Route 3: Cycling route through the Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland

Our route starts at the market square in Bad Schandau. From here, we ride to the Elbe Cycle Path, which takes us towards Schmilka. We ride below the Schrammstein massif directly along the river. In Schmilka, we switch to the road and cross the German-Czech border. In Hřensko, we turn left and follow the road through the lively town. We pass old mills and climb step by step while hikers on the footpath run towards the Pravčická Gate beside us.

Notable are the tree stumps that have remained standing since the forest fire of 2022. Numerous plants wind their way through them. So, presumably only since then do we have an unobstructed view of the backside of the Pravčická Gate above the turnoff for the hikers. In Mezní Louka, a first beer garden awaits us, and there are further places to stop also in Vysoká Lípa a few kilometers further. Here, we also reach almost the highest point of the route. We turn left at the Hotel Kortus and leave the road. Cycle route 3029 is well paved and leads us into the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The view of the rock castle Šaunštejn is impressive. The cycle route is also part of the Bohemian Road educational trail, and numerous information boards testify to life in Bohemian Switzerland in past centuries. For example, we pass an old charcoal hut directly under a rock.

At Hühnerstein, we do not turn right but switch to cycle route 3030. Here, we continue on excellent gravel through the forest. We follow the cycle route and turn right at a large junction towards Hinterhermsdorf or Bad Schandau. Directly at the green border, we come across the Kirnitzsch River below the Rabensteine. On a narrow bridge, it goes from the Czech Republic to Germany, from Bohemia to Saxony.

Initially, the national park cycle path along the Kirnitzsch is still quite narrow but soon changes to better terrain. At the next junction, we turn left and continually follow the Kirnitzsch cycle path, also passing the Lower Lock, which recalls former rafting days. Further along the brook, after some time, we arrive at the Kirnitzschtal road, where we turn left. It leads us through the valley of the same name towards Bad Schandau. Buschmühle, Neumannmühle, Mittelndorfer Mühle - there are many places to stop and rest here as we roll down to the Elbe. Our route ends at the market square in Bad Schandau.

Suitable for trekking bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes.

Stop: Bad Schandau Market

• Line 241 (Pirna - Königstein - Bad Schandau - Hinterhermsdorf)
• Line 252 (Schmilka - Ostrau - Bad Schandau - Krippen - Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna)

Stop: National Park Station Bad Schandau - the starting point is accessible by the Bad Schandau ferry

• S-Bahn S1 (Meißen-Triebischtal - Dresden - Bad Schandau - Schöna)
• National Park Train U28 (Rumburk - Sebnitz - Bad Schandau - Děčín)
• RE 20 (Dresden - Bad Schandau - Litoměřice)
• various regional bus lines

Timetable information

Bring your ID!

There are numerous places to stop along the route in Hřensko, Mezní Louka, and Vysoká Lípa as well as in the Kirnitzsch valley, Schmilka, and Bad Schandau.

The Elbe cycle path ends in Schmilka and you must ride on the road to Hřensko and further to Mezní Louka and Vysoká Lípa. Especially up to the turnoff for the Pravčická Gate, heavy car traffic is to be expected on weekends. There is no separate cycle path or bike lane.

In the Kirnitzsch valley, from the Lichtenhainer Waterfall towards Bad Schandau's spa park, the Kirnitzschtalbahn operates. The tracks run on the opposite side of the road. Here as well, there is no separate cycle path and there is car traffic.