--- title: "Border crossings - from steam locomotive rooms and forest magic" url: "https://web.destination.one/en/tour/border-crossings-from-steam-locomotive-rooms-and-forest-magic" description: "The starting point of this multi-faceted circular tour is Schmalzgrube station, a tranquil stop on the historic Preßnitz Valley Railway. On the Erzgebirge-Vogtland ridge trail, hikers follow the tracks towards Jöhstadt. With a bit of luck, a steam locomotive will puff through the narrow valley: a real highlight for train enthusiasts. The trail leads through a pleasantly cool stream valley, past lovingly designed rest areas. In Jöhstadt, the route leaves the forest and leads first to the Preßnitz Valley Railway depot. From here, the route follows natural paths along the edge of the forest with impressive views of the idyllic little town in the Ore Mountains until it leaves the ridge path at Dürrenberg. The trail now turns left into the dense forest and crosses the border into the Czech Republic. After a while, hikers reach the Preßnitz dam, a quiet, fascinating place with a rich history. Below the surface of the water lies the submerged village of Preßnitz, which was abandoned in the 1970s for the construction of the drinking water dam. The route runs through the small village of Christophhammer in the Preßnitz valley back towards Schmalzgrube. Another highlight awaits shortly before the destination: the Schmalzgrube ironworks with its historic blast furnace is an impressive testimony to industrial culture and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region. After a last look at this monument to times gone by, the tour ends back at Schmalzgrube station - full of impressions of nature, technology and history. The tour is not consistently marked throughout. Please use the digital route." language: "en" type: "SportsActivityLocation" image: "https://dam.destination.one/3762999/e212879dc0cb33f7f9dd97f4d28a471ecb87bef9e05453dcb5ebcd220f94375b/pre-nitztalbahn-unter-dampf.jpg" breadcrumb: "Root > Homepage > Special > Destination.Data Details > Tour" --- GPX Share Border crossings - from steam locomotive rooms and forest magic =============================================================== - 15.90 km long - Round trip - Difficulty: difficult - Condition: very difficult - Great panorama - Hiking Preßnitztalbahn unter Dampf niedliche Holzkunst unterwegs durch Fichtenwälder am Schwarzwasser Fahrzeughalle der Preßnitztalbahn, Jöhstadt neugierige Beobachter am Wegesrand An der Talsperre Preßnitz Hochofen Schmalzgrube - 4:25 h - 15.90 km - 362 m - 362 m - 596 m - 831 m - 235 m - - Start: Schmalzgrube station - Destination: Schmalzgrube station Hiking with pleasure between railroad, dam and world heritage site The starting point of this multi-faceted circular tour is Schmalzgrube station, a tranquil stop on the historic Preßnitz Valley Railway. On the Erzgebirge-Vogtland ridge trail, hikers follow the tracks towards Jöhstadt. With a bit of luck, a steam locomotive will puff through the narrow valley: a real highlight for train enthusiasts. The trail leads through a pleasantly cool stream valley, past lovingly designed rest areas. In Jöhstadt, the route leaves the forest and leads first to the Preßnitz Valley Railway depot. From here, the route follows natural paths along the edge of the forest with impressive views of the idyllic little town in the Ore Mountains until it leaves the ridge path at Dürrenberg. The trail now turns left into the dense forest and crosses the border into the Czech Republic. After a while, hikers reach the Preßnitz dam, a quiet, fascinating place with a rich history. Below the surface of the water lies the submerged village of Preßnitz, which was abandoned in the 1970s for the construction of the drinking water dam. The route runs through the small village of Christophhammer in the Preßnitz valley back towards Schmalzgrube. Another highlight awaits shortly before the destination: the Schmalzgrube ironworks with its historic blast furnace is an impressive testimony to industrial culture and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region. After a last look at this monument to times gone by, the tour ends back at Schmalzgrube station - full of impressions of nature, technology and history. The tour is not consistently marked throughout. Please use the digital route. Read more Good to know ------------ Pavements Street (6%) Asphalt (23%) Gravel (48%) Trail (16%) Path (7%) Best to visit suitable Depends on weather - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Directions The hike begins at the train station in Schmalzgrube. From here, follow the signs for the Erzgebirge-Vogtland ridge trail through the idyllic Schwarzwassertal valley. In Jöhstadt, you pass the Preßnitz Valley Railway depot before the path leads uphill to the left into the forest. At the edge of the forest, keep right and continue to follow the ridge trail markings. Turn right again to stay at the edge of the forest, then left to the border with the Czech Republic. Do not cross it at first, but turn right, pass a few houses and continue along a path. Before the first refuge, turn left into the forest to enter the Czech Republic. The path leads past numerous birch trees to the next crossroads, where you turn left. At the next crossroads, keep right, then left again and at the next junction, continue half right. Continue straight ahead until you reach a road that leads to the dam wall of the reservoir after a short distance. Go over the dam wall and down the steps to the left, then continue right along the path. At the next road, keep left and continue straight ahead until the path leads to Christophhammer. From here, continue straight ahead until the path crosses the border again and finally meets a road. There you turn right and reach the Schmalzgrube hammer mill. After a break, continue uphill. At the next crossroads, turn left onto Schulberg and walk to the village center. A few meters further on, on the right-hand side, you will reach the starting point of your tour at Schmalzgrube station. Read more Tour information - Cultural Interesting - Loop Road - Stop at an Inn Equipment Carry your identity card (as the tour crosses the border into the Czech Republic) Read more Directions & Parking facilities **Getting there** Access via the S271 to Jöhstadt, then on to Schmalzgrube. Read more **Parking** Schmalzgrube: Schmalzgrube parking lot, parking lot at the Forellenhof stop Jöhstadt: at the vehicle hall (Schlösselstraße 65), parking lot ski area (Gründelweg), parking lot Preßnitztalbahn (Schlösselstraße), parking lot museum (Am bhf 78), parking lot at the train station (Äußere Bahnhofstraße 133B) Read more **Public transportation** By train and bus via Wolkenstein or Annaberg-Buchholz to Schmalzgrube **Stops on/in the vicinity of the hiking route:** Schmalzgrube, train station Schmalzgrube, swimming pool Jöhstadt, Schlössel Jöhstadt, shopping market Read more Additional information Refreshment stop: Read more Author Anni Borrmann, TVE Organization Erlebnisheimat Erzgebirge License (master data) Anni Borrmann, TVE Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author The section between Schmalzgrube and Jöhstadt can be arranged with a ride on the historic museum train of the Preßnitz Valley Railway - including nostalgic flair and steam locomotive feeling. Read more Safety guidelines Only cross the tracks if you are sure that no train is coming. Read more Nearby ------ View on map - Tours 24.90 km - Hiking 9.12 km - Hiking 24.90 km - Hiking Contact 09477 Jöhstadt Download GPX file - -