Gohrischheide Loop Trail

44.75 km long
Round trip
Difficulty: medium
Condition: medium
Great panorama
Cycling

Naturnahe Wege durch die Heide — © Stephan Böhlig, Dresden Elbland | CC-BY-SA

Sächsisches Feuerwehrmuseum Zeithain — © Stephan Böhlig, Dresden Elbland | CC0

Verwaltungsgebäude "Altes Lager" Zeithain — © Stephan Böhlig, Dresden Elbland | CC-BY-SA

3:00 h
44.75 km
21 m
20 m
88 m
101 m
13 m
Start: Zeithain
Destination: Zeithain

The Gohrischheide Loop Trail covers 45 kilometers of flat terrain along roads, forest trails, and field paths through the diverse landscape surrounding the Gohrischheide Nature Reserve, combining nature experiences with insights into the region’s rich history and culture.

The route begins in Zeithain, where the Ehrenhain-Zeithain Memorial honors the victims of the former prisoner-of-war camp. Near the starting point is also the Saxon Fire Department Museum, which is well worth a visit; with over 3,000 square meters of exhibition space, it is one of the largest fire department museums in Germany (please check the opening hours in advance).

Also nearby: a striking obelisk. This commemoratesthe “Zeithainer Lustlager”—a Baroque military parade held by Augustus the Strong in the 18th century. For those interested, a specially designed bike route, the Lustlager Rundweg, begins here.

In Jacobsthal, you can admire a historic triangulation pillar, which is part of a 19th-century geodetic surveying system.

The route continues to Neuburxdorf, known for the remains of the Mühlberg prisoner-of-war camp. In Kosilenzien, an archaeological site—the old castle rampart—invites you to explore. It was built near the village sometime between the late Bronze Age and the early Iron Age. It’s also worth stopping here at the Burgwall Café, which features a lovely terrace.

In Nieska, the small village church—built after the model of Dresden’s Frauenkirche—is a delightful surprise. In Spansberg, the heath trail offers a viewing platform with a panoramic view of the Gohrisch Heath. It’s worth taking a detour into the heath, which is directly accessible in only a few places. The 6-meter-high observation tower offers a great view over the 70-hectare heathland.

The loop tour continues along the Gohrisch Heath—in the next town, Tiefenau, be sure to visit the castle and the Baroque castle church, which houses a Silbermann organ. The adjacent rose garden, with its pavilions, invites you to linger and also features a café (currently open only on Sundays and holidays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.).

Finally, the route passes through the Heidehäuser, where a forest trail called“Haidehäuser” offers another opportunity to explore the heath. The route then leads back to the starting point in Zeithain.

Pavements

Unknown (71%)

Street (1%)

Asphalt (7%)

Gravel (11%)

Trail (10%)

Best to visit

suitable

Depends on weather

Directions

The tour begins at the Saxon Fire Department Museum. Keep left, pass the obelisk, and follow the road alongside the Bundeswehr equipment depot. Continue straight ahead onto the forest path and ride along the railroad tracks the entire way. At the Jacobstahl train station, turn briefly right onto “Zur Heide” and then immediately left onto the street “Am Wald.” After crossing the railroad tracks, continue straight ahead on Gohrische Straße until you reach Jacobstahl. Continue straight through the town, and at the town limits, after the triangulation pillar, turn right onto the forest path “Schäferei.” At the next intersection, turn diagonally right onto the Elbe Cycle Path, which leads to Gaitzschhäuser. After leaving town, turn right at the next intersection toward Fichtenberg; there, cross Mühlberger Straße, turn left immediately onto Lange Straße, and then turn left again to continue toward Altenau. Here, turn right onto the L671 and leave the town heading north. After about one kilometer, turn right and ride through the memorial site of the former Mühlberg camp.

After the memorial site, turn left and follow the signs through the Neuburxdorf settlement toward Kosilenzien. At the town limits, ride to the right along the castle ramparts, then continue on dirt roads past the Rödergraben and along the small Röder River toward Kröbeln. There, keep right to reach Nieska via Mühlberger Straße, Lindenstraße, and Riesaer Straße.

At the edge of Nieska, turn left onto Spansberger Straße and ride toward Spansberg. Here, turn left again onto “Am Anger” to reach Dorfstraße, then turn right there. Continue along Dorfstraße, which then becomes Teichweg and leads directly into the pond area. At the end of Teichweg, you’ll reach Tiefenau. There, cycle past the Brauteich on your left and then turn right onto the B169 main road. After passing the Schlosskirche, leave the main road to the right after 200 meters to reach the village of Heidehäuser. From here, continue along Waldstraße on forest and field paths through the Gohrischheide, then turn left onto Kasernenstraße and continue straight ahead, past the solar park, back to the starting point.

Tour information