Searching for nice hiking trails a couple of driving hours away from Berlin we decide for a visit to the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, a mountain range in southeastern Germany and northern Czech Republic.

After about 3 hours of driving we arrive in the evening in the small town of Bad Schandau in the Saxon Switzerland area.

Day 1 hike: Wilde Hölle, Carolafelsen, Affensteinpromenade

The next morning we go on our first hike starting at Nasser Grund – meaning wet ground – which perfectly fits the scenery after a night of light rain (though the name is more likely related to the groundwater layer).

Starting on flat tarmac and forest ground the trail slowly turns into more rocky terrain as we start ascending along the Wilde Hölle towards Obere Affensteinpromenade. The trail includes some light scrambling at times but the paths are generally well maintained and provide hand holds and ladders where necessary.

We initially plan to also visit the Idagrotte but somehow miss our turn and continue towards Carolafelsen, a popular viewing point in the Affensteine massif.

The views are great and we get lucky with weather and/or time as the place isn’t too crowded on arrival.

After a short break on the Carolafelsen we head back to the Obere Affensteinpromenade and continue towards Kleiner Dom.

Along the trail we find many more nice views of the rock formations. While most of the path is on moderate terrain, be aware that it can be slippery in some of the more rocky sections during wet weather.

After Kleiner Dom we head back to our starting point at Nasser Grund, descending via Sandloch and Jordanweg.

The total distance of our route was about 12 kilometers, and we followed - more or less - this Komoot track. If you’re fit and sure-footed this hike will be a fun one. Some sections of the route would allow you to also incorporate Klettersteige (Via Ferrata), however, they are not part of the linked track and thus optional. I’d definitly like to come back at some point and explore these more.

Day 2 hike: Schrammsteintor, Jägersteig

For the second day we choose to do a shorter hike before our departure back to Berlin. We roughly follow this Komoot track.

With sunny weather and the route being easier than the one on the previous day we encounter many more people. And as a lot of the elevation is covered by climbing ladders and stairs, this can lead to a bit of traffic.

Nevertheless, also this hike was enjoyable. Below are some impressions: