such as a half-timbered house, a time travel compass or a sound game.

This educational trail near Gohrisch was built together with the Saxon State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG). It leads around the Gohirsch and offers insights into the soil of Saxon Switzerland. There is also a quiz for kids.

This arboretum is all about the 'trees of the year'. It was initiated in 2019 as a cooperation of Sachsenforst and the Gohrisch Heimatverein and is regularly updated. In the fenced-in area there is also a meadow for insects and a lapidarium (a collection of forest border stones).

This 16 km trail invites you to hike in the footsteps of the master painter. Boards along the trail show paintings and sketches at the places where they (probably) originated. These boards also have information in English and Czech. 

In the outdoor area around the Forest Experience Centre, several different experience and play stations as well as information boards invite you to experience the forest. The area is accessible.